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Rep. Craig Joins Push to Prevent Trump Administration from Using Americans’ Personal Data to Carry out Reckless Immigration Agenda

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Angie Craig (MN-02)

In a letter to DHS and ICE, Rep. Craig presses Administration on use of Palantir tools to surveil the American public and fuel immigration enforcement operations

WASHINGTON, DC – This week, U.S. Representative Angie Craig (MN-02) joined 33 Members of Congress in demanding answers from the Trump Administration about its alleged use of surveillance and data analytics tools developed by Palantir to execute the President’s lawless immigration agenda. In a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Acting Director Todd Lyons, Rep. Craig and her colleagues expressed serious concerns following public reporting that DHS has been using such tools to aggregate personal data for the purpose of identifying and locating potential targets of immigration enforcement operations.

“Public reporting regarding DHS’ data analytics tools and software raise serious concerns about Palantir-developed technologies being used to compile, aggregate, and analyze large volumes of personal data and information,” the Members wrote. “These data-compiling systems reportedly allow DHS personnel to link individual profiles to addresses, phone numbers, devices, and other identifying information across multiple datasets in order to generate leads and identify potential locations of persons sought for immigration enforcement actions.”

“Even more troubling, Palantir-developed tools are not the only technologies being deployed by your department to fulfill the administration’s mass deportation campaign and daily arrest quotas. Public reporting further indicates that DHS has deployed a range of surveillance technologies that are provided by multiple private contractors,” the Members continued. “These tools contribute to a mass surveillance ecosystem that appears to operate in conjunction with Palantir-developed platforms and ultimately support enforcement operations conducted by DHS, some of which target U.S. Citizens.”

Rep. Craig and her colleagues also cited evidence of ICE using surveillance tools during Operation Metro Surge to identify protesters and constitutional observers in Minnesota.

“During the recent so-called Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota, immigration agents used facial recognition technology and other cellphone monitoring tools in public, including instances in which agents scanned the faces of individuals who were either observing or protesting enforcement activities,” they wrote.

“The combination of facial recognition tools, social media surveillance, and large-scale data aggregation systems and applications raise serious concerns about the operational use of personally identifiable information that belongs to individuals who are not suspected of any wrongdoing. Specifically, these technologies are seemingly being weaponized against citizens, journalists, and individuals engaged in constitutionally protected activities, which include lawful assembly and protest,” the Members concluded.

Finally, Rep. Craig and her colleagues demanded answers from the Administration by the end of the month about how they are using surveillance tools, such as the ones developed by Palantir, to carry out immigration enforcement operations like Operation Metro Surge.

You can read the full text of the letter HERE.

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Golden votes to protect U.S. negotiating position in Iran

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02)

WASHINGTON — As negotiations between the United States and Iran continue, Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) today voted against a war powers resolution that would weaken the U.S. position by withdrawing military forces from the region. 

Golden released the following statement:

“The purported aim of this and other War Powers resolutions is to stop the hostilities. Thankfully, the United States and Iran are currently in a ceasefire, and we are negotiating over critical questions of national security and international order. I believe we must maintain a strong negotiation position over Iran’s nuclear program, freedom of movement in the international waters at the Strait of Hormuz, and how to achieve a durable peace between our two nations. At this moment, a resolution like this would weaken our hand.”

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Chairman Weber Delivers Opening Statement at Energy Subcommittee Hearing on American Energy and Mineral Dominance

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Randy Weber (14th District of Texas)

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Randy Weber (TX-14), Chairman of the Energy Subcommittee on the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, delivered the following opening statement at today’s hearing, “Subsurface Science and Technology: American Energy and Mineral Dominance.”

Watch Subcommittee Chairman Weber’s opening statement here.

Read Subcommittee Chairman Weber’s opening statement below:

“Welcome to today’s hearing titled Subsurface Science and Technology: American Energy and Mineral Dominance. I recognize myself for five minutes for an opening statement.

“Well, good morning, you all. You can tell I’m from Texas. Good morning, and welcome to today’s Energy Subcommittee hearing titled Subsurface Science and Technology: American Energy and Mineral Dominance.

“The United States is blessed with an abundance of natural resources across our magnificent country. For over a century, our nation has generated a significant portion of its power directly from subsurface resources such as coal and natural gas. Technological breakthroughs in subsurface sciences have enabled us to access these resources in new and innovative ways, unlocking potential that was once thought, quite frankly, impossible.

“A great example of this is the geothermal energy sector. Previously, geothermal energy was limited to certain regions due to extremely specific conditions required for it to be a viable energy source. For a geothermal well to be successful, the required combination of shallow heat, permeable rock, and available water had to be present to extract heat from the Earth and generate electricity. If any of these requirements were not met, a geothermal well would not generate power. As a result, the few areas capable of supporting geothermal electricity generation were tapped decades ago, which left the industry in a position where some believed that its full potential had already been reached.

“Thanks to innovation in the oil and gas sector, geothermal is getting a new lease on life. Over the last few decades, oil and gas have been at the forefront of new drilling and extraction technologies and methods. These breakthroughs have helped address issues that traditional geothermal energy has faced in the past. Next-generation geothermal systems are also well suited to play a role in leveraging established technologies like hydraulic fracturing and drilling deeper to access hotter rock, bringing baseload geothermal to new regions across the entire country.

“The timing for these enhanced geothermal systems to be commercialized could not be better. Energy demand is skyrocketing as we are not only onshoring manufacturing, but also electrifying our lives and working to stay ahead of the Chinese Communist Party in the artificial intelligence race. It is very important to ensure that the U.S. is positioned for a prosperous future.

“The Department of Energy underwent a reorganization in November 2025. This reorganization resulted in the establishment of two key offices for today’s hearing: the Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office and the Office of Critical Minerals, Minerals, and Energy Innovation. With their creation, DOE made the subsurface—and, by extension, geothermal energy and critical minerals—a priority moving forward.

“These offices have already announced funding opportunities to accelerate the deployment of next-generation geothermal energy, while helping ensure a safe and secure supply chain for the good old U.S. of A.

“We have seen recently how geopolitical events can impact not only our economy, but the global economy. This underscores the importance of strengthening domestic supply chains to meet both our energy and critical mineral needs. It also highlights the need to continue advancing cutting-edge innovation.

“The discoveries made by oil and natural gas companies that led to hydraulic fracturing, much of it from the Galveston, Texas area, and the hydraulic fracturing boom have helped insulate the U.S. from electricity price shocks, thanks to our enormous natural gas production capacity. This has enabled us to support our allies with LNG shipments to Europe and Asia, not only during the current supply disruption, but in previous ones as well.

“The ability to bring a new baseload power source to market during an energy supply crunch is an enormous win for the American people. Paired with DOE’s ongoing efforts to reduce reliance on critical minerals from foreign countries that may not have always had our best interests in mind, this creates a powerful one-two punch for the subsurface community.

“I want to thank all the witnesses for being here today and for their testimony, and I look forward to a very productive discussion.

“With that, I yield back my time.”


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U.S. REP. BETTY McCOLLUM CONDEMNS SENATE VOTE TO ALLOW FOREIGN MINING COMPANY TO POLLUTE THE BWCA

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

Senate Republican Majority Reverses Twenty-Year Mineral Withdrawal Protecting the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, America’s Most-Visited Wilderness Destination

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Betty McCollum (D), Dean of the Minnesota Congressional Delegation, issued the following statement on Thursday upon Senate passage of H.J. Res. 140, which would allow foreign mining companies to begin toxic mineral extraction which would permanently pollute the headwaters of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCA):

“The Boundary Waters are a national treasure, and its pristine lakes and rivers must be protected for the benefit of future generations of Americans. The Republican Majority in the U.S. Senate voted today to strip away protections for the BWCA, allowing a foreign-owned mining company and serial polluter to begin a sulfide acid mine in the headwaters of the Boundary Waters. We don’t allow mining in Yellowstone, Yosemite, Zion, Acadia, Glacier, or any of our nation’s revered national parks – and we shouldn’t allow it in the watershed of the Boundary Waters, either. 

“One hundred percent of copper mines have failed, leading to polluted waters. This case will be no different. Because of this extremely short-sighted vote, our nation’s most-visited wilderness area faces the threat of permanent toxic pollution. Why? So Antofagasta, a Chilean corporation that owns Twin Metals, can mine American copper and ship it to China to be smelted and sold on the global market. Twin Metals has been lobbying President Trump and Republicans in Congress for over ten years to remove the protections from this watershed and renew their mine plans to extract American minerals at the expense of freshwater for future generations.

“The science-based evidence is overwhelming: The mineral withdrawal is the only way to protect this wilderness, which is home to some of the cleanest water in the entire world.” 

Congresswoman McCollum has been a champion for protecting the Boundary Waters throughout her tenure in Congress. Since 2020, Congresswoman McCollum has carried the Boundary Waters Wilderness Protection and Pollution Prevention Act (H.R. 588), which would permanently protect the Boundary Waters from toxic sulfide ore mining.

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Rep. Cleaver, Senator Schiff Introduce Legislation to Increase Education and Literacy Opportunities for Incarcerated Americans

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II (5th District Missouri)

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) and Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA) introduced legislation to support the education and skills training of incarcerated Americans, aiming to improve opportunities upon their release. The Rehabilitation through Reading Act enables individuals in custody to challenge book bans and provides greater transparency around Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) book bans by requiring the BOP to establish an independent commission to review decisions by BOP officials to ban books at facilities and give incarcerated individuals an opportunity to appeal those decisions, and set guidelines for what books can and cannot be banned.

Additionally, Senator Schiff introduced the Prison Libraries Act in the Senate, bipartisan legislation introduced by Congressman Cleaver, along with Reps Shontel Brown (D-OH) and Valerie Foushee (D-NC), earlier this year.

“Access to wide-ranging and quality books offer incarcerated Americans the opportunity to learn and sharpen valuable skills that will assist in their reintegration into society, helping them turn the page to a new chapter and better life,” said Congressman Cleaver. “I’m thankful for Senator Schiff’s partnership in introducing the Prison Libraries Act and the Rehabilitation through Reading Act as we seek to expand library resources in correctional facilities nationwide, thereby increasing educational opportunities, reducing recidivism, and creating stronger communities for all.”

“Access to books, skills training and educational opportunities improves an individual’s chance of successfully reintegrating when returning to the community after a prison sentence,” said Senator Schiff. “These bills will help prepare those impacted to re-acclimate to life in the outside world and reduce recidivism. I’m proud to support those efforts.” 

The Rehabilitation through Reading Act is endorsed by American Library Association, PEN America, ACLU, and Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, Californians for Safety and Justice, and Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California.

The Rehabilitation through Reading Act is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Alex Padilla (D-CA).  

Official text of the Rehabilitation through Reading Act is available here.

 

Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee’s Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Greenwood, Blue Springs, North Kansas City, Gladstone, and Claycomo. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee and Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance.

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Krishnamoorthi Responds to Reports That President Trump Is Considering Military Operations Against Cuba

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

WASHINGTON — Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi released the following statement in response to reports of potential Trump Administration plans for U.S. military operations against Cuba:

“President Trump has already dragged our country into an illegal, unauthorized war with Iran, and the last thing the American people need is a reckless escalation in Cuba that could plunge America into another open-ended conflict. Congress must not allow Donald Trump to unilaterally start another war. Instead, we must end the conflict with Iran before it costs more American lives and triggers an even more serious economic crisis.”

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Nadler, Nine Democratic Lawmakers Demand New Independent Investigation Into Donald Trump’s DOJ Cesspool Of Corruption Surrounding Antitrust Activities

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jerrold Nadler (10th District of New York)

Washington, DC –  Congressman Jerry Nadler (D-NY-12) joined U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Representatives Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash-07.), Chris Deluzio (D-Pa.-17), Becca Balint (D-Vt.), Angie Craig (D-Minn.-02), and Jamie Raskin (D-Md.-08) in requesting that the Department of Justice (DOJ) Acting Inspector General (IG) William M. Blier open a new, independent investigation into potential corruption involving the DOJ’s antitrust-related activity. 

The request follows multiple questionable antitrust enforcement decisions by the Trump administration after meetings between DOJ leadership and corporate lobbyists, as well as the ouster of former Attorney General Pam Bondi and former Antitrust Division head Gail Slater. This pattern raises fresh concerns that the DOJ will intensify its efforts to carry out President Trump’s personal agenda rather than uphold the rule of law.

“These cases reveal an alarming pattern of behavior in which top DOJ officials have repeatedly overridden antitrust enforcement efforts, potentially at the urging of politically connected corporate lobbyists and influence peddlers, regardless of the merits of the antitrust issues raised in the matters before the DOJ, including proposed mergers,” wrote the lawmakers.

Public reporting over the past year has revealed multiple instances in which DOJ officials appear to have overruled antitrust experts after meeting with corporate lobbyists to deliver favorable decisions — potentially contrary to the law — for companies seeking deal approvals or other favorable treatment from the government. These decisions have raised serious concerns under antitrust, federal ethics, and bribery laws and regulations and wholly undermine the DOJ Antitrust Division’s mission.  

“We request that your office conduct an evaluation of potential misconduct by any employees – including current employees like Acting Attorney General Blanche and Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward, and former employees like former Attorney General Bondi and former chief of staff Chad Mizelle, who met with lobbyists with business pending before the DOJ Antitrust Division. We also ask that your office examine the role corporate lobbyists have had in influencing DOJ’s antitrust enforcement actions since January 20, 2025,” wrote the lawmakers. 

In addition to Bondi’s firing and the ouster of former DOJ Antitrust Head Gail Slater, the lawmakers highlighted key instances in which political influence potentially swayed Trump DOJ officials, including: DOJ’s settlement of the lawsuit to block HPE’s proposed acquisition of Juniper; its dismissal of the lawsuit to block Amex GBT’s acquisition of CWT; its settlement of the lawsuit to block the proposed merger of UnitedHealth and Amedisys; its rubber-stamping of the proposed Compass-Anywhere merger; its failure to extend the waiting period for the Paramount-Warner Bros. merger; its settlement of the lawsuit alleging illegal monopolization by Live Nation-Ticketmaster; and its clearance of the merger between Nexstar and TEGNA. 

Some companies with business before the DOJ hired Ballard Partners, the previous employer of former Attorney General Pam Bondi, to lobby her and other DOJ leadership. Ballard Partners also previously employed White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. The Antitrust Division has not blocked a transaction on antitrust grounds since President Trump took office this term, and the DOJ has allowed a host of concerning mergers to proceed without a challenge.

“Antitrust enforcement should promote competition and help workers and families based on the law and facts of the case, not political favors worked out with well-connected lobbyists,” concluded the lawmakers.

The lawmakers pressed the Inspector General to investigate whether DOJ officials have engaged in misconduct, including with respect to the incidents described above, as well as respond to questions regarding whether DOJ officials have potentially influenced antitrust matters involving their former clients or employers and the extent to which such activity has compromised the credibility and integrity of the decision-making process at DOJ. 

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Crow: Failure to End War of Choice in Iran is a “Disgrace”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jason Crow (CO-06)

WASHINGTON — Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO), a former paratrooper and Army Ranger who serves on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and House Armed Services Committee, released the following statement after House Republicans voted down a War Powers Resolution, failing to end Donald Trump’s war of choice with Iran:

“Failing to end the President’s war of choice is a disgrace. Americans are struggling to get by, yet House Republicans and this Administration are more focused on continuing a war no one wants than on making their lives better for working people.

“President Trump got us into another Middle East war with no plan and no strategy. Gas prices are through the roof, thirteen servicemembers have been killed, the regime in Iran is even more extreme than it was before, the President picked fights with our allies, and our adversaries are better off strategically and financially.

“Americans want their leaders focused on lowering their costs, not spending billions of their tax dollars on another endless war in the Middle East. Congress must do its job and end this war immediately.”

In a joint statement leading up to the vote, Crow and Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO) urged Republicans and Democrats to vote in favor of War Powers Resolutions to rein in the war.

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Dingell, Tlaib Introduce Resolution Recognizing Arab American Heritage Month

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

Today, Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06) and Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (D-MI-12) introduced a resolution recognizing April as Arab American Heritage Month to honor the history, culture, and achievements of Arab Americans in the United States.

“Arab Americans are part of the fabric of our country and are integral to our communities in Southeast Michigan and across America,” said Congresswoman Dingell. “They have helped shape Michigan’s identity, sharing their culture and traditions with us. They are doctors, teachers, business owners, service members, and most importantly, our neighbors and friends. Every day, Arab Americans help make our state and country better. I’m proud to recognize April as Arab American Heritage Month to honor the continued accomplishments and impact of this community.”

“Arab Americans have made profound and lasting contributions to our nation,” said Congresswoman Tlaib. “As a proud and unapologetic Arab American woman serving in Congress, representing one of the largest Arab American communities in our country, I understand how vital it is that our community is seen, supported, and celebrated. I’m honored to amplify Arab American voices and introduce this resolution recognizing April as Arab American Heritage Month.”

An estimated 3.7 million Americans have Arab roots, with ancestries traced to 22 countries in the Middle East and North Africa, including Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, Palestine, Morocco, Iraq, Jordan, Yemen, Bahrain, Tunisia, Algeria, Sudan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and others.

Arab Americans continue to face discrimination in all sectors of our society. Despite this, Arab Americans have helped shape the culture, history, and economy of the United States in profound ways and deserve to be recognized and celebrated as an essential part of our country.

This legislation is cosponsored by Reps. André Carson (D-IN-07), Lizzie Fletcher (D-TX-07), Maxwell Frost (D-FL-10), Jonathon Jackson (D-IL-01), Stephen Lynch (D-MA-08), Betty McCollum (D-MN-04), Jim McGovern (D-MA-02), Gwen Moore (D-WI-04), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA-07), Delia Ramirez (D-IL-03), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09), Lateefah Simon (D-CA-12), and Shri Thanedar (D-MI-13).

This legislation is endorsed by Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture, American Friends Service Committee, American Muslim Health Professionals, American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), Arab America Foundation, Arab American Association of New York, Arab American Civic Council, Arab American Heritage Council, Arab Caucus of the North Carolina Democratic Party, Arab Resource & Organizing Center (AROC), Bridging Cultures Group Inc., CAIR Action, Center for Civil Society and Democracy, Council on American-Islamic Relations, Emgage MI, Majdal: Arab Community Center of San Diego, MPower Change Action Fund, Muslim Civic Coalition, Muslims United PAC, National Network for Arab American Communities (NNAAC), Philadelphia Arab-American Development Corp, Ramallah Club of Metro Detroit, Syrian Community Network, Yemen Relief and Reconstruction Foundation, and Yemeni American Merchants Association.

The full text of the resolution is available here.

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Rep. Cuellar Reintroduces Legislation to Stop Bad Actors From Entering the U.S.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28)

Today, Congressmen Henry Cuellar, Ph.D. (D-Texas) and Michael McCaul (R-Texas) reintroduced the Biometric Identification Transnational Migration Alert Program (BITMAP) Authorization Act, which would authorize a successful Department of Homeland Security (DHS) program that partners with other countries to help identify and stop dangerous criminals and potential terrorists from reaching our borders.

The Biometric Identification Transnational Migration Alert Program (BITMAP) would allow the U.S. government to equip international partners with specialized training and technology to collect biometric and biographic information from individuals using illegal travel routes. The goal is to help identify high-risk individuals earlier in the process, before they reach U.S. ports of entry. The legislation would formally establish the program within the Department of Homeland Security and enhance congressional oversight of its implementation and outcomes. It also maintains that U.S. citizens may choose to opt out of providing biometrics for the entry and exit system.

“Strong border security depends on international coordination and having the resources to stop threats before they reach our communities. The BITMAP Authorization Act will help us identify dangerous individuals earlier, expand collaboration with regional partners, and strengthen congressional oversight through firm reporting requirements on partner agreements and program outcomes,” said Congressman Cuellar. “As Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Appropriations, I thank my friend and colleague Congressman McCaul for his collaboration on this bipartisan effort to ensure law enforcement has what it needs to protect the American people and stay ahead of future security threats.”

“Bad actors like traffickers, terrorists, and transnational gang members may lie about their identity in order to enter our country undetected, but they can’t fake biometrics,” said Congressman McCaul. “The successful BITMAP program empowers our regional partners to identify and stop these individuals long before they reach our borders. I’m proud to reintroduce this bill on a bipartisan basis with Congressman Cuellar. The more we push our borders out, the safer our homeland will be.”

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Congressman Henry Cuellar, Ph.D. is a senior member of the U.S. House Appropriations Committee. Previously, he served as a Texas State Representative and Texas Secretary of State.

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