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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Marc Veasey (33rd District of Texas)

Headline: Congressman Veasey Slams Abbott's Decision That Hurts Texas' Universities, Hospitals, and Businesses

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Marc Veasey (TX-33) issued the following statement in response to Governor Greg Abbott’s directive ordering Texas public universities and state agencies to halt new H-1B visa petitions through the end of the 2027:

“Abbott’s decision to freeze H-1B visa petitions at Texas public universities and state agencies is a blow to Texas’ workforce,” said Congressman Veasey. “Texas’ economy has thrived because we attract qualified workers, researchers, doctors, educators, and students who bring their talents and hard work to strengthen our communities. This order undermines that legacy.”

This action will impact thousands of families, students, and workers who contribute every day to our state’s success. It will make Texas less competitive economically, weaken our workforce, and erode the standing of our higher education and medical institutions at a time when innovation and talent are critical to our future.

Congressman Veasey also criticized the governor’s expanded investigations into university visa usage, calling them wasteful and ineffective:

“Governor Abbott’s so-called investigations do nothing to fix our broken immigration system. They waste taxpayer dollars, sow fear, and offer no real solutions. Immigration reform requires serious leadership and bipartisan cooperation — not political stunts that scapegoat immigrants and damage Texas’ economy.

Texas should be competing to attract the best talent in the world, not driving it away. We must reject fear-based politics and focus on policies that grow our economy, support families, and keep Texas strong. 

Governor Abbott is less qualified than any H1-B visa holder for his position. Let’s start at the top first if we are talking about cutting out unqualified individuals.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Dan Newhouse (4th District of Washington)

Headline: Newhouse Requests Emergency Status for Yakima-Tieton Canal

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) sent a letter alongside Rep. Kim Schrier (D-WA), Sens. Patty Murray (D-WA) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA) to Andrea Travnicek, Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Water and Science, requesting the Bureau of Reclamation designate a state of emergency and at risk of imminent failure for the Yakima-Tieton Irrigation District’s Main Canal.

“As a result of severe damage from the 2024 Retreat Fire, and landslide danger as a result of the December 2025 atmospheric river system that affected Washington State, the canal is, and remains, in a state of emergency,” the Members wrote. 

They added, “The urgency of this situation is dire and requires immediate attention and intervention. Our shared constituents are counting on the Department of the Interior and Bureau of Reclamation to partner with the Yakima-Tieton Irrigation District in this critical effort to minimize the risk of imminent harm to public health and safety and economic viability for those that reside in the Yakima Basin.” 

Language was included in the conference report of H.R. 6938, the Commerce, Justice, Science; Energy and Water Development; and Interior and Environment Appropriations Act, 2026 requiring the Bureau of Reclamation to determine whether the state of the Yakima-Tieton Canal is an emergency within 30 days of enactment of the law. 

Rep. Newhouse voted for this package, and it was signed by President Trump on January 23, 2026. 

If the Bureau designates the state of the canal is an emergency, the agency will have 30 days to issue emergency funding for rehabilitation.  

The 12-mile Yakima-Tieton Canal serves approximately 28,000 acres of irrigation in the Yakima Valley. 

See the full letter here. 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Levin (CA-49)

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

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

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

The Rules Committee will consider the resolution at 4:00 p.m. today.

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

Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) and U.S. Representative Don Beyer (D-VA-08) introduced the Cost of Police Misconduct Act, legislation to increase transparency and accountability about the costs of law enforcement misconduct. This bill would require federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to report judgments and settlements related to police misconduct, including court fees and insurance payments, to the Department of Justice. There is no currently no searchable federal database for misconduct related judgements and settlements. Cities and counties, which have different definitions of misconduct, are not currently required to report information about these costs to the federal government. 

By creating a comprehensive database on the size and nature of such costs, this bill would help policymakers, law enforcement, and the public understand how much these settlements are costing taxpayers, and illuminate the need for reforms that could help save lives and taxpayer dollars. This bill was first introduced following the 2020 murder of George Floyd. Today’s reintroduction comes after several recent shootings involving federal agents, including the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis.

“Many law enforcement officers serve honorably and keep our communities safe. But there have also been tragic incidents of misconduct involving law enforcement, including the recent killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. While many Americans understand that these cases can be deadly and erode public trust in law enforcement, they don’t always realize the financial costs,” said Kaine. “This legislation would increase transparency about how much money federal, state, and local governments spend on police misconduct-related settlements and shine a light on what reforms might be needed to prevent these instances of misconduct.”

“Many of us understand the significant harm caused by police misconduct and its devastating cost to human life. Just these last few weeks in Minnesota, we have seen how aggressive and unaccountable policing can escalate violence, erode public trust, and traumatize entire communities. Yet most Americans remain unaware that cities and counties also bear a staggering financial toll because law enforcement agencies often settle misconduct claims in secret. Full data transparency is urgently needed to help hold those responsible for misconduct accountable and to help jurisdictions prevent abuses. Our legislation would provide communities and policymakers the data necessary to measure the cost of misconduct settlements, to not only saves lives—the most important goal—but also taxpayer dollars, which would be better spent on programs and policies that are proven to prevent crime,” said Beyer.

Every year, states, cities, and counties across the country spend hundreds of millions of dollars on judgments and settlements related to police misconduct—the costliest of which, in many cases, are civil rights violations that result in the physical injury or death of residents. Cities and counties typically pay for such judgments and settlements through liability insurance (typical of smaller cities), from a general or dedicated municipal fund (typical of larger cities), or by issuing bonds (common for large judgments or settlements). Bond funding often results in taxpayers paying nearly double the cost of the judgment or settlement because the city or county must pay fees to financial institutions and interest to investors.

A 2022 Washington Post report found that police misconduct cost taxpayers more than $3 billion since 2020, with more than $1.5 billion of that paid to settle claims against officers who had more than one claim against them. A previous study found that the nation’s three largest cities—New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles—had paid almost $2.5 billion of the $3 billion total paid out to settle misconduct claims over the past decade, but that smaller cities still spent millions of dollars settling claims. Another report found that the ten cities with the largest police departments paid almost $250 million in settlement costs and court judgments in just one year. 

Specifically, the Cost of Police Misconduct Act would require:

• Federal law enforcement agencies and state and local law enforcement agencies that receive federal funds under the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program (JAG) or the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) “Cops on the Beat” grant program to report on an annual basis judgments or settlements related to misconduct by law enforcement officers, including settlements reached before a lawsuit has been filed, and, for each allegation and judgment or settlement reported: 
  • the race, ethnicity, sex, and age of each officer and civilian involved.
  • the year in which the alleged misconduct took place.
  • the year in which the alleged misconduct was reported.
  • the type of misconduct alleged, which may include a body camera violation (whether a failure to wear or record), use of force (including type of force), a collision, racial profiling, negligence, property damage, sexual harassment or assault, false testimony, wrongful death, failure of duty to intervene and/or wrongful imprisonment.
  • any personnel action taken by the officer involved, which may include resignation or retirement.
  • any personnel action taken by the law enforcement agency involved, which may include termination, demotion or relocation of the officer.
  • the total amount paid to satisfy a judgment or settlement and related court fees with respect to such allegation regardless of the source of the payment.
  • the source of money used, such as general operating budget, law enforcement agency budget, bond, to pay a judgment or settlement and related court fees.
  • the total amount spent on all such judgments and settlements and related court fees.
• States and local governments to publish their reported data on their respective websites.
• The Attorney General to create and maintain an online, public, searchable database of the information reported.
• The Comptroller General to conduct a study of the information reported to determine the leading cause of such judgments and settlements and what can be done to prevent them, and to submit a report about the aforementioned study to Congress.
• The Attorney General to submit a separate report to Congress containing the collected data and required recommendations. 
• The Attorney General to determine the number of federal agencies that have law enforcement authority, make this information publicly available, and update it annually. The federal government does not know the exact number of agencies that have law enforcement authority. In order to determine if these agencies are in compliance with this law and others, the federal government needs to know how many have this authority.

Full text of the Senate bill is available here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (3rd District of Ohio)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Tonight, Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (OH-03) released the following statement in response to President Trump’s announced two-year closure of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts:

“Once again, Donald Trump has acted with total disregard for Congress. The Kennedy Center is congressionally funded, and Congress should have been consulted on any decision to shut down its operations or undertake major renovations, especially for a two-year period.

Countless employees, artists, and others have existing contracts and agreements with the Center. What happens to them? Has Trump or his handpicked Board given any consideration to their livelihoods or futures? This is precisely why congressional oversight is essential.

And let’s be clear: remodeling the premises will not restore the Kennedy Center to what it was. A return to artistic independence will. America’s artists are rejecting this attempted takeover, and the administration knows it. That is why they are now scrambling for cover.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett (USVI)

For Immediate Release                             Contact: Tionee Scotland

February 1, 2026                                                    202-808-6129

PRESS RELEASE

CONGRESSWOMAN PLASKETT ALERTS TRAVELERS: NEW TSA FEE TAKES EFFECT FEBRUARY 1 FOR THOSE WITHOUT REAL ID

WASHINGTON, DC — Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett (D-USVI) alerts Virgin Islands residents and all travelers that beginning February 1, 2026, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will implement a $45 TSA ConfirmID fee for those arriving at airport security checkpoints without proper identification. This is a nationwide policy affecting all U.S. airports. The fee will apply to travelers aged 18 and older who do not have a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or other TSA-approved form of identification, such as a valid U.S. passport.

TSA ConfirmID is a voluntary, paid service that uses biometric data and federal databases to verify a traveler’s identity. The non-refundable $45 fee must be paid through Pay.gov and is valid for 10 days from the travel start date entered during payment. If you travel after the 10-day expiration, you must pay the fee again. While travelers can access Pay.gov on their mobile device at the airport, TSA strongly recommends paying in advance to avoid significant delays.

Important details travelers should know:

• Accepted forms of ID include REAL ID-compliant driver’s licenses, U.S. passports, passport cards, and other TSA-approved forms of identification.
• TSA ConfirmID is voluntary. However, without it or acceptable ID, you may not be allowed through security and could miss your flight.
• Bring a printed or electronic copy of your TSA ConfirmID payment receipt to show at the checkpoint.
• Payment must be made through Pay.gov using a valid bank account (ACH), debit card, credit card, Venmo, or PayPal. Cash is not accepted.
• Payment of the ConfirmID fee does not guarantee clearance through security. If identity cannot be confirmed, you may not be allowed through security.
• The identity verification process at the checkpoint takes an average of 10-15 minutes but could take more time.

“I want to ensure that Virgin Islands residents are aware of this change well in advance so they can plan accordingly and avoid unexpected fees or travel disruptions,” said Congresswoman Plaskett. “Thanks to the dedicated work of the Virgin Islands Bureau of Motor Vehicles, residents can obtain REAL ID-compliant licenses. I strongly encourage anyone planning to travel to verify their identification is valid.”

Virgin Islands residents can apply for a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license at their local Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) by appointment only. For more information about REAL ID requirements, visit bmv.vi.gov.

St. Thomas BMV Office: 4605 Tutu Park Mall – Suite 231, (340) 774-4268

St. Croix BMV Office: 10065 Industrial Park, (340) 713-4268

St. John BMV Office: Government Complex, Cruz Bay, (340) 776-6262

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

WASHINGTON — This morning, Speaker Johnson joined Kristen Welker on Meet the Press and Shannon Bream on Fox News Sunday to discuss the state of play regarding the partial government shutdown and the ongoing implementation of the Working Families Tax Cut legislation as tax season gets underway.

“I will say that we need good faith on both sides, especially in implementation. And the problem that you have in Minnesota is that you’ve had the governor and local leaders who have been in basically inciting violence in some cases,” Speaker Johnson said on Fox News Sunday. “They’re encouraging citizens to impede federal law enforcement, and that sets up a dangerous, chaotic situation. So, we need everybody to do their role and play their role and do their part, and I think we can.”

Watch Speaker Johnson on Fox News here, on Meet the Press here. 

On government funding:

“We’ll get all this done by Tuesday; I’m convinced. We do have to do it by way of a rule process which will be probably on our own. I don’t understand why anybody would have a problem with this, though. Remember, these are the bills that have already been passed, we’re going to do it again… The Homeland Security bill is important, and we have important negotiations. The President is leading this; it’s his play call to do it this way. He has already conceded that he wants to turn down the volume, so to speak, and make sure this is done in an appropriate way. 

“What a great step it was to put Tom Homan in charge of the situation in Minneapolis. He has 40 years’ experience, he’s brought a steady hand to the wheel. And all that is to be applauded. And he himself has already acknowledged to Leader Schumer in the Senate, and I’m sure he’ll say the same to House Democrats, that some of the reforms and the processes are fine with them. For example, we want body cameras on immigration custom enforcement agents. In fact, in the bill that the Democrats are currently rejecting, we put $20 million into that legislation to allow for that. So, look, I think there’s some healthy conversations in good faith that’ll be had over the next couple of days, and I look forward to that.”

On the necessity of DHS continuing to detain and deport illegal aliens:

“We put all that funding in the Working Families Tax Cuts, and I’m glad that we did because we had to fix the crisis that was created by the Biden Administration over the previous four years. They opened the border wide. It was absolute chaos. We allowed, by some estimates, 20 million illegal aliens to come into the country and many of them hardened, dangerous people and criminals. We’ve got to get them out of the country. So, we had to front load the funding that will be there. And as you noted, it doesn’t matter what they do to the current DHS bill, those operations will continue.”

On the implementation of Republicans’ Working Families Tax Cut bill:

“The Working Families Tax Cut bill that we passed last year will be implemented fully this quarter and next. The economic growth numbers will go up. It’s written for lower- and middle-class earners and they are the ones that are going to feel the effects. No tax on tips, overtime, tax relief for seniors. The average American household’s going to have $10,000 more in their pocket because of the reforms that we put in. So, all boats will rise. People will see the effects of that. This is about promises made, promises kept, and we are excited to go out on the campaign trail and tell that story.”

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