MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (District of Columbia)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – At the beginning of Black History Month, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) reintroduced a bill to award a posthumous Congressional Gold Medal to the “Golden Thirteen,” which were the first 13 African American officers in the United States Navy. In 1944, 16 African American men completed the required training course to become officers and passed their exams. Twelve of those men were commissioned as officers and a 13^th was made a chief warrant officer, while no reason was given by the Navy as to why the remaining three men did not receive the commissions they had earned.

“These officers passed their exams with high marks, despite being given half the standard amount of training time,” Norton said. “When the group was accused of cheating and were forced to retake their exams, these men passed once again and scored higher on the exam than the first time, ultimately earning the highest average of any class in Navy history at the time. These men served their country honorably, even with the challenges against them. They oversaw all-Black units and the training of Black recruits. It’s time now that we honor these brave men with a Congressional Gold Medal to thank them for their service.”

Norton’s introductory statement follows.

Statement of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton

on the Introduction of the Golden Thirteen Congressional Gold Medal Act

February 2, 2026

Today, I introduce the Golden Thirteen Congressional Gold Medal Act.  This bill would award a posthumous Congressional Gold Medal to the 13 men who became the first African American commissioned and warrant officers in the United States Navy.

In 1944, the Navy began officer training for 16 African American men.  At that time, there were no African American officers in the Navy.  These 16 men were expected to complete their officer training in eight weeks, even though officer training was normally 16 weeks.

These 16 men supported each other, including by placing blankets over their windows and studying as a group by flashlight at night. Each brought to the group his own expertise to help the others.

When their officer training was completed, all 16 passed their exams.  With some claiming that the group must have cheated, the group was forced to retake certain exams, and the group scored even higher.  The average grade for the group was 3.89 out of 4.0, the highest average of any class in Navy history at that time.

Even though all 16 men passed their exams, the Navy commissioned only 12 of the men, and a 13^th was made a chief warrant officer.  Three returned to the enlisted ranks, with no reason given by the Navy.

During the men’s careers, they oversaw all-Black units or the training of Black recruits.  One would go on to make his career in the Navy after World War II, with the rest returning to civilian life.  In the 1970s, Captain Edward Secrest, a former instructor, gave the group the name the “Golden Thirteen.”

I urge my colleagues to support this bill to honor the first African American officers in the Navy: Jesse Walter Arbor; Phillip G. Barnes; Samuel Edward Barnes; Dalton Louis Baugh, Sr.; George Clinton Cooper; Reginald Ernest Goodwin; James Edward Hair; Charles Byrd Lear; Graham Edward Martin; Dennis Denmark Nelson; John Walter Reagan; Frank Ellis Sublett, Jr.; and William Sylvester White.  The three men who passed their exams but were not made officers were Augustus Alves; J.B. Pinkney; and Lewis “Mummy” Williams.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (7th District of Washington)

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (1st District of Washington)

Today, Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) released the following statement on the government funding bill that passed the House today.

“ICE is terrorizing families in our communities and causing violence across our nation with American tax dollars. The recent horrific tragedies in Minnesota are just the latest examples of an unchecked agency rotting from the head down under Secretary Kristi Noem’s failed leadership. Democrats in Congress are demanding stronger legal guardrails, real oversight, and meaningful accountability. Because of our pressure, the White House is now at the negotiating table to address these concerns.

“Given the lawlessness we’ve witnessed under the Trump administration, I could not vote for legislation that provides additional resources to ICE without much-needed oversight and accountability. Democrats must use the ongoing negotiations over the next two weeks to secure the critical reforms Americans are demanding for ICE. Any potential agreement that comes before the House must protect innocent Americans and rein in this rogue agency.”

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

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Brett Guthrie (2nd District Kentucky)

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, delivered the following opening statement at today’s hearing, examining fraud in Medicare and Medicaid. This hearing follows the largest Department of Justice health care fraud bust in history and the widely reported allegations of welfare fraud in states like Minnesota. 

Oversight of federal health programs, such as Medicaid and Medicare, falls under the jurisdiction of Chairman Guthrie’s committee. In addition to launching the investigation that led to today’s hearing, the Committee also recently sent a letter seeking answers about alleged Medicare fraud in Los Angeles County.

Chairman Guthrie’s opening statement as prepared for delivery:

Good morning and thank you, Chairman Joyce, for holding this hearing on Medicare and Medicaid fraud.

Today’s hearing sounds the alarm on the tremendous loss of taxpayer dollars to fraud – and the real consequences for patients, providers, and public trust.

Together, Medicare and Medicaid provide health coverage to more than 140 million Americans, including seniors, people with disabilities, low-income families, pregnant women, and children. These programs are lifelines, not abstract budget figures. When they are exploited and plundered, Americans lose access to care, confidence in the system, and resources intended to improve health outcomes.

Each year, tens of billions of dollars are lost to fraud, waste, and abuse. But financial loss is not the only consequence of these fraud schemes. When providers bill for services never rendered or criminals flood Medicare or Medicaid with fake claims, the system becomes harder to oversee, less responsive to legitimate patients, and financially unstable. Health care costs rise for everyone, and trust in these critical programs erodes.

Operation Gold Rush illustrates the growing scale of the problem. This recent, nationwide enforcement action by the Department of Justice was the largest health care fraud takedown in history. This operation targeted several health care fraud schemes leading to criminal charges against 324 defendants in 50 federal districts and 12 State Attorneys General’s Offices across the U.S. The various schemes involved over $14.6 billion in intended loss.

Twenty-nine of those defendants were charged for their roles in transnational criminal organizations that used stolen identities of over one million Americans—spanning all 50 states—to submit over $10 billion in fraudulent claims to Medicare for durable medical equipment that patients never ordered or received. Many seniors learned their Medicare or other personally identifiable information had been compromised only after being denied legitimate care.

This was not an administrative error—it was organized crime exploiting our nation’s health care programs. We must ensure taxpayer dollars are used for quality health care, not siphoned off by criminal enterprises. Republicans took steps to this end in HR 1, and we must continue the effort to preserve Medicare and Medicaid for those who need these programs.

I look forward to hearing from our witnesses today. With that, I yield back.

Chairman Guthrie’s full opening statement can be found here. 

Chairman Guthrie’s five minutes of questioning can be found here. 

Additional highlights from today’s hearing provided by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce can be found here.

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

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) joined Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), and Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain (R-Mich.) to discuss Democrats’ opposition to funding the government and Republicans’ efforts to prevent another long, painful Democrat shutdown.

Click here or the image above to view Leader Scalise’s full remarks. 
Highlights from Leader Scalise’s remarks:“Once again, today, Republicans will reopen the government after Democrats shut it down. It’s like we’ve seen this movie before, just a few weeks ago, that Democrats shut the government down for a record amount of time. It took President Trump working with Republicans to finally get it reopened. We’re going to do that again today. As the whip said, if some Democrats want to join us, we welcome them. But you’ve seen their leaders, like Hakeem Jeffries, say they want to keep the government shut down. You’d ask why. Well, it’s surely not over ICE because we’ve already funded ICE in the One Big Beautiful Bill.“What does a no vote mean today? If Democrats, like Hakeem Jeffries, vote no today, they’re voting against a 3.8% pay raise for our troops. That’s in this package. What they’re saying is they don’t want our troops to even get paid, let alone get a pay raise. Because, as it stands today, troops will not get their next paycheck if Hakeem Jeffries and Democrat leaders get their way. TSA agents who keep our airports operating so people can go see relatives flying around the country, that will shut down if Democrats vote no. FEMA is right now giving aid to a lot of states that have had massive damage from freezes. Democrats voting no shuts that down.“And so Republicans will be the responsible party, once again, to keep the government open, to reopen this government, and focus on the priorities that the voters elected Donald Trump and House and Senate Republicans to go implement. We will keep doing that work, even with a razor-thin margin. I know, yes, sometimes the odds look lower than the Patriots winning the Super Bowl, but that’s okay, because we are here to do a job, and we’re going to do that job. Whoever wants to join us on the Democrats’ side is free to.”

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

WASHINGTON, DC – This morning, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) joined Members of Congress and Ukrainian leaders to deliver remarks at a press conference hosted by Co-Chairs of the bipartisan Congressional Ukraine Caucus Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), Congressman Mike Quigley (IL-05), and Congressman Joe Wilson (SC-02) to kick off the start of Ukrainian Week 2026. Below is a transcript of his remarks:
 

“Thank you very much, Marcy Kaptur and Mike Quigley, for leading this caucus and raising the banner of freedom that America has stood for over a century; 250 years, to be exact. Madam Ambassador, thank you for your leadership. Thank you for your commitment. Thank you for representing an extraordinarily courageous people; people who have stood in the cold – much colder than this, as Mike Quigley pointed out – who are being attacked every day. The White House yesterday, I heard – not yesterday, but a few days ago, Mr. Witkoff said, ‘We were so appreciative that Mr. Putin has agreed to stop for a week the savagery that he is visiting on the Ukrainian people.’ Of course, he didn’t keep that week.

“Ladies and gentlemen who stand before me, people who are watching, Ukrainians, Americans, and those of all nations who are committed to democracy, the Ukrainians have shown courage. The people in that House now need to show courage. We have had over 300 votes every time we have put a bill on the Floor to support Ukraine. Over half of the Republicans on every vote, save one of 12. We now have 214 Democrats who have signed – excuse me, 215 who have signed a petition which will bring to the Floor of that House the Ukrainian Support Act. That’s not talk. That’s action, which is what we need. You’ve heard it. We have two Republicans who have signed that, notwithstanding the fact [that] I believe there are hundreds more who say they support Ukraine. At this press conference, I ask one more, one more person to sign a discharge petition that says, ‘Support Ukraine.’ Not with words, but with action, with an articulation of support, a commitment of money, a sanction on the aggressor: the criminal Putin.

“So, I am pleased to join all of you in raising high that banner. Talk to everybody in the Congress of the United States who have not signed that petition and say, ‘On this almost fourth anniversary, stand up, speak up, speak out. Sign the discharge petition.’ Let us give the Ukrainians the loud voice of the Congress of the United States [in] supporting their quest for freedom, democracy, and sovereignty. Thank you.”

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

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, today spoke out against out-of-control immigration enforcement and misplaced priorities at a Committee markup. He also condemned “open and notorious unprosecuted corruption” and outrageous pardons of convicted felons.

In his remarks, Congressman Cohen said in part:

“We put more money into ICE, making it the largest law enforcement agency in this country. ICE was given $75 billion over four years. They get more money than the FBI, the DEA, U.S. Marshals and Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms multiplied by two every year…And what are they doing? They’ve killed two Americans, Ms. Good and Mr. Pretti. They are dead forever. Why? Because people we hired and we pay a large amount of money to took their guns out and shot them. Shot them like Kristi Noem shot her dog…

“What are we turning America into? We’ve hired Brown Shirts to go out and harass our citizens. They consider the protesters as the opposition, and they kill them…We’ve got a messed up set of priorities in this country.”

Congressman Cohen was also critical of Jeff Bezos bankrolling a $40 million documentary on Melania Trump, saying, “you’re talking about open and notorious unprosecuted corruption in our country.” And he listed off pardons the president has provided to frauds and convicted felons that a recent Judiciary Committee report said deprived victims of $1.3 billion in restitution.

See Congressman Cohen’s remarks on ICE and corruption here and on Trump’s pardons here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Johnson (LA-04)

WASHINGTON — This morning, at the weekly House Republican Leadership press conference, Speaker Johnson discussed House Republicans’ overcoming Democrat objections to responsibly end the partial government shutdown, the status of DHS negotiations, and Republicans making tax filing easier for working families.

“We have to make sure we maintain the important parameters here; we can’t go down the road of amnesty. You can’t in any way lighten the enforcement requirement of federal immigration law,” Speaker Johnson said. “That’s what the American people demand and deserve. We want dangerous, illegal criminals to be sent out of the country, and they’ve been very successful at that. But these negotiations are going to go forward.”

Watch Speaker Johnson’s full remarks here.

On DHS funding negotiations:

The President obviously has reached out to state and local officials in the state of Minnesota. The events there have been tragic and unnecessary. He’s made clear his desire to deescalate the situation and to support an honest investigation of what’s occurred there. We now have Tom Homan in charge of operations there, and he’s an extraordinary leader. He has 40 years’ experience. He’s highly decorated, has worked in Democrat and Republican administrations, and he knows what he’s doing. And there’s more order being brought to the chaos. Now, I want to hasten to say that the chaos is because in large measure, the local and state officials in Minnesota have not been participating with federal law enforcement operations. And they’ve created a dangerous situation there. And that is really a big part of the problem here.

The White House and the Senate continued in good faith. They’ve agreed to separate the Homeland Security funding bill, and that’s fine. So, we have two weeks now to negotiate in good faith on both sides. The White House and Senate Democrats are going to engage in that, but the House Republicans are as well. We have to make sure we maintain the important parameters here; we can’t go down the road of amnesty. You can’t in any way lighten the enforcement requirement of federal immigration law. That’s what the American people demand and deserve. We want dangerous, illegal criminals to be sent out of the country, and they’ve been very successful at that. But these negotiations are going to go forward.

On the effects of a shutdown on DHS:

If the Democrats do insist on keeping the government shut down, their pointless obstruction is going to have no effect on border security. We’ve secured our immigration enforcement, as has been noted by the leaders here this morning. We did fund ICE operations for a few years now. What they’ll be shutting down, don’t lose this, what they’ll be shutting down is FEMA operations as we’re cleaning up from the winter storms. They’ll be shutting down TSA, which is obviously necessary to keep the country moving through our airports. Coast Guard operations, I mean, so many important functions in the Department of Homeland Security is what will be adversely affected by these partisan games.

Let’s hope and pray that they don’t do that. Let’s hope that over the next two weeks we can negotiate and get this done. They say they want a real negotiation with President Trump and Republicans over immigration enforcement policy, and we are happy to have that debate. And I said in a gaggle earlier this morning that what must be a part of that discussion is the participation of blue cities in federal immigration enforcement. You can’t go to a sanctuary city and pretend like the law doesn’t apply there. It does. And so, we are going to be working through all that.

On Republicans making tax filing easier for working families:

Last week marked the beginning of tax season, and millions of American families are working through that right now, and they’re recognizing the amount of time and money spent complying with the Federal tax code is going to be significantly reduced this year because of great Republican policy, some of the things we did in the Working Families Tax Cuts, the big beautiful bill. Obviously, we intended to cut taxes and to advance America First pro-growth policies, but we also sought to reduce the tax burden on Americans because we know that reform in the tax system isn’t just about reducing rates, it’s also about reducing the paperwork and the compliance burden on Americans. And you heard these stats, I’ll repeat them, but our Working Families Tax Cuts locked in the doubled standard deduction, it boosted it further to $31,500 for American families. That’s a lot of money to hardworking folks. And again, we remind you, Democrats voted against all those great reforms.

These successful reforms are going to save Americans 210 million hours per year in paperwork and $13 billion in compliance costs. That’s real money to real people, and we’re proud of that. Nobody likes paying taxes, but Republicans have reduced the amount you owe and made your returns significantly easier to file.

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

Ahead of Termination Deadline, Judge Delays Trump Attempt to End Protections for 350,000 Haitian Nationals

Pressley Continues to Press for TPS Extension through Discharge Petition

Field Hearing Footage

WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, Co-Chair of the House Haiti Caucus, applauded a federal judge’s ruling to temporarily block Trump’s move to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians. Ending TPS for Haitians wouldleave over 350,000 Haitian nationals at risk of deportation, many of whom reside in the Massachusetts 7^th congressional district.

Additionally, Rep. Pressley continues to push for a long-term extension for TPS for Haitians. Last month, Rep. Pressley announced a discharge petition that could compel the House vote on a bill to require the Trump Administration to extend TPS for Haiti for three years. The discharge petition continues to gain support and will need 218 signatures in the House to move forward.

“This ruling will be life changing for hundreds of thousands of Haitian nationals in the U.S., many of whom call the Massachusetts 7^th and the Commonwealth home,” said Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley. “The judge’s rejection of Trump’s TPS termination attempt makes plain: it is inhumane, deadly, and unlawful to deport people to a country experiencing political, economic, and humanitarian crises. This marks an essential step in defending Haitian families, but we won’t stop fighting for extended protections—my discharge petition would do just that, and we must move it forward without delay. Our Haitian neighbors are integral members of our communities, and they deserve safe homes here.”

Last month in Boston, Congresswoman Pressley and Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) held a field hearing on the importance of extending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti. Footage from the hearing is available here and photos here.

Rep. Pressley also organized a press conference in D.C. last month to sound the alarm on the harm of terminating TPS for Haiti on seniors and the U.S. care economy.

As Representative for the Massachusetts 7th Congressional District, Congresswoman Pressley serves as Co-Chair for the House Haiti Caucus and represents one of the largest Haitian diaspora communities in the country.

• On June 28, 2025, Rep. Pressley condemned the Trump Administration’s abominable termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti.
• On June 5, 2025, Rep. Pressley and Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09) condemned Donald Trump’s executive order that bans citizens of 12 countries, including Haiti, from traveling to the United States, and places partial restrictions on citizens of seven more nations.
• On March 18, 2025, Rep. Pressley, Congresswoman Yvette Clarke (NY-09), and Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) led 62 of their colleagues in the House and 23 of their colleagues in the Senate in a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem demanding the Trump Administration redesignate and extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti, which the administration recently canceled on questionable legal authority:
• On February 20, 2025, Rep. Pressley and her Haiti Caucus Co-Chairs issued a statement condemning the Trump Administration’s decision to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti.
• On November 14, 2024, Rep. Pressley and her Haiti Caucus Co-Chairs issued a statement condemning violence in Haiti and calling on the Biden Administration to halt all deportations to Haiti.
• On September 25, 2024, Rep. Pressley and her Haiti Caucus Co-Chairs issued a statement condemning the false and dangerous lies about Haitian, Latino, and Asian immigrants.
• On September 20, 2024, Rep. Pressley and her Haiti Caucus Co-Chairs joined colleagues and advocates at a press conference to stand in solidarity with Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio and across America, and to demand accountability for the harmful and false narratives perpetuated by Republicans.
• On June 28, 2024, Rep. Pressley issued a statement applauding the Biden-Harris Administration’s extension and redesignation of Haiti for Temporary Protected Status (TPS). 
• On April 23, 2024, Rep. Pressley, alongside Co-Chairs Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09) and Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), led a group of 50 lawmakers urging the Biden Administration to redesignate Haiti for Temporary Protected Status (TPS), pause on deportations back to Haiti, extend humanitarian parole to any Haitians currently detained in Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s detention centers, end detention of Haitian migrants intercepted at sea, and provide additional humanitarian assistance for Haiti.
• On April 18, 2024, Rep. Pressley and Haiti Caucus Co-Chairs led a letter to House Ways and Means Committee leadership emphasizing support for the early renewal of the Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership Encouragement (HOPE) and the Haiti Economic Lift Program (HELP) Acts, commonly known as HOPE/HELP. 
• On April 12, 2024, Rep. Pressley joined Haitian-led activists, organizations, and a directly impacted person in Haiti for a press call urging federal action to address the worsening humanitarian crisis in Haiti.
• On March 27, 2024, Rep. Pressley joined Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and her colleagues on the Massachusetts congressional delegation in urging the Biden Administration to expedite visa processing for Haitians, particularly  for relatives of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents.
• On March 18, Rep. Pressley, Senator Markey, and the House Haiti Caucus led 67 lawmakers on a letter urging the Biden Administration to extend TPS for Haiti and halt deportations.
• On March 12, 2024, Rep. Pressley and Haiti Caucus Co-Chairs Reps. Cherfilus McCormick and Yvette Clarke issued a statement on the resignation of Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry.
• On March 6, 2024, Rep. Pressley issued a statement on the recent jailbreak and State of Emergency in Haiti.
• On December 8, 2023, Rep. Pressley and Congresswoman Yvette Clarke urged the U.S. Department of State to withdraw U.S. support for an armed foreign intervention in Haiti and encourage negotiations for a Haitian-led democratic political transition.
• On December 6, 2022, Rep. Pressley issued a statement applauding the Biden Administration’s extension and re-designation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti.
• On December 1, 2022, Rep. Pressley, Rep. Cori Bush, and Rep. Mondaire Jones led 14 of their colleagues on a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas urging the Department to extend and redesignate Haiti for Temporary Protected Status (TPS).
• In September 2022, Rep. Pressley and Rep. Velázquez led 54 of their colleagues on a letter calling on the Biden Administration to immediately halt deportations to Haiti and provide humanitarian parole protections for those seeking asylum. The lawmakers’ letter followed the Administration’s resumption of deportation flights to Haiti as thousands of Haitian migrants continue to await an opportunity to make an asylum claim at the border. 
• In September 2022, Rep. Pressley joined her colleagues on the House Oversight Committee in demanding answers regarding the inhumane treatment of migrants in Del Rio, Texas, by Border Patrol agents on horseback and pushing to Biden Administration to end the ongoing use and weaponization of Title 42.
• On August 17, 2022, Rep. Pressley, along with Haiti Caucus Co-Chairs Reps. Val Demings, Yvette Clarke, and Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), called on President Biden to appoint a new Special Envoy to Haiti, a position that has remained unfilled since September 2021.
• On July 7, 2022, Rep. Pressley and Haiti Caucus Co-Chairs Reps. Andy Levin (MI-09), Val Demings (FL-10) and Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09) released a statement marking the one-year anniversary of the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse.
• On May 31, 2022, Rep. Pressley and Reverend Dieufort Fleurissaint, chair of Haitian Americans United, published an op-ed in the Bay State Banner in which they called on the Biden administration to withdraw support for de facto ruler of Haiti, Ariel Henry, and instead support an inclusive, civil society-led process to restore stability and democracy on the island. 
• In April 2022, she joined her colleagues at a press conference reaffirming her support for President Biden’s decision to end Title 42. Full video of her remarks at the press conference is available here. Rep. Pressley applauded the Biden Administration’s end of Title 42 in a statement in April 2022.
• On May 26, 2022, Rep. Pressley, along with with Representatives Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Andy Levin (MI-09), Jim McGovern (MA-02), and Frederica Wilson (FL-24), led a letter to United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Power urging her to act to ensure food security in Haiti.
• On March 16, 2022, Rep. Pressley and Rep. Mondaire Jones called on Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Rochelle Walensky to fully end Title 42, cease deportations of people to Haiti and affirm their legal and fundamental human right to seek asylum.
• On February 16, 2022, Rep. Pressley joined Congresswoman Cori Bush (MO-01), Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), and 100 House and Senate colleagues in urging President Biden to reverse inhumane immigration policies – such as Title 42, originally introduced under the Trump Administration – that continue to disproportionately harm Black migrants.
• On February 14, 2022, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), alongside Representatives Judy Chu (CA-27) and Nydia Velázquez (NY-07), led 33 other House Democrats on a letter to Rochelle Walensky, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, demanding answers about the agency’s justification for treating asylum seekers as a unique public health threat, how these expulsions are being coordinated, how asylum seekers being returned to dangerous situations are being cared for, and more.
• On February 14, 2022, Reps. Pressley, Judy Chu (CA-27), and Nydia Velázquez (NY-07) led 33 other House Democrats on a letter to CDC Director Walensky demanding answers about the agency’s justification for treating asylum seekers as a unique public health threat, how these expulsions are being coordinated, how asylum seekers being returned to dangerous situations are being cared for, and more. Days later, Rep. Pressley once again called on the Biden Administration to reverse the Title 42 Order and other anti-Black immigration policies.
• On January 12, 2022, Rep. Pressley and Haiti Caucus Co-Chairs Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09), Andy Levin (MI-09), and Val Demings (FL-10) released a statement on the 12-year anniversary of the catastrophic 7.0 magnitude earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12, 2010.
• On November 21, 2021, Rep. Pressley and Senator Elizabeth Warren led the Massachusetts congressional delegation on a letter to the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) calling on them to coordinate with the government agencies of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to assist newly arrived families from Haiti. 
• On October 18, 2021, Rep. Pressley, and Haiti Caucus Co-Chairs Reps. Val Demings (FL-10), Yvette Clarke (NY-09), and Andy Levin (MI-09) issued a statement following the kidnapping of American and Canadian missionaries in Haiti.
• On October 18, 2021, Rep. Pressley issued a statement on the civil rights complaint filed by Haitian families demanding a federal investigation into the heinous actions perpetrated by federal officials at the border.
• On October 22, 2021, Rep. Pressley, along with Oversight Chairwoman Carolyn B. Maloney, Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD), and Reps. Rashida Tlaib (MI-13), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), sent a letter to Troy A. Miller, the Acting Administrator of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), demanding a briefing and answers regarding press reports of the inhumane treatment of migrants in Del Rio, Texas, by Border Patrol agents on horseback. 
• On September 17, 2021, Rep. Pressley and Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez (NY-07) led 52 of their colleagues calling on the Biden Administration to immediately halt deportations to Haiti and take urgent action to address the concerns of the Haitian Diaspora after a 7.2 magnitude earthquake devastated Haiti.
• On August 14, 2021, Rep. Pressley Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Andy Levin (MI-09) and Val Demings (FL-10) and Mondaire Jones (NY-17) released a statement regarding the recent earthquake in Haiti.
• On July 14, 2021, Rep. Pressley and Haiti Caucus Co-Chairs Reps. Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Andy Levin (MI-09) and Val Demings (FL-10) sent a letter to U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas calling on him to take a series of steps to support the Haitian diaspora amid ongoing political turmoil in Haiti.
• In July 2021, the Reps. Pressley, Clarke, Demings and Levin issued a statement condemning the assassination of President Moïse and calling for swift and decisive action to bring political stability and peace to Haiti and the Haitian people.
• In May 2021, on Haitian Flag Day, Reps. Pressley, Levin, Clarke and Demings announced the formation of the House Haiti Caucus, a Congressional caucus dedicated to pursuing a just foreign policy that puts the needs and aspirations of the Haitian people first.

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