MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Richard Neal (D-MA)

Amber James has worked for the U.S. Postal Service for over two decades.

When she learned last week that Louis DeJoy, postmaster general, is working with the Department of Government Efficiency, the new federal agency that oversees government spending, on plans to cut jobs and funding from the USPS budget, “it was one of the worst days in USPS history,” she said.

“It is horrifying,” she said.

James, who works in the vehicle department, managing parts for delivery trucks, said, “I fear that I will lose my job.”

Her concerns are a part of a larger issue: President Donald J. Trump has a plan to take control of the USPS, meaning the agency, which has been independent since 1970, would exist under the executive branch.

“We want to have a Post Office that works well and doesn’t lose massive amounts of money,” Trump told The Associated Press in February. “We’re thinking about doing that. And it’ll be a form of a merger, but it’ll remain the Postal Service, and I think it’ll operate a lot better.”

James was one of dozens of people who attended a protest in front of the USPS on Main Street in Springfield on Thursday, alongside many of her colleagues and management, all of whom are opposing Trump’s plan.

“What the Trump administration is doing is illegal and hostile,” said Dave Bogacz, clerk craft director for the American Postal Workers Union of the Springfield area, while standing in the bed of a pickup truck outside of the post office.

James said one of her biggest worries is that a privatized postal service would mean people who rely on daily deliveries won’t have access to their mail anymore.

“They could pick and choose who to deliver to. What about elderly people? What about rural residents? What will they do?” she said.

In a letter sent to DOGE, which is led in part by Elon Musk, DeJoy asked for the federal department’s help in addressing “big problems” at the $78 billion-a-year agency, which has sometimes struggled in recent years to stay afloat. The agreement also includes the General Services Administration in an effort to help the Postal Service identify and achieve “further efficiencies.”

USPS delivers to 167 million addresses nationwide on a daily basis, said Bogacz. Privatizing the postal service, which employs nearly half a million people nationwide, would not only eliminate jobs, but it also would mean that people would not get mail that they rely on, he said.

“We are a service for the people, not a business for the billionaires,” he said.

The USPS has historically hired with preference to veterans and minorities, touting the value of diversity in its workforce.

One of the protesters, Pat Bagnall, a longtime Springfield resident, said she is opposed to Trump’s plan to change things at USPS. A relative, she said, worked for the USPS for a long time.

“Elderly people and disabled people rely on USPS for their Social Security checks, their medication,” she said. “It’s a service that many are dependent on, especially in rural areas.” She agreed that privatization could end delivery in rural parts of the country.

Bagnall was standing next to a fellow protester, Karen Casavant, of Ludlow.

“I support the union. The USPS should stay a government service,” she said. “Everything will be more expensive when the USPS is privatized, and there will be less congressional oversight.”

In the background, protesters walked up and down Liberty Street, holding their signs and chanting slogans like, “U.S. mail is not for sale.”

Midway through the protest, a man dressed as Musk, wearing a mask of the tech billionaire’s face and a black trench coat that Musk has been seen wearing in several photos, dragged a cardboard Cybertruck behind him and held a chain saw as he made his way to the front of the post office.

The man declined to give his name to the press, insisting that he was “Elon Musk” and was at the protest to bribe supporters of the postal service with $100 bills.

“Do you want a job?” he asked a reporter.

U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal, D-Springfield, visited the protest, as well. On the drizzly afternoon, he said, the postal service’s staff have “the confidence of the citizenry.”

Earlier this week, a U.S. postal worker reported a fire in Springfield’s Forest Park neighborhood while delivering mail.

“The (postal service) provides another set of eyes and ears in neighborhoods. You take care of the shut-ins. They look forward to seeing you,” Neal said. “When they see you, they’re reminded of that security blanket that you’ve provided.”

Of the proposed plan to privatize, Neal said, “This is an offense to the American people.”

“There is no rhyme or reason to threaten to privatize one of America’s most essential and popular services, the United States Postal Service,” he said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Richard Neal (D-MA)

Design work for track and station projects needed to make Pittsfield-to-Springfield-to-Boston passenger rail work proceeds despite worries that the Biden-era federal funding might not last in the Trump administration.

“Well, I tell you this, I’m going full steam on east-west rail,” Gov. Maura T. Healey told reporters this week following her speech to more than 400 people at the Governor’s Conference on Travel and Tourism in Springfield. “I’m glad to see we’ve got designs going for the Palmer station. We’ve got funding now for Springfield.”

Healey spoke at the tail end of a series of stops for her “Transforming Transportation Roadshow” in Lenox and in Becket for a culvert replacement at Bonny Rigg Hill Road over Walker Brook. She’s building support for a proposed $8 billion transportation plan and Chapter 90 bill.

The Republican minority leader in the state Senate, Sen. Peter Durant of Spencer, told the Daily Hampshire Gazette that he’s “not a huge fan” of west-east rail. His office didn’t respond to calls Wednesday.

Appearing on a Boston television station Sunday, Durant said he’ll make the call on a 2026 Republican bid for governor “relatively shortly,” but there are some people he needs to talk to first, including his wife.

The Trump administration has already announced an investigation and possible withdrawal of about $4 billion in federal funding from California’s high speed rail project. And it has talked about tying transportation funding to birth and marriage rates.

“I’m always concerned again about what the Trump administration might do with basic funding for infrastructure and transportation.,” Healey said. “But we are going to continue moving forward in Massachusetts. It’s important to me.”

The plan is, after necessary track and station repairs, for Amtrak to add the first two new daily round trips from Springfield to Boston and back beginning in 2029 or early 2030.

“We are going to use the funds that we have,” Healey said.

For west-east passenger rail, those funds include CRISI — Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements — of $108 million in federal funding announced two years ago and another $37 million for rail improvements reliving a “chokepoint” at Springfield Union Station announced in October.

MassDOT also previously received a $1.75 million CRISI grant for preliminary engineering for the Springfield Area Track Reconfiguration Project.

The federal government has a contractual obligation to reimburse those expenses, said U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal, D-Springfield.

“Well, it’s the law. It was passed by Congress,” Neal said.

Neal said the state was in contact with transportation officials in the closing day of the Biden administration, safeguarding funds.

And projects from the state’s $6 billion share of Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding are beginning this construction season.

Tying spending to birth and marriage rates is unlikely, Neal said.

“I don’t think that stands up in court, never mind any other place,” he said.

He said the Massachusetts population is increasing.

As for capturing additional funding?

“I intend to stay with it,” Neal said “Republicans like infrastructure as much as Democrats do. I think these are achievable goals,”

Amtrak, the national rail carrier, had bipartisan support serving GOP districts.

Speaking last month, U.S. Rep. James P. McGovern, D-Worcester, sound less optimistic when discussing the possibility of federal funds for increased passenger service across the state’s northern tier.

“It is going to be challenging here, with the Trump administration,” McGovern said.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Richard Neal (D-MA)

Neal on the Five-Alarm Fire at the Social Security Administration

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Richard Neal (D-MA)

After Ways and Means Democrats commanded the attention of the American people, rightfully hearing their concerns over DOGE’s illegal access to their most sensitive data, Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Richard E. Neal (D-MA), along with all the Democratic members of the Committee, wrote to Chairman Jason Smith (R-MO) demanding Musk appear before the Committee.

“We understand that members of DOGE have accessed, and are attempting to access, millions of Americans’ personal and confidential tax, worker, Social Security, health, child custody, and other private information located at departments and agencies within this Committee’s jurisdiction,” Ways and Means Democrats emphasized. “Our Committee owes a duty to our constituents and the American people to determine what data has been accessed and copied, how the data is or will be used, where the data has been shared, and the names, clearance levels, and training levels of the individuals who have accessed, or are accessing, this data.”

The lawmakers reminded the Majority: “The unauthorized disclosure of tax returns and return information is a felony…Given the history of this Committee, we assume it would want to protect the confidential tax returns and return information of all citizens regardless of the agency possessing the data.”

Finally, the lawmakers called for: “the Committee to hold a hearing immediately to examine the breadth of DOGE’s actions and require Elon Musk and members of DOGE to appear as witnesses before the Committee.”

Read the full letter HERE.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Yvette D Clarke (9th District of New York)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

February 27, 2025

MEDIA CONTACT: 

e: jessica.myers@mail.house.gov

c: 202.913.0126

Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09) issued the following statement regarding Elon Musk and DOGE gaining access to the confidential personal information of alleged victims of housing discrimination through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD):

“With every passing day, Elon Musk’s disturbing control over our federal agencies grows deeper and continues to threaten the livelihoods of Americans. The Department of Housing and Urban Development is only the latest victim of his severely troubling overreach and, as a result, the confidential personal information of victims of housing discrimination has fallen into an oligarch’s hands. Once again, he and DOGE have exceeded their stated mission of increasing efficiency in the federal government. I am incredibly concerned by what the world’s richest man plans to do with data he has no right to hold, particularly in the context of his ongoing campaign against agencies and individuals who believe in fair treatment for all. The very last place American lives belong is in Elon Musk’s hands.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Yvette D Clarke (9th District of New York)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

February 27, 2025

MEDIA CONTACT: 

e: jessica.myers@mail.house.gov

c: 202.913.0126

Washington, D.C. — This week, Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09) joined Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia (TX-29) to reintroduce the bipartisan American Dream and Promise Act of 2025, legislation that would provide a pathway to citizenship to Dreamers, undocumented immigrants who were brought to the United States as children. It would also include recipients of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) beneficiaries. The legislation has been cosponsored by 201 Members of Congress, including all the bill leads, and has been endorsed by nearly 120 organizations. 

Dreamers have spent nearly their entire lives here in the United States. They have attended school, earned degrees, built careers, and contributed billions to our economy, all while calling this country home. Many have started families and raised children who are U.S. citizens. For example, it is estimated that the average DACA recipient came to this country at the age of six and has been here for 20 years. Likewise, TPS holders have been living and working in the United States for decades. They have built their families here and contribute significantly to their communities and our nation’s economy. 

Dreamers and TPS recipients make major economic and fiscal contributions each year. DACA recipients pay approximately $6.2 billion in federal taxes and $3.3 billion in state and local taxes annually. The Center for American Progress estimates that the national GDP could grow by $799 billion over the next decade if Dreamers were provided a pathway to citizenship. 

Economic models show a pathway to citizenship would increase wages for all workers in the U.S. and create hundreds of thousands of new jobs. It is estimated that DACA recipients in 2022 collectively earned nearly $27.9 billion and contributed nearly $2.1 billion to Social Security and Medicare, despite not being eligible for these benefits under current law. 

“I am proud to reintroduce the American Dream and Promise Act alongside my colleague, Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia. This bipartisan legislation is a step forward in addressing commonsense immigration reform—strengthening protections for TPS recipients and defending Dreamers from deportation. As a daughter of Jamaican immigrants and the representative of a district that is a cultural melting pot, I will always fight to ensure the American Dream is obtainable,” said Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke. “As long as good people and their families continue to be denied the freedoms and liberties necessary to live that dream and remain economic drivers for our nation’s growth and development, our work to pass this essential legislation must persist.”

“Dreamers are American in every way but on paper. For decades, they have contributed to and shaped the fabric of America. Yet, they are currently denied their place in the American story,” said Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia. “Our nation cannot afford to lose the small business owners, the talent, the artists, the aspiring public servants, and the drive that Dreamers bring. If that’s not American, I don’t know what is. The American Dream and Promise Act writes them into the American story—a part that has been missing for too long.”

“Twelve years ago, the Obama-Biden administration took a bold and necessary step by creating DACA to protect undocumented young people who were brought to this country as children through no fault of their own. This program has allowed more than 800,000 Dreamers to live, work, and contribute to their communities,” said Congresswoman Nydia M. Velazquez. “But for too long, courts have put their futures at risk, forcing them to live in uncertainty. That is why I was proud to be one of the original authors of the bipartisan Dream and Promise Act, a common-sense solution that will provide permanent protections and a path to citizenship for Dreamers and recipients of Temporary Protected Status. These are our neighbors, colleagues, and friends, and it is long past time we give them the security they deserve.”

“This country has no better opportunity than now to give the hundreds of thousands of Dreamers who have lived among us as friends, family, and members of our communities the dignity they were promised many years ago,” said Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar. “I am proud to co-lead the American Dream and Promise Act because it’s time for Dreamers and their families to live in the Promised Land as Americans.”

“I am proud to join Congresswoman Garcia in support of the American Dream and Promise Act for the 119th Congress in support of the newly 3.4 million Dreamers who strengthen our communities, fuel our economy, and deserve a pathway to citizenship,” said Congressman Adriano Espaillat. “Today, we are standing united to reaffirm our commitment to ensuring the American dream remains viable for all who are seeking opportunities in our nation.”

“As an immigrant who came to this country at 16 years old and founded the largest immigrant rights organization in Washington State before coming to Congress, I’m proud to stand with Dreamers as they pursue a roadmap to citizenship. For far too long, Dreamers have had to live in the shadows as they do essential work in communities across the country,” said Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal. “Now, under President Trump’s cruel immigration policies, many are terrified that DACA could be struck down, Dreamers could be deported, and their families could be torn apart. But Dreamers are Americans and Dreamers are home . It’s past time that we give them citizenship and pass legislation to protect them from cruel mass deportation campaigns and anti-immigrant stunts.”

“DACA, TPS, and DED status holders have made invaluable contributions to our nation, and our immigration system should give them the option to continue to make these contributions and pursue their dreams,” said Congresswoman Judy Chu. “On this thirteenth anniversary of DACA, I urge the President and my congressional colleagues to join our bipartisan coalition and finally provide a pathway to citizenship for these individuals through the American Dream and Promise Act.”

“Dreamers are an essential part of our communities. They are our nurses, police officers, and soldiers. They follow the law, pay taxes, and have built their lives in this country—graduating from American schools, growing in their careers, and starting their families here in America,” said Congressman Lou Correa. “They’re deeply embedded in the fabric of our communities. They’re our neighbors and friends, and are a part of the economic fabric of this great country. They deserve the opportunity to be Americans. It’s past time that Congress passed the American Dream and Promise Act and delivered an earned pathway to citizenship for Dreamers—to keep their families together and keep our economy alive.”

“Democrats and Republicans alike must prove to every Dreamer and immigrant who calls our nation home that we know they are part of the fabric of our nation. At a time when Dreamers are under attack, it is more imperative than ever that Congress finally act,” said Congresswoman Delia Ramirez. “In co-leading the American Dream and Promise Act, I promise I will keep fighting for Dreamers. For my husband, my family, my friends, my community, we must deliver a pathway to citizenship for every immigrant.”

The bipartisan American Dream and Promise Act of 2025 would:

1. Protect and grant eligible Dreamers conditional permanent residence for ten years and cancel removal proceedings
2. Provide a pathway to citizenship for eligible Dreamers by granting full Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) status
3. Provide individuals with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) or Deferred Enforcement Departure (DED) with LPR status
4. Protect Dreamers and individuals with TPS or DED during their application for relief under the American Dream and Promise Act
5. Provide eligible Dreamers with access to federal financial aid
6. Allow eligible Dreamers located abroad to apply for relief
7. Prevent penalizing states that grant in-state tuition to undocumented students based on residency

Before his inauguration, President Donald Trump indicated he wanted to work with Democrats to protect Dreamers and that Republicans were open to getting something done on this issue. Congresswoman Garcia and her colleagues extend an open invitation to President Trump to get this done by passing the bipartisan American Dream and Promise Act of 2025, which the American public strongly supports. Polls have consistently shown the majority of Americans support Republicans and Democrats working together on legislation that would enable Dreamers to earn legal status and eventual citizenship. 

The bipartisan American Dream and Promise Act has been endorsed by nearly 120 organizations, including: United We Dream, Home is Here Coalition, FWD.us, Immigration Hub, CASA, AFL-CIO, Working Families United (WFU), Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA), International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT), UNITE HERE, International Association of Ironworkers, United Food & Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW), National Immigration Law Center (NILC), American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), Hispanic National Bar Association, University of California System, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), University of California, Santa Barbara, American Federation of Teachers (AFT), National Education Association (NEA), Center for Popular Democracy, MoveOn, American Immigration Council, America’s Voice, UnidosUS, NAACP, American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Hispanic Federation, League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators (NHCSL), CHIRLA, American Business Immigration Coalition (ABIC), National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC), National Partnership for New Americans, Center for American Progress (CAP), League of Women Voters of the United States, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, National Women’s Law Center (NWLC), Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT), Association of American Universities, EdTrust, Immigration Project, Human Rights Campaign, Human Rights First, President’s Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, National Hispanic Medical Association (NHMA), Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), Children’s Defense Fund, Children’s Defense Fund-Texas, Coalition for Asian American Children and Families, Church World Service, Bend the Arc: Jewish Action, National Council of Jewish Women, Anti-Defamation League (ADL), Global Refugee, Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice, Amnesty International, Make the Road Pennsylvania, Make the Road Nevada, Center for Gender and Refugee Studies, Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP), Columbia Law School Immigrants’ Rights Clinic, Voices for Utah Children, Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees, Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA), Nicaraguan American Legal Defense and Education Fund (NALDEF), Haitian Bridge Alliance, NM Dream Team, Friends Committee on National Legislation, The Children’s Partnership, People Power United, Services, Immigrant Rights, and Education Network (SIREN), African Communities Together, People for the American Way, The Clinical Social Work Association, Central American Resource Center (CARECEN), Immigration Equality, Florida Immigrant Coalition (FLIC), Women’s Refugee Commission, MomsRising, Ayuda, Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition, Children’s HealthWatch, American Council on Education (ACE), Freedom Network USA, Kids in Need of Defense (KIND), Child Welfare League of America, SchoolHouse Connection, Prevention Institute, National Center on Adoption and Permanency, NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice, Central American Resource Center of Northern California (CARECEN SF), Foster Care Alumni of America, Immigrants Act Now, Omaha Together One Community, ImmSchools, National Association of Counsel for Children, Children’s Advocacy Institute, Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights, Sayra and Neil Meyerhoff Center for Families, Children and the Courts at the University of Baltimore School of Law, Sull and Associates, Hope Border Institute, Immigrants Rising, New York Immigration Coalition, Immigrant Defenders Law Center (ImmDef), National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice, UndocuBlack Network, Muslim Advocates, Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network, Hindus for Human Rights, Arkansas United, Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project, African Public Affairs Committee, Hindus for Human Rights, American Families United, Texas Equal Access Fund, Lilith Fund, Centro Hispano de East Tennessee, Union for Reform Judaism.

The American Dream and Promise Act of 2025 is identical to the version that passed the House in the 117th Congress and reintroduced in the 118th Congress. Here is a copy of the bill text.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Yvette D Clarke (9th District of New York)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

February 25, 2025

MEDIA CONTACT: 

e: jessica.myers@mail.house.gov

c: 202.913.0126

Washington, D.C. — This week, Reps. Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY) and “Buddy” Carter (R-GA) introduced the bipartisan Dental and Optometric Care Access (DOC Access) Act to help lower dental and vision care costs and put control of important health care decisions back into the hands of patients and their doctors.

The legislation addresses the increased consolidation and vertical integration among dental and vision insurance providers, which is leading to higher prices, fewer options for patients and providers, and diminished community access to needed care.

“Every year, countless Americans are forced to confront inordinate roadblocks to the vision and eye care they need due to unnecessary restraints on their optometrists. People should always be empowered to make their own healthcare decisions, just as good doctors should always be available to carry them out. I’m proud to support this bipartisan legislation that puts power back in the hands of the patients, preserves their access to care, and creates a more equitable, more sustainable healthcare industry,” said Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke.

“It is important that we continue to work towards affordable, accessible, and high-quality health care for all Americans. The DOC Access Act moves us in the right direction by ensuring dentists and optometrists can make decisions that are best for them and their patients, not the insurance company,” said Rep. Carter.

“Patients Rising is so thankful that Reps. Carter and Clarke are leading the charge on such an important issue to patients across the country,” said Terry Wilcox, CEO and Chief Mission Officer for Patients Rising. “Like we see with pharmacy benefit managers, dental and vision benefit managers are out of control – and patients are literally paying the price. With only a handful of insurers dominating the market, their middlemen are hard at work setting prices and rigging a system that benefits only them at the expense of patients and our communities. The last place your insurer should be is in the exam room with you and your doctor. That’s why we’re thankful for this effort and we’re committed to continue working hard to expose and put an end to the costly, controlling, and care-limiting schemes of insurers and their benefit managers.”

“The AOA, doctors of optometry, and patients across the country applaud the introduction of the bipartisan DOC Access Act, introduced by Reps. Carter and Clarke and supported by hundreds of visionary House and Senate health policy leaders,” said Steven Reed, O.D., AOA President. “This legislation provides a clear, patient-focused solution to put a stop to abusive practices by Vision Benefit Managers (VBMs), including price fixing for items and services not covered by the plan and steering patients and doctors to VBM-owned labs, which too often results in higher costs, inferior products, and unacceptable wait times. From statehouses across the country to the U.S. Capitol, legislators are taking commonsense action to address the increasingly harmful effects of growing VBM market concentration and vertical integration, and this bill is a pivotal step in continuing that momentum.”

“I would like to thank Representatives Carter and Clarke for their leadership to bring more balance to contract negotiations to address abusive practices of large dental insurance companies and the impact on small business owners and their patients,” said Brett H. Kessler, D.D.S., president of the American Dental Association. “Our patients are being negatively impacted when dental insurance companies interfere with care delivery by dictating how much a doctor may charge a plan enrollee, even though they choose not to cover those services in the plan. The DOC Access Act will play a crucial part in curbing the anti-patient and anti-competitive practices of dental insurance plans.”

Read the full bill text here.

###

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Yvette D Clarke (9th District of New York)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

February 25, 2025

MEDIA CONTACT: 

e: jessica.myers@mail.house.gov

c: 202.913.0126

Washington, D.C. — Today, Congresswomen Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09) and Nanette Diaz Barragán (CA-44) reintroduced a bill that would create a federal program to build clean energy microgrids to power critical infrastructure for communities in the aftermath of an extreme weather event or power shut-off.

The Energy Resilient Communities Act takes a significant step forward in energy equity and environmental justice, by prioritizing grant applications from low-income communities and communities of color for clean energy microgrid grants. These grants will help combat power outages and rolling blackouts, reduce pollution, create green jobs, and fight the climate crisis.

“As communities in every corner of our nation continue to face extreme weather events and other natural disasters brought on by the climate crisis, the need to fortify their climate resiliency and bridge long standing environmental disparities remains abundantly clear. Congress cannot and must not leave vulnerable Americans to fend for themselves in the face of this existential emergency, and that’s why I’m proud to stand with Congresswoman Barragán to reintroduce the Energy Resilient Communities Act,” said Rep. Clarke. “This critical legislation will empower at-risk communities with the resources they need to develop clean energy microgrids, ensuring they’ll keep power through whatever challenges this crisis may bring.”

“As wildfires, hurricanes and other climate disasters become more frequent and severe, we must ensure that communities—especially those historically overburdened by pollution and energy shortages—have access to reliable, clean power,” said Rep. Barragán. “The Energy Resilient Communities Act invests in clean energy microgrids, ensuring hospitals, fire stations, and essential services stay online when disaster strikes. This bill will create good-paying jobs, lower energy costs, and strengthen our clean energy future.”

Energy Resilient Communities Act Highlights:

• Authorizes $50 million in annual grants for technical assistance and $1.5 billion in annual grants for clean energy microgrids to support the critical infrastructure needed in the aftermath of an extreme weather event. 
• A minimum of $150 million of annual authorized funding is reserved for grants supporting the construction of community-owned energy systems. 
• State and local governments, territories, political subdivisions of the state, tribal agencies, utilities, and non-profits can apply for grants. 
• Grants are prioritized for applications from environmental justice communities. 
• Examples of critical infrastructure include hospitals, grocery stores, community centers, public safety facilities, water systems, public or affordable housing, medical baseline customers, and senior housing. 
• Projects are additionally prioritized based on several criteria, including how effectively they reduce pollution and improve public health, whether they are built on previously disturbed land, whether they provide contracts for women and minority owned businesses, their utilization of apprenticeships, and whether the proposed project will be a community-owned energy system. 
• The maximum federal cost share of 60%, except for environmental justice communities, where the maximum federal cost share is 90%. 
• Includes Buy American provisions to maximize the creation of American manufacturing jobs in the production of materials and technology for microgrids. 
• There are worker hiring targets for each project to maximize the number of local and economically disadvantaged workers, including those who live in environmental justice communities or were displaced from a previous job in the energy sector.

The bill can be found here.

Reps. Clarke and Barragán were joined by 30 original cosponsors of the Energy Resilient Communities Act: Hank Johnson, Emmanuel Cleaver, Andre Carson, Troy Carter, Suzanne Bonamici, Ro Khanna, Rashida Tlaib, Steve Cohen, Paul Tonko, Kevin Mullin, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Jerrold Nadler, Melanie Stansbury, Pramila Jayapal, Mary Gay Scanlon, Raul Grijalva, Ed Case, Jared Huffman, Jared Moskowitz, Jill Tokuda, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Mike Quigley, Shri Thanedar, Andrea Salinas, Chellie Pingree, Johnny Olszewski, Kathy Castor, Yassamin Ansari, Doris Matsui.

###

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Yvette D Clarke (9th District of New York)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

February 21, 2025

MEDIA CONTACT: 

e: jessica.myers@mail.house.gov

c: 202.913.0126

Washington, D.C. — Today, House Haiti Caucus Co-Chairs Congresswomen Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), and Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20) issued the following statement condemning the Trump Administration’s decision to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti.

“With Haiti continuing to grapple with unspeakable violence and a horrific humanitarian, political, and economic crisis, this is a shameful decision that could be a death sentence for more than 500,000 Haitian nationals living in the United States,” said Reps. Clarke, Pressley, and Cherfilus-McCormick, Co-Chairs of the House Haiti Caucus. “Haitians who have lived in the United States for up to 15 years, raised children, started businesses, and contributed to their communities are at risk of deportation for no reason other than being Haitian. We should be doing everything possible to save lives and bring stability and safety to Haiti—not throwing vulnerable people in harm’s way. We urge the Trump Administration to immediately reverse this cruel and callous decision.”

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

Federal Funding Delivered by Pressley Will Help Address Gaps in Workforce Development Programs and Help Workers Succeed

Video (YouTube) | Photos (Dropbox)

BOSTON – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07),in partnership with Mayor Michelle Wu and Boston leaders, announced a $1 million investment to expand the Digital Literacy (DigLit) Initiative, a critical program that helps workforce development programs address digital literacy gaps. The federal community project funding, which was delivered by Rep. Pressley through a previous federal spending bill, will equip 20 Boston-based job readiness and occupational training programs with the infrastructure and capacity to deliver the digital skills necessary for Boston residents to succeed in today’s evolving job market.

Congresswoman Pressley visited the East Boston YMCA last week for a panel discussion with local leaders to celebrate the funding. Video of the speaking program is available here and photos from the event are available here.

“I am proud to deliver $1 million in direct federal funds that we secured for Boston’s adult digital literacy initiative, which will expand access to digital skills, close gaps in our workforce development programs, and open doors for our workers to grow and thrive,” said Congresswoman Pressley. “I’m grateful to Mayor Wu and our local leaders for theirpartnership in bringing much-deserved digital literacy opportunities to our city.”

“Closing the digital literacy gap is critical in our work to make Boston a city for everyone,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “Every resident across our neighborhoods deserves to be equipped with the digital skills they need to access resources, secure good jobs in an evolving economy and be connected to more opportunities. I’m grateful to Congresswoman Pressley for securing this vital funding and look forward to coordinating with all of our partners to advance this important work forward.”

This announcement expands residents’ opportunities for job training and educational opportunities while working to close digital literacy gaps. In 2022, the City of Boston’s Office of Workforce Development, led by the Worker Empowerment Cabinet, piloted the Digital Literacy Initiative (“DigLit”) in partnership with World Education to address digital access gaps identified through extensive community-engaged research. The pilot, funded by the American Rescue Plan Act, supported 25 Adult Basic Education (ABE) programs that collectively serve 3,500 students annually. The pilot also yielded successful results for the participating programs, including the increased use of digital tools, instructional software, communication tools, and technology used for instruction. A pivotal outcome of this initiative was the Boston EdTech Routine Library, a repository that contains 70+ remedial education instructional routines that integrate digital skills. 

“We believe that all residents need intentional and comprehensive access to quality education, and skills and job training to thrive in Boston,” said Chief of Worker Empowerment Trinh Nguyen. “This expansion reflects our commitment to increasing these opportunities and our collaborative approach to meeting employer demand while tapping into Boston’s talent pool. Digital literacy is no longer optional—it is critical to accessing job opportunities and economic mobility. Ensuring access to digital skills training is essential to building an inclusive economy where everyone has a fair shot at success. We are incredibly grateful to Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley whose leadership and advocacy made this investment possible. Thank you to the participating organizations whose commitment to enhancing their programming will undoubtedly result in lasting positive outcomes for our residents.”

Last week’s launch event featured a panel featuring employers from Eversource, Boston Medical Center, Dana-Farber, and life sciences alongside training providers from Just-A-Start, FCIT, and YMCA of Greater Boston. The panel was moderated by Priyanka Sharma, Director of World Education, and brought together voices from across Boston’s workforce ecosystem to explore how technology is transforming middle-skill roles, shifting skill demands, and how partnerships can better align training programs with employer needs, especially amid rapid technological shifts driven by AI.

“The YMCA of Greater Boston is deeply grateful for the City of Boston’s continued investment in digital literacy through its DigLit funding,” said David Shapiro, CEO of the YMCA of Greater Boston. “We are also grateful for the national leadership of Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, who garnered federal investment in this effort. It is an honor to host the DigLit 2.0 Launch event at the East Boston Y, the site of our very own culinary training program with the New England Center for Arts and Training. The event is a powerful reflection of the multi-sector commitment necessary to foster job preparation, skills, and supported career pathways. It also reflects the powerful efforts to advance digital literacy skills while strengthening the very foundation of our community – its people. Together, we will continue to uplift each other with the knowledge, skills, and pathways critical to a more inclusive, competitive, and dynamic economy and City.” 

“At World Education, we recognize that digital skills are essential for unlocking opportunities in today’s tech-driven workforce,” said Priyanka Sharma, Director of World Education. “We are proud to collaborate with the City of Boston and our partners to advance a shared vision for a stronger, more resilient workforce—one where every adult has the skills needed to succeed in a rapidly evolving economy. Through the DigLit project, we are activating digital skills programming into training programs, expanding career pathways, and empowering Boston’s communities with greater economic mobility.” 

“Digital Literacy has become an important skill and ever more necessary in today’s workforce, it is not just the access to technology but the reliance on so many different systems and platforms,” said Macy Reed, Director of Workforce Development at Boston Medical Center (BMC). “As an employer, BMC continues to offer various skills-based classes to employees to help improve performance and career growth.”

Building on this initiative’s success, DigLit is expanding to support 20 additional Boston-based organizations:

• Asian American Civic Association
• Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center
• Breaktime United, Inc.
• Bridge Over Troubled Waters
• Catholic Charitable Bureau of the Archdiocese of Boston, Inc.; El Centro Adult Education Program
• Community Work Services
• Digital Ready
• Dorchester Bay Economic Development Corporation
• Immigrant Family Services Institute, Inc.
• International Institute of New England
• Jamaica Plain Community Centers Adult Learning Program
• Julie’s Family Learning Program
• The Loop Lab
• Maverick Landing Community Services 
• Mothers for Justice and Equality
• New England Center for Arts & Technology
• Operation ABLE of Greater Boston, Inc.
• Somali Development Center
• St. Stephen’s Youth Programs
• The YMCA of Greater Boston

These programs will receive technical assistance provided by World Education and funds to address their digital literacy needs, allowing them to deliver effective digital literacy training and help bridge the digital equity gaps faced by their training participants. 

“Digital literacy will equip our graduates with the ability to learn more quickly and adapt to new technologies, a crucial trait for career advancement,” said Christopher Hope, Executive Director of the Loop Lab. “Their enhanced proficiency in digital tools will likely lead to greater efficiency and productivity, making them much more valuable members to their employers.”

“The DigLit Initiative will help to directly address these barriers, enhancing participants’ employability, job retention, and opportunities for career advancement,” said Ben Hires, CEO of Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center. “For many, the job search process, application submissions, and interviews have moved online, making basic computer skills a necessity.”

Footage from the launch event can be found here, and photos are here.

Rep. Pressley secured the federal funding as part of a previous spending bill for Fiscal Year 2023. Rep. Pressley has secured approximately $35 million in federal community project funding for the Massachusetts 7^th since Fiscal Year 2022.

• On October 18, 2024, Rep. Pressley visited Randolph for the formal ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Turner Free Mobile Library, a bookmobile carrying books, movies, Wi-Fi, and other resources for community members, made possible by the $524,000 she delivered in funding for the library and STEM programming.
• On October 10, 2024, Rep. Pressley joined Just A Start, elected officials and community advocates and members for the formal ribbon-cutting ceremony to unveil the Economic Mobility Hub at Rindge Commons, a 70,000-square-foot facility designed to address the evolving needs of the community.
• On June 18, 2024, Rep. Pressley visited Boston Medical Center (BMC) to celebrate $370,000 in federal community project funding she secured to support BMC’s Violence Intervention Advocacy Program.
• On June 18, 2024, Rep. Pressley visited Chelsea HealthCare Center to celebrate $1,150,000 in federal community project funding she secured to support Massachusetts General Hospital’s (MGH) efforts to address the statewide shortage of bilingual, culturally diverse mental health providers for immigrant and limited English proficiency communities.
• On April 22, 2204, Rep. Pressley and Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) visited Nubian Square in Roxbury for a roundtable discussion to celebrate the $1,000,000 million in federal funding they secured for the Black Economic Council of Massachusetts (BECMA).
• On March 28, 2024, Rep. Pressley visited Roxbury to celebrate the $1,000,000 in federal funding she secured to provide emergency childcare support for families experiencing homelessness in the City of Boston.
• In February 2024, Rep. Pressley visited Chelsea City Hall for a roundtable and press conference to celebrate the $750,000 in federal funding she secured for the City of Chelsea’s and City of Everett’s Island End River Coastal Flood Resilience Project.
• In January 2024, Rep. Pressley visited Somerville to celebrate the $2.4 million in federal funding she secured to support the community-led transformation of the Clarendon Hill housing community, an ethnically, linguistically and economically diverse neighborhood.
• In December 2023, Rep. Pressley visited Brighton to celebrate $400,000 she delivered for Amplify Latinx’s ALX Small Business Program.
• In November 2023, Rep. Pressley visited Roxbury Community College (RCC) to celebrate $1 million in federal community project funding she secured for Northeastern University’s Roxbury Associate’s to Master’s Workforce Accelerator (RA2MWA).
• In June 2023, Rep. Pressley visited Chelsea to celebrate $2,000,000 in federal community project funding she secured to improve the Broadway Corridor—home to an array of BIPOC-owned small businesses, vibrant public spaces, high frequency public transit routes, and dense residential housing.
• In April 2023, Rep. Pressley visited Randolph to celebrate $524,000 she secured for Randolph Public Schools to support a mobile library and STEM programming.
• In March 2023, Rep. Pressley visited Dorchester to celebrate $250,000 in new Community Project Funding she secured for Big Sister Association of Greater Boston’s one-to-one mentoring and enrichment programs for girls.
• In February 2023, Rep. Pressley visited the African Community Economic Development of New England (ACEDONE) to celebrate the $643,003 in community project funding she secured for ACEDONE to support small businesses in predominately Black, brown and African immigrant communities.
• In October 2022, Rep. Pressley visited The Dimock Center in Roxbury to celebrate $1 million in federal community project funding she secured to support substance use treatment and programming at the health center. 
• In August 2022, Rep. Pressley visited Randolph to deliver $275,000 in federal community project funding for culturally responsive resources and digital literacy tools for Randolph Public Schools.
• In June 2022, Rep. Pressley visited the Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology to deliver $300,000 in direct federal funding for the development of a Clean Energy Building Automation Systems certificate and associate degree program.
• In May 2022, she visited Bunker Hill Community College to celebrate the $1,000,000 in federal community project funding she secured to expand the City of Boston’s Tuition-Free Community College program.
• In April 2022, she visited Randolph to deliver $1,000,000 in federal community project funding for a new school-based community health center at Randolph High School. 
• In March 2022, she visited La Colaborativa in Chelsea to celebrate the $300,000 in federal community project funding that she delivered for La Colaborativa’s COVID Employment Recovery Program.

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