MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Linda Sanchez (38th District of CA)

WASHINGTON – Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee Ranking Member Linda T. Sánchez (D-Calif.) released the following statement on President Trump imposing a 25 percent tariff on products imported from Brazil:

“President Trump’s Section 301 investigation into Brazil was never about addressing unfair trade practices. It was always a pretext for imposing new tariffs.

“When Trump first imposed sweeping tariffs on Brazil last year, he admitted they were political retaliation against Brazil for prosecuting former President Bolsonaro over his failed coup attempt— an effort that mirrored Trump’s own attack on our democracy. 

“After the Supreme Court struck down Trump’s illegal tariffs, including those on Brazil, he is now misusing Section 301 authority to reimpose the same tariffs on Brazil. Section 301 is meant to protect American workers and industries, not to be misused for political retaliation or to revive unconstitutional tariffs.

“These tariffs will not create jobs, lower prices or protect American interests. Instead, they are being used to advance Trump’s personal interests at the expense of American families and businesses. Congress must act to restore accountability and stop this reckless abuse of power.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (8th District of Illinois)

WASHINGTON — Ahead of President Trump’s address on election security tonight, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), a senior member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, released the following statement:

“For nearly six years, President Trump has tried to rewrite the history of the 2020 election. Tonight, he appears prepared to use handpicked political loyalists and selective declassification to relitigate a settled election and create a pretext for an unprecedented federal takeover of this fall’s elections. Our Intelligence Community exists to protect our country, not the President’s ego. While Americans are worried about the rising cost of living, President Trump is once again trying to convince them he won an election he lost—and using that lie to legitimize an unprecedented federal takeover of the next.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (8th District of Illinois)

WASHINGTON — Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), a member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, sent a follow-up letter to Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon and Goldman Sachs Senior Counselor Kathryn Ruemmler on Tuesday after Goldman Sachs failed to adequately answer the lawmakers’ previous inquiry regarding the terms of Ruemmler’s continued employment following revelations about her extensive ties to convicted sex criminal Jeffrey Epstein. The follow-up letter also seeks records concerning Goldman Sachs’ reported use of the reputation management firm Terakeet to bolster Ruemmler’s public image. The letter comes as Ruemmler appeared before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform this week regarding her ties to Jeffrey Epstein.

The lawmakers write:

“The bank’s June 26, 2026 response was insufficient—and in fact, it raised more questions than answers. Specifically, though the response stated that ‘Ms Ruemmler [would] retire from’ the roles of ‘chief legal officer and general counsel of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. . . . on June 30 as previously announced,’ the letter did not explicitly state when Ms. Ruemmler would depart the firm. The length of this ‘transition period,’ and Ms. Ruemmler’s plans, if any, to continue her work at the firm afterwards along with her compensation, remain unclear.”

The lawmakers continue:

“Meanwhile, Goldman Sachs appears to continue to expend resources to launder Ms. Ruemmler’s public reputation. According to reports from earlier this year, Goldman Sachs contracted a reputation management firm, Terakeet, in 2024. Terakeet reportedly ‘created and posted positive online content about Ms. Ruemmler that was aimed at appearing above the mostly negative content about her association with Mr. Epstein. The goal was that at least 80 percent of the first 30 Google search results would be favorable.'”

The letter also notes that Terakeet’s services reportedly cost between $5 million and $10 million annually and states that, as of May 2026, Ruemmler reportedly continued to be covered under Goldman Sachs’ account with the firm.

The lawmakers requested responses to the following questions by July 28, 2026:

1. Goldman Sachs has stated that Ms. Ruemmler will stay on at the firm in a senior counselor role “during the transition period leading up to the appointment of a new chief legal officer.”
   1. What are the duties associated with this position? Provide copies of any job description or written communications describing the position.
   2. What is Ms. Ruemmler’s new compensation package? Provide documentation.
   3. How long is the “transition period” anticipated to last?
2. On what date will Ms. Ruemmler depart the firm? If you cannot provide a specific date, please confirm in writing that Goldman Sachs will not offer Ms. Ruemmler a new position at the end of the “transition period leading up to the appointment of a new chief legal officer.”
3. How did you both come to the agreement that you would no longer depart the firm on June 30 but would instead stay on in a high-level advisory role?
4. Has Ms. Ruemmler recused herself from the selection process of her successor? If she has not yet, why not?
5. Please provide a copy of Goldman Sachs’ contract with Terakeet and any other documents that describe the scope of services Terakeet provides for the firm, the total cost of services, and all communications between current and former Goldman Sachs employees with current and former Terakeet employees, including but not limited to its co-founder, Mac Cummings, since 2024.
   1. Who directed Terakeet to “[create] and [post] positive online content about Ms. Ruemmler that was aimed at appearing above the mostly negative content about her association with Mr. Epstein”?
   2. Please provide any memos, reports, and other deliverables Terakeet prepared for the firm.
6. Provide copies of all communications between Ms. Ruemmler and any current and former Terakeet employees, including all communications conducted on phone, email, and other communication accounts not officially associated with Goldman Sachs. Include any communications between Ms. Ruemmler and Mac Cummings.
7. With whom, if anyone, at Goldman Sachs or Terakeet did Ms. Ruemmler discuss her plans to reach out to Ankush Khardori to discuss “her side” of the Epstein story? If Ms. Ruemmler did not discuss these plans with any current or former employee of Goldman Sachs or Terakeet, please confirm that in writing.

In addition, the lawmakers reiterated their request for answers to the following questions from their June 9, 2026, letter, which were not sufficiently answered in Goldman Sachs’ response:

8. Did Mr. Solomon “press” Ruemmler to stay at the firm? If so, why?
9. A Goldman Sachs spokesperson stated that Ruemmler “disclosed her association with Epstein before joining the firm[.]”
   1. How did Ruemmler describe the nature of her relationship with Epstein?
   2. Did Ruemmler disclose that she advised Epstein on how to discredit one of his accusers?
   3. Did Ruemmler disclose that she accepted tens of thousands of dollars in gifts from Epstein?
   4. Did Goldman Sachs conduct any additional due diligence following Ruemmler’s disclosure?
10. A Goldman Sachs spokesperson stated that Ruemmler “has answered every question the firm has ever asked.” Please provide the list of questions that Goldman Sachs asked Ruemmler about her relationship with Mr. Epstein and her responses.
11. Did Goldman Sachs notify any of its regulators, including, but not limited to, the Federal Reserve Board, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and New York Department of Financial Services, of Ruemmler’s connections to Epstein prior to hiring her as its top legal officer?
12. Ruemmler initially announced her resignation on February 13, 2026, but it was not going to be effective until June 30, 2026. Had Ruemmler resigned effective immediately in February, would it have limited her compensation package in any way? If so, please provide the quantitative impact.

The new letter is available here.

Their June 9, 2026 letter is available here.

A reply from Goldman Sachs to the previous letter is available here.

 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Joaquin Castro (20th District of Texas)

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (15th District of Texas)

The proposed largest cut to veterans’ benefits in a generation is a stark turn from when Congress delivered the largest expansion of veterans’ health care in a bipartisan manner through the Honoring Our PACT Act nearly 4 years ago.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Rick Larsen (2nd Congressional District Washington)

Today, Representative Rick Larsen released the following statement:

“The President’s speech tonight should be about lowering costs and creating jobs. Instead, he will continue spreading lies about American elections. The truth is simple: Donald Trump lost the 2020 election. America’s elections are secure, transparent and run by state and local officials from both parties.

“After the 2020 election, the CIA, the Department of Justice, the Department of Homeland Security and other agencies investigated the vote and found no evidence of foreign interference. More than 60 courts rejected challenges to the outcome of the 2020 election. Republican and Democratic election officials alike confirmed the results. There was no evidence of widespread fraud that changed the outcome of the election.

“As Americans prepare to vote again this fall, I am focused on protecting the right of every eligible citizen to cast a ballot and have that ballot counted.

“Before Election Day, I am supporting all efforts to protect access to the ballot box, defend Washington state’s secure vote-by-mail system and ensure election officials have the resources they need to administer free and fair elections. On Election Day, I will work to stop voter intimidation and ensure polling places around the country remain open. After Election Day, I will work to ensure all ballots are counted.

“President Trump can lie all he wants, but the American people decide elections.”

Rep. Larsen is an advocate for free and fair elections, expanding access to the ballot and Washington state’s vote-by-mail system. For more than a decade, he has advocated for and reintroduced legislation to protect U.S. citizens who face disenfranchisement because of restrictive voter identification laws (America Votes Act). Rep. Larsen is a co-founder of the Congressional Voting Rights Caucus.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Brad Sherman (D-CA)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Brad Sherman (CA-32) joined U.S. Representatives Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) and nearly 200 Members in calling for independent investigations into Lorenzo Salgado Araujo and Johan Sebastian Guerrero’s deaths and are demanding that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) halt removal proceedings against the witnesses.

“On the heels of two fatal shootings carried out by ICE in the span of a week, I joined my colleagues in demanding an independent investigation free from interference,” said Congressman Sherman. “The deaths of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo and Johan Sebastián Guerrero demand answers. The conduct of ICE demands accountability.”

“Both of these incidents have created enormous fear and outrage in the community, and raise serious questions about the safety of community members, regardless of immigration status,” wrote the Members. “Far too many people, Americans and noncitizens alike, are dead as a result of DHS’s reckless actions. There must be accountability and independent investigations.”

On July 7th, ICE agents shot and killed Mr. Salgado Araujo, a father of three U.S. citizens who had resided in the country for 35 years. He was reportedly not ICE’s target in their operation, and despite ICE’s claims that Mr. Salgado Araujo “weaponized his vehicle,” no evidence to substantiate that claim has been presented, and it is disputed by witnesses in the vehicle. 

On July 13th, ICE agents shot and killed Mr. Guerrero, a father who also was reportedly not the target of enforcement actions. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) claims to have shot him in concern for “public safety” after he “attempted to flee.” The agency does not allege that at any point officers feared for their safety. Video of this killing shows ICE officers handcuffing Mr. Guerrero even after he had been shot in the head. 

DHS agents, including ICE agents, have shot at least 21 people just since the start of President Donald Trump’s second term. Six of these shootings have been fatal, resulting in the death of U.S. citizens and individuals who posed no public safety threat. In two previous shootings, ICE has claimed that victims were also “weaponizing” their vehicles, claims that have turned out to be false statements as evidence emerged.

The full text of the letter to DHS Secretary Mullin and ICE Acting Director Venturella can be read here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (8th District of Illinois)

WASHINGTON — Today, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) and Congressman Adam Smith (D-WA) introduced the Welcome Back to the Health Care Workforce Act, legislation to help address the nation’s persistent health care workforce shortage by helping internationally educated health care professionals overcome barriers to practicing in the United States. Of the two million college-educated immigrants currently living in the United States, roughly 14 percent hold health-related degrees. Yet many remain unable to work in their professions because of licensing, credentialing, language, and other barriers, even as hospitals, clinics, and long-term care providers across the country struggle to fill critical positions. According to the Migration Policy Institute, this underutilized talent represents a missed opportunity to strengthen the nation’s health care workforce while contributing to an estimated $10 billion in lost federal, state, and local tax revenue each year.

“Across the country, communities are struggling with health care workforce shortages while highly qualified doctors, nurses, and other health professionals trained overseas remain sidelined by unnecessary barriers,” Congressman Krishnamoorthi said. “Our legislation will help connect these talented professionals with the support they need to earn U.S. credentials, join the workforce more quickly, and expand access to quality care for patients across the country.”

“It makes no economic sense to have trained nurses and doctors working far outside their field while hospitals can’t fill shifts and patients wait longer for care,” said Congressman Smith. “This bill doesn’t lower a single standard — it removes barriers that keeps qualified professionals from contributing at the level of their skills. That’s a practical, commonsense fix to a workforce problem employers across the country are asking us to solve.” 

“The 9th District is one of the most diverse in the nation, and that diversity is an economic asset. In Kent, SeaTac, Tukwila, and South Seattle, we have neighbors with health care degrees and years of clinical experience who want nothing more than to serve their communities,” Smith continued. “Putting their talents to work means shorter wait times, more culturally competent care, and stronger family incomes right here in King County.”

 

Specifically, the Welcome Back to the Health Care Workforce Act would establish a grant program administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to:

1. Support local- and state-level partnerships among health care organizations, community-based organizations, institutions of higher education, and state and local governments to help internationally educated health care professionals enter the U.S. health care workforce. 
2. Help internationally educated health care professionals overcome barriers to licensure and employment by: 
   1. Assisting with obtaining overseas academic and training records and navigating the U.S. licensing and credentialing process; 
   2. Providing work-readiness programs, peer support, mentoring, and culturally competent career counseling; 
   3. Expanding access to prerequisite coursework, continuing education, and English-language instruction; and 
   4. Supporting opportunities to address classroom and clinical instructor shortages. 
3. Prioritize partnerships focused on helping health care workers serve rural communities or fill critical workforce shortages in underserved areas. 

The legislation is supported by: Advocates for Community Health, Afghan Cultural Society, American Geriatrics Society, American Public Health Association, American Seniors Housing Association, America’s Essential Hospitals, Arkansas United, Association of Clinicians for the Underserved, Association of Dental Support Organizations, Ballad Health, California Immigrants Resources Center, CGFNS International, Chemeketa Community College, Federation of American Hospitals, Gerontological Society of America, Global Cleveland, IMPRINT Coalition, Intealth, International Institute of Buffalo, Jewish Family Service of San Diego, LeadingAge, Lifepoint Health, Lutheran Family Services Rocky Mountains, Medicos Unidos Venezuela, National AHEC Organization, National Association for Geriatric Education, National Association of Community Health Centers, National Association of Hispanic Nurses, National Association of Indian Nurses of America, National Association of Rural Health Clinics, National Black Nurses Association, National Immigration Forum, National League for Nursing, National Rural Health Association, National Skills Coalition, Pars Equality Center, Los Angeles, Philippine Nurses Association of America, Portland Refugee Support Group, Providence Public School, Restore Education, RUSA LGBTQ, Spring Institute for Intercultural Learning, Synergy Texas, Talent Beyond Boundaries, The International Medical Graduates Academy (TIMGA), The Welcoming Center, Tiyya Foundation, UnidosUS, Upwardly Global, US Together, Virginia Rural Health Association, Hospital and Healthcare Association, Welcome Back Initiative, Welcoming City, and World Education Services.

A full copy of the bill text is available here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (8th District of Illinois)

WASHINGTON — Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08) and Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) today reintroduced the Protecting Students from Worthless Degrees Act, bicameral legislation to protect students from predatory higher education programs—which are often run by for-profit colleges—that target financially vulnerable students, leave borrowers buried in debt, and force taxpayers to foot the bill for federal aid that never delivered on its promise.

The legislation would ensure that predatory and worthless degree programs are ineligible for federal financial aid dollars. The updated bill also responds to the Trump Administration’s recent attacks on college affordability, including a final rule that fails to ensure federal student aid only flows to programs that keep their commitments to students and delays accountability for programs preparing students for occupations where a majority of workers receive tipped income.

“Students should never spend years earning a degree, take on tens of thousands of dollars in debt, and then discover they were never actually qualified for the career they were promised,” said Congressman Krishnamoorthi. “Higher education should be a pathway to the middle class—not a pipeline to debt. Our bill ensures colleges receiving taxpayer dollars actually prepare students for the careers they promise.”

“Students should not be saddled with a worthless degree or mountains of debt for pursuing the dream of higher education,” said Senator Merkley. “The Protecting Students from Worthless Degrees Act restores common-sense protections so graduates are not left with unmanageable debt and ensures that federal funds are not going toward worthless college degrees. This is a win-win for both students and taxpayers—delivering on the promise of quality education, meaningful career opportunities, and the responsible investment of federal financial aid dollars.”

The Protecting Students from Worthless Degrees Act would:

• Ensure students and taxpayers are not left footing the bill for predatory and worthless degree programs by making these programs ineligible for federal education assistance funds. 
• Restore a strong debt-to-earnings standard for for-profit college programs and non-degree certificate programs at any school so that programs that consistently leave graduates with unmanageable debt relative to their earnings lose access to federal aid. 
• Ensure the earnings premium test, which measures whether the typical graduate from a program who received federal aid earns at least as much as a typical high school graduate, applies to undergraduate certificate programs. 
• Guarantee that programs preparing students for occupations where a majority of workers receive tipped income are not subject to a one-year delay in program eligibility consequences. 
• Require all programs—including distance education programs—to meet any federal or state licensure requirements and programmatic accreditation necessary for graduates to enter their intended field. 
• Ensure states can apply and enforce their laws against online schools based in other states to provide consistent student protections. 

The legislation is cosponsored by Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Congressman Danny K. Davis (IL-07).

The bill is endorsed by The Institute for College Access & Success (TICAS); AFT: Education, Healthcare, Public Services; New America’s Higher Education Program; Third Way; EdTrust; and The Century Foundation.

“This bill takes important steps to protect students from worthless degrees that do not lead to the jobs they were promised and builds on efforts to ensure taxpayer dollars are not wasted on programs that do not deliver for students,” said Christopher Madaio, Senior Advisor for Federal and State Accountability at The Institute for College Access & Success (TICAS).

“Students deserve confidence that the degrees they pursue will open doors—not leave them with broken promises or unaffordable debt. By codifying and strengthening accountability for low-financial-value programs, this legislation reinforces the principle that federal dollars should support programs that deliver real opportunity and economic mobility. Third Way applauds Senator Merkley and Representative Krishnamoorthi for their leadership in protecting students and safeguarding taxpayers’ investment in higher education,” said Michelle Dimino, Director of Education at Third Way.

“Students deserve programs that deliver real economic opportunity, not mountains of unaffordable debt. The Protecting Students from Worthless Degrees Act would help restore meaningful accountability in higher education and protect students from low-value, often predatory programs,” said Carolyn Fast, Director of Higher Education Policy and Senior Fellow at The Century Foundation.

“Research has consistently shown that the number one reason students go to college is to get a good job. This bill takes a meaningful step toward ensuring students can get that job and earn enough to repay the debt they take on when they enroll,” said Wesley Whistle, Project Director for Student Success & Affordability at New America.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (8th District of Illinois)

WASHINGTON — On Wednesday, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) joined Representatives Mike Lawler (R-NY), Sharice Davids (D-KS), and Seth Moulton (D-MA), along with leaders from The Trevor Project, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, and the Mental Health Liaison Group, to call on the Trump Administration to immediately restore the specialized LGBTQ+ youth crisis services formerly available through the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline’s “Press 3” option. Although the Department of Health and Human Services has committed to restoring the services before the end of the year, the bipartisan coalition urged the Administration to immediately implement the funding Congress has already appropriated and restore the specialized LGBTQ+ youth crisis services without further delay.

“Before the Trump Administration ended it, the 988 Lifeline’s specialized LGBTQ+ youth crisis services connected with nearly 1.6 million young people during some of the darkest moments of their lives. When you reach that many young people, you’re meeting a real need and making a real difference. Congress came together on a bipartisan basis to restore these lifesaving services and appropriated the funding to make it happen. Congress did its job. Now the Trump Administration must implement the law and restore these services without another day’s delay,” Krishnamoorthi said.

Congressman Krishnamoorthi helped secure $33.1 million to restore the 988 Lifeline’s specialized LGBTQ+ youth crisis services and introduced bipartisan legislation to protect them permanently. According to The Trevor Project, 41 percent of LGBTQ+ young people in Illinois seriously considered suicide in the past year, including 48 percent of transgender and nonbinary youth.