MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Jesús Chuy García (IL-04)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today during a House Judiciary Committee markup, Congressman Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04) spoke about the incident in Minneapolis in which a U.S. citizen, Renee Nicole Good was shot by a federal agent. Excerpts can be found below. A link to the full video can be found here.

“This morning, I feel compelled to speak on the tragic incident that occurred in Minneapolis yesterday, the tragic killing of Renee Good. I do so mindful of the fact that two of the first shootings by ICE agents, CBP agents that occurred in this country, occurred in my district (…) last summer. First it was a father of two who had just dropped off his two children at school, he was approached by ICE agents (he was) terrified. As he sought to leave the area he was shot and killed. Then came the shooting of a young woman, a U.S. citizen, shot five times. Accused by Sec. Noem, by other officials of terrorist activity. Serious federal charges that could have resulted in decades of time in prison. She was a teacher at a Montessori school. What happened to those charges? They’ve been dropped, as have other cases of serious charges that have been brought about in my community alone.”

Congressman García also emphasized the lawlessness of this administration. “Rogue federal agents under the leadership of Secretary Noem, Tom Homan, Stephen Miller, are trampling on people’s constitutional rights like we haven’t seen in decades, perhaps in the history of our country. They are engaging in obscene ethnic and racial profiling. They are denying due process to people when apprehended. They are masked with military-grade weapons, cussing at people, ordering people to do things, treating people like dirt. U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, (…) veterans. It’s a terrible precedent in our country’s history. It will be a shameful episode as we tell the history of America, because we’ve trampled on the Constitution. We’ve violated what has been established law in our country, and we’ve engaged in Gestapo tactics of federal agents that have been encouraged to violate the Constitution and trample on the rights of people in communities all over our country.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Julia Brownley (D-CA)

Washington, DC — Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (CA-26) announced that she will not seek re-election in 2026, reflecting on her service and expressing deep gratitude to the people of Ventura County and the Conejo Valley for the trust they have placed in her.

“Serving our community and our country has been the honor of my lifetime. Every step of this journey has been shaped by the people I represent, by their resilience, their determination, and their belief that government can and should work for the common good. Together, we have expanded access to affordable health care, strengthened support for veterans and their families, protected our natural resources, confronted the climate crisis, and fought for working families. We have helped thousands of constituents navigate the federal government, returned millions in earned benefits, and never lost sight of the simple truth that public service is about showing up for people when they need help the most.

“With another year remaining in my term, I will continue working every day to deliver results for our region, advance legislation that improves the lives and livelihoods of people in my district and across our country, and stand up for the values and priorities my constituents sent me here to defend.

“Despite the immense challenges we are currently facing, I remain deeply optimistic about the future of our country. The American experiment has endured not because it is perfect, but because generations of Americans continue to believe in it and work to make it more just, more equal, and more reflective of those it serves. I am profoundly grateful for the opportunity to have played a part in that work, and I know we will learn from this moment in time how to shore up our democracy to make it even stronger for the generations that will follow.”

“I am particularly pleased that I will leave the House with Hakeem Jeffries as Speaker. I am confident that he will lead Congress with integrity, with purpose, with resolve, and with a clear vision for the future. While I will not be in Congress, I will remain in the fight, fighting for a better and brighter future.”

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Issues: 119th Congress

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23)

“Fifteen years on, I still remember that moment I first heard of the unspeakable act that happened to my dear friend Gabby, and the senseless deaths and injuries of so many others around her. Sadly, political violence has only increased. That’s why we must never forget those who were lost that day, and it’s critical we honor the survivors, and make it clear these horrific acts of aggression have no place in our democracy,” said Wasserman Schultz. “Gabby’s leadership exemplifies perseverance and moral clarity in action. And it’s her grit and resilience that continue to inspire Americans nationwide to promote civility, compassion, and life-saving solutions in our fight to end gun violence. This anniversary is a solemn reminder of profound loss and remarkable bravery. In honoring the victims and survivors, let us also redouble our efforts to reject hatred and political violence and build a safer, more respectful democracy.”

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

Source: United States House of Representatives – Reprepsentative Kathy Castor (FL14)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL-14) led Florida Democrats in calling on Gov. Ron DeSantis and the State of Florida to provide health coverage to at least 43,000 children who rely on the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) – known as Florida KidCare – as the law requires. For over two years, DeSantis has illegally blocked enrollment in KidCare, in defiance of federal and state law.

“The bipartisan and unanimous approval of the KidCare expansion was meant to be a godsend to Florida children and their families, but Governor DeSantis’ refusal to follow federal law for two years has delayed the expansion, prevented 42,000 uninsured children from gaining coverage, and illegally ripped insurance away from at least 43,000 already eligible and enrolled children,” the lawmakers write. “In the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (CAA), Congress enacted legislation that requires state Medicaid and CHIP programs to provide 12 months of continuous eligibility for children under the age of 19. This protection went into effect over two years ago on January 1, 2024, with explicit directives for states to keep children continuously enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP for one year, with only two exceptions: the child reaches age 19, or the child ceases to be a resident of that state.”

Florida is the only state in the country to violate the thoughtful and cost-effective expansion of health coverage for children in accordance with 12-month continuous eligibility, denying families access to critical health care. During that time, Florida’s child uninsured rate has gotten worse and remains one of the highest in the nation, with more than 400,000 Florida children going without health insurance, according to the Georgetown Center for Children and Families. (See Florida Leaders Have Failed to Implement Bipartisan Plan Approved Over 2 Years Ago to Help Families Afford Health Insurance for Their Children – Center For Children and Families)

“Florida families are urgently waiting for Governor DeSantis to stop inflicting unnecessary harm and finally implement the bipartisan KidCare expansion,” the lawmakers concluded. “President Trump has expressed a commitment to protect the health and well-being of every American child, so we urge his Administration to immediately enforce the continuous eligibility law and work with the State of Florida to allow families access to affordable coverage.”

Rep. Castor has led Florida Democrats in holding the State accountable, calling for federal action in April 2024 on Gov. DeSantis’s illegal stripping of tens of thousands of Florida Kids of their health care. DeSantis and the State of Florida were also on the losing end of a federal court decision this week that took the state to task for failing Florida families under Medicaid, another rejection of the state’s callous treatment of Florida families.

Read the full letter to the Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services here and below:

Dear Administrator Oz and Director Brillman: 

As members of Florida’s congressional delegation, we write to encourage you to take every action to ensure that Florida’s kids have access to the health care they deserve. We applauded the Florida Legislature’s decisive 2023 action to expand eligibility for Florida’s Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), known as KidCare. This expansion would allow children in families earning between 215% and 300% of the federal poverty level (FPL) – between about $60,000 to $80,000 for a family of three – to access health insurance with affordable premiums. The bipartisan and unanimous approval of the KidCare expansion was meant to be a godsend to Florida children and their families, but Governor DeSantis’ refusal to follow federal law for two years has delayed the expansion, prevented 42,000 uninsured children from gaining coverage, and illegally ripped insurance away from at least 43,000 already eligible and enrolled children.    

In the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (CAA), Congress enacted legislation that requires state Medicaid and CHIP programs to provide 12 months of continuous eligibility for children under the age of 19.  This protection went into effect over two years ago on January 1, 2024, with explicit directives for states to keep children continuously enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP for one year with only two exceptions: the child reaches age 19 or the child ceases to be a resident of that state. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) later released guidance to states outlining three more exceptions to the 12-month continuous eligibility protection that are critical to protecting program integrity: the child or guardian requests a voluntary termination, the State determines eligibility was erroneously granted, or the child is deceased.  Removal for non-payment of premiums is not on either list of exceptions. To clarify any ambiguity, CMS subsequently codified a regulation clarifying that there is no exception to continuous eligibility for non-payment of premiums in Medicaid or CHIP—the only exceptions are the five outlined above.

However, in February 2024, Governor DeSantis filed a lawsuit against CMS arguing that states should have the authority to terminate children’s health coverage for unpaid premiums. Florida is the only state in the nation brazenly defying federal protections and disenrolling insured children in families with incomes up to 215% of the FPL for non-payment of premiums. The lawsuit and the Governor’s refusal to follow the law not only caused 43,000 already eligible and lower-income children to improperly lose their health insurance but has prevented an estimated 43,000 children from gaining desperately needed coverage. Florida has 400,000 children who are currently without insurance, the second-highest number of uninsured children in the nation behind Texas, and the Governor’s intentional actions have only made this worse. This harmful approach is even more disturbing in light of the fact that Florida’s child uninsured rate jumped from 7.4 percent to 8.5 percent from 2023 to 2024 – one of the largest increases in the nation.   

Access to consistent health coverage is critical for children’s development and well-being, with research showing overwhelmingly positive effects on children’s health outcomes and their labor outcomes in adulthood. Continuous eligibility has protected millions of children who have been wrongfully disenrolled due to procedural or administrative reasons, and the new federal protection has benefited more than 17 million eligible children in states that previously didn’t have a 12-month continuous eligibility policy.  

Florida families are urgently waiting for Governor DeSantis to stop playing political games and finally implement the bipartisan KidCare expansion. President Trump has expressed a commitment to protect the health and well-being of every American child, so we urge his Administration to immediately enforce the continuous eligibility law and work with the State of Florida to allow families access to affordable coverage.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Earl L Buddy Carter (GA-01)

Headline: Carter, Blackburn Lead Colleagues in Introducing Bicameral Legislation to Deport and Denaturalize Fraudsters Following Minnesota Somali Schemes

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA) today introduced the House of Representative’s companion to U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn’s (R-TN) Fraud Accountability Act, which would explicitly add fraud as a deportable offense under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). The bill would also make clear that any person who commits a deportable offense, now explicitly including fraud, would be subject to denaturalization.

Original co-sponsors of the House bill include Reps. Tony Wied (R-WI) and Mike Kelly (R-PA). 

“Any alien or naturalized citizen who comes to the United States to defraud American taxpayers does not deserve to be here,” said Rep. Carter. “Tim Walz’s socialist Minnesota allowed both immigration and social programs to run unchecked, resulting in $9 billion worth of fraud that directly harms Minnesotans’ access to childcare, nutrition, and other programs and may have funded terrorist activity overseas. Every immigrant involved in these schemes should be deported, and I thank Senator Blackburn for her leadership to ensure we welcome folks with integrity, not criminals.”

“Anyone who comes to the United States and steals from American taxpayers by committing fraud should be deported,” said Senator Blackburn. “The fraud schemes we have seen in Minnesota and across the country are a betrayal of hardworking American taxpayers, and individuals like the Somali scammers in Minnesota should be subject to both deportation and denaturalization for these crimes. The Fraud Accountability Act would hold these criminals accountable for robbing American taxpayers.”

U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX), Tom Cotton (R-AR), and Tedd Budd (R-NC) joined Senator Blackburn in introducing the bill in the Senate. 

“The rampant and unprecedented fraud uncovered in Minnesota involving Somali-run childcare centers and nonprofits is unconscionable, and Governor Walz’s complete deflection of any responsibility for this massive theft of U.S. taxpayer dollars under his watch is cowardly but unsurprising,” said Senator Cornyn. “Anyone who attempts to get rich at the expense of American taxpayers should be ashamed and held accountable to the fullest extent of the law, and I’m proud to introduce this bill with Senator Blackburn to ensure any illegal alien who is convicted of fraud faces swift deportation for their flagrant abuse of taxpayer funds.”

“It’s completely unacceptable to waste Arkansas taxpayer dollars on fraudulent government programs,” said Senator Cotton. “Any alien who commits fraud against American taxpayers should be deported immediately.”

“North Carolina taxpayers shouldn’t be forced to foot the bill for blatant fraud schemes across the country,” said Senator Budd. “If government programs using taxpayer dollars are not run responsibly, we must ensure those who steal taxpayer dollars are held accountable.”

The Fraud Accountability Act would: 

• Amend the INA to explicitly add any crime of fraud—of any amount—committed against private individuals, funds, corporations, or government entities as a deportable offense; and

• Revoke the naturalization of those who commit a crime of fraud or any other deportable offense.

This bill boasts support by NumbersUSA: 

“Our current immigration system is vulnerable to fraud, and as evidenced, unsustainable numbers can overwhelm the system and impact Americans and our communities. This bill holds those committing fraud against the U.S. accountable and serves as a reminder that immigration is a privilege, not a right,” said NumbersUSA Co-President Michael Hough.

Read the full bill text here. 

BACKGROUND 

• Federal prosecutors allege that the total amount of stolen taxpayer dollars in Minnesota could exceed $9 billion. 

• Under Governor Walz’s watch front groups that pretended to provide social services stole billions of taxpayer dollars. 

• In 2024, the Biden administration scrapped a rule that required childcare centers to verify that kids actually attended their facilities to receive federal funding. 

• The fraud extends far beyond Minnesota, which is why President Trump froze more than $10 billion in federal grants in five states following serious concerns about widespread fraud and misuse of taxpayer dollars in state-administered programs.

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

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA)

U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) announced that Nathan Chen of Blacksburg High School won the Congressional App Challenge in Virginia’s Ninth Congressional District. His app, entitled Project Rush, creates a platform for high school students to identify and access local volunteering opportunities.

Caleb Wang, Trinnean Tyree and Min Truong of Hidden Valley High School earned second place with Trovable, an app that allows users to place listings for and access desired items and materials. Milo Tao Lin of Blacksburg High School earned third place with Task Block, which is designed to help users better manage their schedules and assist with time management.

“I offer my congratulations to Nathan Chen on securing a first-place finish,” said Griffith. “His creative app submission, Project Rush, is a user-friendly service that connects high school students to local community service and volunteering opportunities. I would also like to congratulate the trio of Caleb Wang, Trinnean Tyree and Min Truong for placing second and Milo Tao-Lin for placing third in the competition with their excellent entries.

“It is an honor to host the annual Congressional App Challenge for Ninth District students. After every contest, I continue to be impressed by those who take advantage of this exciting opportunity. I thank all who submitted thoughtful entries, once again highlighting the technological skills, engineering promise and academic talents of our region!”

A demonstration of the individual apps can be viewed by clicking on the below links: 

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

Larsen Releases Statement on Killing in Minneapolis

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Don Bacon (2nd District of Nebraska)

ICYMI: Bacon Op-ed in The New York Times: Trump Needs to Change Course on Venezuela

Washington – In a new op-ed published in The New York Times, Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02) discussed the latest developments in Venezuela and the need for the Trump administration to back Venezuela’s rightfully elected leaders.

You can read the op-ed published in The New York Times here or below:

Political pundits love black-and-white answers, but a realistic assessment of President Trump’s actions in Venezuela is a shade of gray. How dark or light that gray becomes will depend on Mr. Trump’s future actions. He had good reason to capture Nicolás Maduro over the weekend, and the operation could be a geopolitical as well as a military success — if the president changes course.

Capturing Mr. Maduro stands to help Venezuela and its region. Mr. Maduro was a terrible dictator. He and his predecessor destroyed Venezuela’s democracy and economy, taking the country from the wealthiest in South America to the poorest. Many people are starving in that resource-rich nation. Mr. Maduro’s removal weakens Cuba, which relied on his economic generosity, and will probably undermine Russia’s and China’s influence within Venezuela.

Mr. Maduro also was indicted on charges relating to facilitating cocaine trafficking to the United States. Opioids such as fentanyl rightly get the most attention for their deadly effects, but cocaine overdoses have been rising. I’ve lost three brothers to drugs and alcohol, and I’ve seen the pain in my dad’s eyes. My dad is not alone; each year, too many moms and dads feel his pain.

Bringing Mr. Maduro to justice will not be enough to call his removal a success. The Trump administration still needs to show that the United States is acting in the interests of regional stability and of Venezuelans themselves. That starts with installing the country’s rightfully elected leaders.

Instead, Mr. Trump appears to favor working with Mr. Maduro’s vice president, Delcy Rodríguez. She is an illegitimate leader. In the 2024 presidential election, an opposition candidate, Edmundo González, won by a landslide, a result Mr. Maduro rejected. Mr. González ran as a stand-in for the opposition leader and Nobel laureate María Corina Machado, who would also make a fine president.

I hope the reports that Mr. Trump is miffed about not getting the Nobel Peace Prize — the one that Ms. Machado received — are false. Such envy should have no bearing on Venezuela’s future.

Neither should any narrow American commercial interests. Mr. Trump has said he intends to “run” Venezuela for a while and to control its oil production. Many Americans do not support the United States running Venezuela and don’t want oil to drive decisions about regime change. We reject transactional foreign policy devoid of morality.

If the president fails to empower Venezuela’s rightfully elected leaders and continues to focus on controlling oil production, support for this operation will shrink in the United States and abroad. America needs to show that we have altruistic goals, not just a desire to grab oil resources by propping up illegitimate leaders. Otherwise, Mr. Trump’s decision to invade Venezuela will end in failure, with consequences for the United States and the world.

The international rules-based order would suffer another blow, emboldening Russia and China. Mr. Trump has already been weak on President Vladimir Putin of Russia, even after his country invaded Ukraine by claiming it was fighting Nazis and threats to Russian security. China wants to retake Taiwan, by force if required, arguing that the island is a renegade province. I fear that both Russia and China will use our actions in Venezuela to justify their regional hegemonic aspirations.

I know there’s a difference between the United States and Russia and China. We favor democracy, and Russia and China oppose it. But we have opened the door for Mr. Putin and President Xi Jinping of China to dominate their neighbors, using rationales that sound like the one we have cited to justify our activities in Venezuela.

Mr. Trump’s actions also threaten to further diminish Congress’s authority. The administration failed to prepare or even inform Congress before ordering operations inside Venezuela. If combat continues there, the law requires the administration to seek congressional authorization. Though I support removing Mr. Maduro, I voted for a resolution on Dec. 17 that would have reasserted Congress’s constitutional role in deciding matters of war and peace. A weakened legislative branch undermines our government’s checks and balances.

Mr. Trump has not helped his case at home nor the United States’ case abroad by sending contradictory messages. The administration has depicted the Venezuela operation as a law enforcement mission to punish Mr. Maduro for his role in the illegal drug trade. Yet Mr. Trump last month pardoned Juan Orlando Hernández, the former president of Honduras, who was found guilty in a U.S. court of conspiring to import some 400 tons of cocaine to the United States. It is impossible to reconcile these two actions.

Yet Mr. Trump can still claim a great victory for freedom, stability and international order if he backs Venezuela’s rightfully elected leaders and lets Venezuelans govern themselves. If not, he will undermine all of those things — and, ultimately, America’s place in the world.

Don Bacon, Republican of Nebraska, serves on the House Armed Services Committee and is a retired Air Force brigadier general.

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