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

LONG BRANCH, NJ – Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) is demanding immediate federal and state action after more than 40 cancer cases, including 28 clustered on one street, were identified near a contaminated landfill in Keyport.

In a letter to state and federal officials, including the Environmental Protection Agency and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Pallone called for a full investigation into whether the former Aeromarine landfill is linked to the reported illnesses and urged immediate steps to address contamination at the site. 

“A suspected cancer cluster in our community is a sensitive matter that requires the full force of our public health and environmental protection agencies. I sincerely urge you and your agencies to collaborate, take meaningful action and inform the community of your work. The residents of Keyport are entitled to clarity, accountability, and protection from potential environmental harm,”Pallone wrote.

The landfill, shut down in 1979 due to major failures, has never been fully closed or remediated. A 2010 environmental assessment found that parts of the site lack basic controls, allowing contaminants to spread into surrounding neighborhoods, Raritan Bay, and Chingarora Creek. 

Hazardous substances identified at the site include benzene, PCBs, heavy metals, and methane gas. Contaminated groundwater has been observed discharging from the landfill, raising concerns about continued exposure. 

Despite decades of violations, enforcement has lagged. The state issued its first fine in 2021, followed by penalties totaling nearly $900,000 in 2024 and 2025. Those fines remain unpaid and no comprehensive cleanup has been completed. 

Pallone is calling for immediate environmental testing of soil, air, and water, a full review of cancer data to determine whether a cluster exists, mitigation of ongoing hazards, and enforcement actions to ensure the site is cleaned up.

His full letter can be found here and below:

Dear Acting Commissioner Potosnak, Acting Commissioner Washington, Regional Director Graziano, and Region 2 Administrator Martucci: 

 

I am writing to urgently request that your agencies take immediate action to address the community concerns of a suspected cancer cluster in Keyport, NJ. As you know, advocates have identified over 40 cases, 28 of which are concentrated on and around First Street, particularly in neighborhoods surrounding the former Aeromarine landfill site along the Raritan Bay shoreline.

 

Recent community concerns regarding elevated cancer incidence are especially alarming in light of the extensive and well-documented history of contamination associated with the Aeromarine site. In 1979, New Jersey’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) ordered the shutdown of the Aeromarine landfill, citing “numerous operating and engineering deficiencies and overall exhaustion of capacity.” Despite this action, the property owners have not taken substantive redevelopment or comprehensive remediation to date.

 

Subsequent investigations have identified significant and ongoing environmental hazards at the site. In 2010, a proposed redevelopment initiative prompted an environmental assessment that documented serious deficiencies in the landfill’s condition. According to findings later referenced in a 2021 lawsuit filed by the Borough of Keyport, substantial portions of the landfill, particularly those adjacent to Raritan Bay, lack adequate engineering controls, allowing solid waste to migrate beyond the site boundary and into surrounding shoreline and bay areas.

 

The environmental assessment and subsequent legal filings further documented the presence and migration of hazardous substances, including heavy metals, methane gas, carcinogenic compounds such as benzene, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) into soil and groundwater. Contaminants were also reported to have migrated into Chingarora Creek, which borders the landfill property, raising significant concerns regarding broader ecological contamination and potential human exposure pathways. In addition, there are multiple locations where contaminated groundwater appears to be discharging hazardous substances from the base of the landfill. The site has not been properly capped, which is a fundamental environmental control necessary to prevent the continued spread of contaminants through air, soil, and water pathways.

 

While it has been reported that local drinking water sources have not been definitively impacted, experts have noted in press reports that residents may nonetheless face potential exposure through other means, including direct contact with contaminated soil, recreational use of adjacent waterways, inhalation of airborne contaminants, and stormwater runoff events that may transport pollutants into surrounding residential areas.

 

Despite decades of documented concerns, meaningful remediation has not been completed. State inspections dating back to 1986 repeatedly identified environmental violations, often with extended intervals between inspections during which conditions further deteriorated. Enforcement actions have been limited. The first monetary penalty issued by DEP occurred in 2021 in the amount of $15,000.

 

After reports of suspected lead were found on the beach in the vicinity of the former Aeromarine landfill in 2024, I coordinated a response from the DEP and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to investigate, test the material, and cleanup the hazardous material from the beach. DEP then issued additional penalties of approximately $300,000 in 2024, which subsequently increased to nearly $900,000 in 2025. However, these penalties remain unpaid, and the landfill has not been properly closed or remediated by the owner. In fact, it appears that even though the site was never properly capped, residents or visitors can just walk onto the property through an open gate or along the shoreline.

 

Given this extensive history of documented contamination, regulatory enforcement challenges, and ongoing environmental risk, it is imperative that the relevant federal and state agencies determine whether any association exists between conditions at the Aeromarine landfill and reported cancer cases within the surrounding community.

 

Accordingly, I respectfully request that your agencies work in close coordination to implement the following:

 

• Promptly secure the site to restrict unauthorized access and minimize potential health and environmental risks.
• Conduct a comprehensive environmental investigation of the Aeromarine landfill and surrounding residential areas, including soil, groundwater, sediment, and air quality testing.
• Fully assess the extent of contaminant migration, including potential impacts to Chingarora Creek, Raritan Bay, and adjacent neighborhoods.
• Evaluate cancer incidence data and determine whether a statistically significant cancer cluster exists.
• Develop and publicly disclose a plan for immediate mitigation of identified hazards, including methane gas accumulation and ongoing contaminant leaching.
• Enforce existing penalties and pursue all available regulatory and legal remedies to ensure full remediation of the site.
• Provide transparent and ongoing communication to affected residents regarding findings, risks, and recommended protective measures.

   
  A suspected cancer cluster in our community is a sensitive matter that requires the full force of our public health and environmental protection agencies. I sincerely urge you and your agencies to collaborate, take meaningful action and inform the community of your work. The residents of Keyport are entitled to clarity, accountability, and protection from potential environmental harm. 

   
  I look forward to your prompt response.

   
  Sincerely,

                                                                                                                            ###

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Gregory W Meeks (5th District of New York)

Washington, D.C. – Representatives Gregory W. Meeks, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Darrell Issa, Vice Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, introduced bipartisan legislation aimed at addressing the historic backlog in license reviews at the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), a bottleneck that undermines the American economy and U.S. technological leadership.

The bill directs BIS to make licensing decisions within 90 days, institutes reporting requirements to ensure greater Congressional oversight, and directs the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct an audit of BIS’s license review process.

A PDF of the bill is available here.

“The massive backlog at BIS is causing significant harm for U.S. industries who depend on predictable and efficient clearing of their licenses to satisfy their contracts. If the administration wants to maintain U.S. dominance in high tech industries like semiconductors and AI, BIS must do better. This bipartisan bill sets clear targets and enhances Congressional reporting requirements to ensure that the license review process is efficient. It addresses a major impediment in our ability to compete with China in the AI and technology race so that the Commerce Department can lead the way to boosting U.S. exports and creating jobs. I thank Rep. Issa for his partnership on this bill and hope to swiftly pass this bill before the delays at BIS do further damage to our economy,” said Ranking Member Meeks.

“The best arrangement to advance America’s essential process of export controls requires precision analysis, focused commitment, and transparency to Congress and the American industries that rely upon it,” said Vice Chairman Issa. “I applaud the BIS for its innovative and groundbreaking efforts to streamline regulatory burdens while upholding our national security interests, and this legislation is designed to allow the Bureau to provide even more certainty for the commercial sector. This consensus approach will be a widespread win for the nation.”

Additional background: In an industry survey conducted in 2026 by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, 58 percent of respondents reported license review times averaging over 180 days, 31 percent reported waits of over 300 days, and 78 percent reported significant increases in license processing times over the preceding 12 months.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09)

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), a longtime advocate of fair and sensible laws regarding marijuana, will hold a press conference and policy briefing to address the impact of incarcerating those charged with marijuana-related offenses.

What: Congressman Cohen, Students for Sensible Drug Policy, Drug Policy Alliance, Law Enforcement Action Partnership, and other drug-policy reform organizations will speak to the news media from the outdoor House Triangle on Monday morning. Later, Congressman Cohen and four individuals formerly incarcerated in Federal Prison for non-violent marijuana-related offenses will discuss related policy and legislative solutions at a Policy Briefing at Rayburn HOB Room 2075. The discussion will also address how incarceration for marijuana disrupts and harms families and communities.  

When: The press conference will begin at 10 a.m. The Policy Briefing will convene at 12 p.m.

Please RSVP to Congressman Cohen’s communications director at Bartholomew.Sullivan@mail.house.gov

# # #

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman John Garamendi – Representing California’s 3rd Congressional District

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Chris Pappas (D-NH)

The New Hampshire Delegation invites students interested in attending any of the U.S. military service academies to attend the New Hampshire Military Service Academy Day on Saturday, May 9, 2026, in Concord at the New Hampshire National Guard Joint Force Headquarters.

The event will feature staff representatives for Congressman Pappas (NH-01), Senator Shaheen (NH), Senator Hassan (NH) and Congresswoman Goodlander (NH-02) who will be available to answer questions about obtaining congressional service academy nominations. In addition, representatives from the five service academies have been invited to provide information and answer questions from interested students.

To be considered for appointment to a service academy, applicants must be nominated by a Member of Congress or another authorized nominating source.

New Hampshire Military Service Academy Day

Saturday, May 9, 2026

8:30 a.m.– 9:00 a.m. Pre-Event sign-in

9:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m. Speaking Program and Career Fair

New Hampshire National Guard Joint Force Headquarters

State Military Reservation, Building 1

1 Minuteman Way

Concord, NH 03301

RSVP by email to RSVP@shaheen.senate.gov or contact Senator Shaheen’s office at (603) 647-7500.

Please remember to bring an ID with you to access the building. If you do not have an ID, you will need to be accompanied by an ID-carrying adult.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi Representing the 12th District of California

Washington D.C. – On Monday, Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi visited The George Washington University for a wide-ranging discussion with former CNN journalist Frank Sesno on the state of American politics. Pelosi addressed current events, broader questions about whether the American dream is still possible, and how Congress can regain power from the executive branch.

 

Read full coverage below:

GW Today: Nancy Pelosi Reflects on Democracy, Leadership at GW’s Sesno Series
[By Lisa Conley-Kendzior, 4/16/26]

A full house packed Jack Morton Auditorium Tuesday night as Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi visited the George Washington University for the latest installment of the Sesno Series.

The event, titled “Power and Precedent,” brought together Pelosi, moderator Frank Sesno—professor and former director of the School of Media and Public Affairs (SMPA) and executive director of the GW Alliance for a Sustainable Future—and a panel of experts to explore Pelosi’s history-making career and the state of American democracy.

The Sesno Series, funded by GW alumni Ted Segal, B.A. ’03 and Meredith Perla Segal, B.Accy. ’05, was broadcast nationally on C-SPAN.

“What does it mean to be an American today—and what will it mean tomorrow?” Sesno asked at the start of the event.

In a video compiled from his class—The Art of the Interview—SMPA GW students reflected on that question, describing a mix of uncertainty, frustration and cautious optimism. Their responses pointed to opportunity, community and accountability, while also acknowledging deep concern about the country’s direction.

The discussion that followed expanded on those themes.

The panel featured Jesse J. Holland, SMPA associate director and associate professor of media and public affairs; Douglas Brinkley, a renowned presidential historian; and Sarah A. Binder, a professor of political science at CCAS.

Brinkley pointed to historical cycles of division and resilience, encouraging students to remain engaged despite uncertainty.

“We have to believe that our own times are not uniquely oppressive,” he said.

Binder focused on the evolution of Congress and the challenges of governing in an era of polarization, while Holland emphasized the role of the press in a healthy democracy.

“We can’t survive as a democracy without it,” he said, describing the press as a critical watchdog holding government accountable.

After the panel, Pelosi—who’s served nearly four decades in Congress and twice as speaker of the House—kept the focus on the Constitution and the responsibilities of those in government to uphold it.

“We just have to honor the Constitution,” she said in a one-on-one discussion with Sesno. “We have to honor the oath that we take to protect and defend the Constitution…with three co-equal branches of government.”

She also emphasized the role of the House of Representatives as “the people’s house,” underscoring its responsibility to remain responsive to the public.

At several points, Pelosi connected national political debates to everyday life, urging students to consider how policy decisions affect individuals and families.

“To save our democracy…talk about what it means at the kitchen table,” she said. “What does it mean to America’s working families?”

Students remained central to the conversation throughout the evening, posing questions on topics ranging from legislative compromise to ethics in government and the long-term health of democratic institutions.

Reflecting on her time in leadership, Pelosi described compromise as an essential part of governing.

“Compromise is not a bad word,” she said. “If you have a task, you have to have a plan, and you have to act if you’re going to be a leader.”

The conversation also touched on declining public trust in Congress. When the audience was asked who had faith in the current Congress, no hands were raised. Pelosi acknowledged the concern but offered a broader perspective on the institution.

“Congress has always been a subject of mockery,” she said, noting that public perceptions of the institution often differ from views of individual members.

As the evening concluded, Pelosi pointed to the responsibility of the current generation to carry that work forward.

“The times have found us,” she said, echoing the words of revolutionary thinker Thomas Paine. “Know your power, and be ready to make the fight.” 

---

 The GW Hatchet: Rep. Nancy Pelosi talks Congressional power in the Trump era at SMPA event

[By Paris Albrecht, 4/16/26]

Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) discussed the devolution of Congressional power during President Donald Trump’s administration and her confidence in the Democratic Party as midterm elections approach in the Jack Morton Auditorium Monday.

Pelosi, who was first elected to Congress in 1987 and served as speaker of the House of Representatives from 2007 to 2011 and again from 2019 to 2023, said there has been a “total abdication” of Congressional power by Republican leadership to Trump, saying the founders of the country put in place guardrails like impeachment to deal with “rogue” presidents, but did not anticipate a Congress that lets presidential power go unchecked. Frank Sesno, a professor in the School of Media & Public Affairs, moderated the conversation — entitled “Power and Precedent” — as part of the Sesno Series, a guest-speaker series featuring conversations surrounding civil discourse.

“They could foresee a rogue president,” Pelosi said of the nation’s founders. “They could not see at the same time, a rogue president and rogue, cowardly Senate not to honor the fact that the president violated the Constitution.”

The event kicked off with an expert panel discussion featuring historian Douglas Brinkley, SMPA Associate Director Jesse Holland and Professor of Political Science Sarah Binder, where they discussed the balance of power and the effective function of the American government.

Sesno began the conversation with Pelosi by asking her questions about current news dominating headlines, like Trump’s Truth Social post calling Pope Leo XIV “weak on crime.” Pelosi, who identifies as Catholic, said Trump’s criticism of the Pope was “inappropriate” and worthy of a “diagnosis.” 

Pelosi called Trump a “master distractor,” adding that his vision for the country strays from the original outlook of America’s founding fathers — a vision she said is based on “charity” and “faith” in democracy. 

“Our founders believed in the goodness of the American people, and that’s why they thought a democracy could thrive,” Pelosi said.

Pelosi said the Trump administration has continued to undermine the Constitution, changing the political landscape of Congress by making it more polarized. She said the nation’s founders intended the House to be the “people’s house” in Congress, not a body subservient to the president, adding that the current speaker of the house, Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA), just follows the president’s agenda without regard for the American people.  

“We are all concerned about what’s happening to the Constitution, what’s happening to rule of law, due process, freedom of the press and separation of power,” Pelosi said. “We’re all concerned about that because that’s a violation of the Constitution.”

Pelosi said it is “absolute fact” that Democrats are going to win the House in the upcoming midterm elections because American voters are concerned about violations to the Constitution and the rule of law under the Trump administration. She added that she wants to see the party win by 30 or 40 seats — Republicans currently have a four-seat majority in the House — and the party will do that by campaigning in moderate Districts and communicating to voters how the Trump administration’s policies are impacting them. 

“You can’t save the democracy by going to the polls and talking about what they’re doing,” Pelosi said. “You have to save the democracy at the kitchen table,” Pelosi said. 

Pelosi also answered pre-recorded questions from students in Sesno’s class, including one from Ann Duan, a senior majoring in journalism and mass communications, who asked Pelosi why young people should invest in America given that most young adults believe the American dream is no longer attainable. 

Pelosi said the American dream must be restored through a non-partisan method by prioritizing the public’s needs. She added that the increased cost of living, from factors like student loans, healthcare and housing, prevents young individuals from achieving their dreams.

Pelosi said young people have to mobilize in order to sway public sentiment — which she said sparks change, adding that as the future looms, it is the young adult population that is responsible for changing it. 

“We hear all these things, gun violence prevention, issues that relate to climate and the rest, listening, listening to young people,” Pelosi said. “But you also have to make the public insist that things go in that way.” 

Pelosi said America is worth saving, which can be done by bringing people together to listen to their needs and persisting in the belief of the American dream. 

“Know your power, be ready for it and know that the future belongs to you,” Pelosi said.

Brinkley, Holland and Binder discussed what it means to be an American and what reasons young people have to have hope in the country amid rising political polarization. Brinkley said young people must remember that the current time is not “uniquely oppressive,” pointing to eras of slavery and women’s disenfranchisement to show the American dream is always possible even when times are difficult.

“You’re seeing people are feeling a lot of despair, but hope has to be there, because you can’t just wallow in despair,” Brinkley said. “So we have to get a fight on attitude and always care about the community and somebody else besides yourself.”

Binder said over the years, she has seen students in her own classes grapple with lower confidence in the economy, believing America is on the “wrong” track. She said in order to gain back some previous bipartisanship in Congress in an era of heightened polarization, lawmakers may need to have some more closed-door meetings to reduce the “noise” of partisanship when making deals.

“It’s not like we’re looking for the ideological middle,” Binder said. “We’re looking for something that both parties can get, something that they’re after.”

Holland disagreed with Binder, arguing that the power of the press is central to democracy and journalists need to be clued in to conversations on Capitol Hill. He said both John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, though political rivals, both advocated for a free press to provide neutral information to the American people.

“Even though, sometimes, even as a journalist, I will say, we don’t always love what the media does, we still need that protection from the government through information that the media provides,” Holland said.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Don Beyer (D-VA)

Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA) today led 16 House Democrats in urging the immediate reinstatement of the State Department’s Bureau of Energy Resources and its personnel amid severe disruptions following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and damage to key energy infrastructure caused by the Trump administration’s reckless war of choice in Iran, which has intensified volatility in global energy markets and driven up oil and gas prices. The Members warned that these shocks are cascading through global supply chains, driving up costs for transportation, manufacturing, and essential consumer goods, and further straining American household budgets.

In calling for the reversal of recent staff terminations and the DOGE-mandated dismantling of the State Department’s energy diplomacy apparatus, the lawmakers emphasized that at a moment of heightened global instability, the U.S. urgently needs dedicated subject matter expertise and a fully staffed Bureau of Energy Resources. They highlighted the Bureau’s critical role in coordinating interagency efforts, engaging with foreign governments, and advancing U.S. leadership in global energy initiatives. The lawmakers further warned that the loss of dedicated energy expertise within the State Department could leave the United States less prepared to respond to rapidly evolving global energy flows.

In a letter addressed to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the Members wrote:

“Dear Secretary Rubio:

The Administration’s war with Iran resulted in the immediate reactive closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20 percent of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas travels, as well as damage to energy infrastructure in the Middle East. This has cascading impacts across every industry and supply chain dependent on oil and gas, not to mention increased domestic energy prices for the average American family. Given this, we write to urge you to reverse the closure of the Department of State’s Bureau of Energy Resources (Bureau) and immediately reinstate the Bureau staff and subject matter experts that were terminated at the request of the Department of Government Efficiency.

We need energy expertise to lessen damage from this poorly thought through war and to help navigate its effects on the global energy supply chain. Congress and then President George W. Bush recognized that energy diplomacy and security was integral to the State Department’s mission when it established a Coordinator for International Energy Affairs within the Office of the Secretary of State back in 2007. Building off that Congressional recognition and need for a designated entity within the Department of State, the Bureau was established in 2011. Since its establishment, the Bureau has provided geopolitical energy expertise to both Republican and Democratic Administrations, engaged in robust interagency coordination efforts, and acted as a liaison for foreign governments with the goal of solidifying U.S. leadership in global energy initiatives. Without the staff expertise this Bureau provides, the U.S. will continue to stumble like a bull in a china shop in geopolitical energy conversations as the situation evolves in the Midde East and the Strait of Hormuz. Reinstating the Bureau and its experts is the best course forward for mitigating damage and helping prevent further market shocks that poor planning has done thus far.

Americans continue to feel the easily anticipated consequences of the President’s actions in Iran that this Bureau might have helped prevent. We are still learning the longstanding impacts that this war will have on the energy supply chain and the pocketbook of the American taxpayer. American families should not have to weather these high energy prices and global energy shocks that this war is causing. We should be looking for solutions that prevent widespread fear, confusion, and strains on household budgets. Therefore, it is time to reopen the State Department’s Bureau of Energy Resources and reinstate the geopolitical energy experts that were terminated last summer.”

The letter is signed by U.S. Representatives Don Beyer (D-VA), Sean Casten (D-IL), Joaquin Castro (D-TX), Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO), Jasmine Crockett (D-TX), Danny Davis (D-IL), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Laura Friedman (D-CA), Jonathan Jackson (D-IL), Bill Keating (D-MA), Sarah McBride (D-DE), Dave Min (D-CA), Mike Quigley (D-IL), Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA), Marc Veasey (D-TX), and James Walkinshaw (D-VA).

A signed copy of the letter is available here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Gregory W Meeks (5th District of New York)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Gregory W. Meeks (NY-05) spoke on the House floor urging for a 3-year extension of Temporary Protected Status for Haitians. He called for swift action to protect families during ongoing crises in Haiti. The measure passed the House and waits action from the Senate.

REP. MEEKS: M. Speaker – I rise today in strong support of Representative Gillen’s bill to extend Temporary Protected Status for Haitians until 2029. 

It is frankly outrageous that it took Representative Pressley’s bipartisan discharge petition to force this consequential vote. 

The Administration and the Speaker failed to act, but today, Congress has the chance to make this right.

Because the American people recognize that our Haitian neighbors, from Miami to Boston to Queens, are not strangers, but integral parts of our communities, our churches, and our families.

The American people recognize that the conditions in Haiti don’t just meet, but surpass the threshold for TPS. 

We are talking about one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world where armed gangs control 90% of the capital, a public health system is nearing collapse, the justice system is almost non-existent, and 1.4 million people are internally displaced, fleeing from violence and hunger.

You don’t have to take my word for it. Look at the U.S. State Department’s own travel advisory issued under this administration. It says plainly, quote, “Do not travel to Haiti due to kidnapping, crime, terrorist activity, civil unrest, and limited health care,” end quote.

So, we must do everything in our power to prevent further harm during this humanitarian crisis – and we can start by passing this bill.

There’s a reason the words at the base of the Statue of Liberty read “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.” 

It’s because America is at its strongest when we stand for humanity here at home and abroad. I yield back.

Watch the full floor speech here.  

###

 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (12th District of Michigan)

Today, U.S. Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06) announced she secured $45,271,629 in federal grant funding for the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor to support a wide range of research initiatives, including aging, nursing, neurological disorders, cancer, and more. The funding comes from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and was made possible by Congresswoman Dingell’s advocacy. 

“This funding will bolster the University of Michigan’s leadership in research and innovation,” said Congresswoman Dingell. “These federal grants are a powerful investment in the health, safety, and well-being of our communities, and I am proud to have secured this money. I will never stop working to deliver federal resources to Michigan that secure better treatments and improve patient outcomes.”

Projects receiving funding include:

• $2,401,493 for Diabetes Endocrinology and Metabolic Research 

• $1,097,482 for Heart and Vascular Diseases Research 

• $609,097 for Discovery and Applied Research for Technological Innovations to Improve Human Health 

• $2,700,816 for Aging Research 

• $3,394,567 for Cancer Research 

• $2,199,878 for Research for Mothers and Children 

• $2,849,058 for Allergy Immunology and Transplantation Research 

• $553,631 for B – Cooperative Agreements 

• $616,719 for Biological Research Related to Deafness and Communicative Disorders 

• $4,688,085 for Biological Response to Environmental Health Hazards 

• $555,533 for Biomedical Research and Research Training 

• $1,325,195 for Clinical Research Related to Neurological Disorders 

• $609,097 for Discovery and Applied Research for Technological Innovations to Improve Human Health 

• $11,050,452 for Drug Abuse and Addiction Research Programs 

• $1,757,617 for Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders

• $741,396 for Lung Diseases Research 

• $234,000 for Mental Health Research Grants 

• $1,072,090 for Oral Diseases and Disorders Research 

• $6,115,137 for Pharmacology Physiology and Biological Chemistry Research 

• $700,286 for Vision Research

A full list of projects receiving grant funding can be found HERE.

HHS is the largest grant-making agency in the United States. Most HHS grants are provided directly to states, territories, tribes, and educational and community organizations, then distributed to eligible individuals and organizations. For more information on HHS grants, click here.

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

Pressley, Markey, McGovern Conducted Check In with Öztürk at Louisiana ICE Facility in April 2025, Welcomed Her Home Following Release from ICE Detention

Pressley Has Stood in Vigorous Defense of Immigrant Communities in MA 7^th and Nationwide, Fighting to Bring Detained Neighbors Home

Rep. Pressley’s Social Media Post

WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) issued a heartfelt message saying goodbye to her constituent, Rümeysa Öztürk, a Somerville resident and PhD graduate who has chosen to return to her home country, Turkey, after being unlawfully detained and subjected to inhumane conditions by the Trump Administration in retaliation for her protected speech.

In April 2025, Congresswoman Pressley, Sen. Markey, and Rep. James P. McGovern traveled to ICE facilities in Basile and Jena, where Rümeysa Öztürk and Mahmoud Khalil were being unlawfully detained. In May 2025, at her request, the lawmakers welcomed Ms. Öztürk at Logan Airport following her release from Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention in Louisiana.

The Congresswoman’s social media post is here and the text of her message is available below:

“Rumeysa, saying goodbye is deeply bittersweet. From the moment we met behind the wall, I felt an immediate kinship with you. Even in the midst of trauma, fear, and uncertainty, your light shone through. You spoke first not about yourself, but about the women detained alongside you—carrying their stories in your heart and in carefully written notes, like the brilliant researcher you are.

What Donald Trump and his administration subjected you to is a shameful injustice, and it will always be a stain on American history. Like so many, you were criminalized for exercising your First Amendment rights. You were incarcerated for seeing the dignity and humanity of the Palestinian people. And you were forced to endure unspeakable trauma as part of their coordinated attempt to intimidate, instill fear, and rip away the fundamental rights of everyone who calls this country home.

But despite it all, you persevered. You pressed forward, finishing your studies and contributing to our community through your scholarship, advocacy, and humanity.

You deserved so much better.

Thank you for everything you gave to our Commonwealth and country, and for the courage and compassion you showed in even the darkest moments. Please know that the Massachusetts 7th will always be your home, and I will be forever proud to call you my constituent and fight for your rights.”

Photo credit: Rep. Ayanna Pressley’s Office

Following Öztürk’s abduction and detention, Congresswoman Pressley, along with Senator Markey, Ranking Member Bennie Thompson, Congressman Jim McGovern, and Congressman Troy Carter sent a letter to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) seeking more information on the detention conditions of immigrants held at the Central Louisiana ICE Processing Center (CLIPC) and the South Louisiana ICE Processing Center (SLIPC) after an oversight trip to the facilities.

On May 7, 2025, Pressley, Markey, and McGovern applauded the Second Circuit for ordering Rümeysa’s transfer from ICE custody in Louisiana to Vermont and rejecting the Trump administration’s attempt to delay complying with a lower court order to do so.

In a powerful New York Times op-ed, Pressley, Markey, and McGovern discussed their meeting with Ms. Öztürk in detention and warned the American people of the dangers posed by the Trump administration’s unlawful attacks on our constitutional rights to freedom of speech and due process. Full text of the op-ed is available here.

Rep. Pressley, along with Sens. Warren and Markey, have pushed for answers and action since Öztürk’s March arrest. In March 2025, they led over 30 lawmakers in writing to Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Acting Director for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Todd Lyons, demanding information about Öztürk’s arrest and detention as well as similar incidents across the country.

In April 2025, the lawmakers sounded the alarm on Öztürk’s medical neglect in DHS custody and renewed urgent calls for her release. Pressley, Warren and Markey demanded Secretary of State Rubio released any documents related to her arrest after a recent report indicated that an internal State Department memo concluded that the key premise underlying Tufts graduate student Rümeysa Öztürk’s arrest and detention was false. Congresswoman Pressley issued a statement condemning reports that ICE arrested and detained Rümeysa Öztürk, an international student with legal status in a graduate program at Tufts University. 

In the Massachusetts 7^th, Rep. Pressley has recognized and supported the many families torn apart and children suffering from the detention of a loved one—including harrowing attacks on Massachusetts families in their daily lives, abductions of dedicated workers at the Allston car wash, pushing to bring Rümeysa Öztürk home, and more.

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