Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif)
Monterey, CA – United States Representative Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) issued the following statement in response to President Trump’sdangerous commentson attacking Iran’s civilization:
“The President’s threat to wipe out a ‘whole civilization’ in Iran is not just dangerous, it reeks of desperation and depravity. But this is the very real danger of an individual like Donald Trump having free rein over a war, something our Founders knew could happen and tried to prevent with our Constitution.
“That is why I call on Speaker Mike Johnson to immediately call back Congress into session so that we can properly debate a war powers resolution and exercise our Constitutional authority over the Iran War.
“Unfortunately, Speaker Johnson has yet to stand up to this President and his Secretary of Defense who continue to impose the power of the U.S. military selfishly and capriciously without a coherent or consistent strategy.
“The President’s war is not just a danger to the Iranian people, but also to our U.S. military men and women in uniform. As we continue our efforts to stand up to the President and stop his war of choice, we must always stand for America’s credibility and the sanctity of our democratic values.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bill Foster (11th District of Illinois)
Washington, DC — Today, Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) issued the following statement:
“The President of the United States openly threatening to wipe out an entire civilization is nauseating and un-American. A president’s words carry real consequences, and they should be used to de-escalate conflict, not push us closer to the brink. This is precisely why our Founding Fathers gave Congress the authority to declare war, rather than any single power-crazed individual.
“Now is the time for Republicans to do what they know is right: speak out and join Democrats to take action to stop this administration before this war of choice spirals further out of control.”
Source: {United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bobby Scott (3rd District of Virginia)
Headline: Scott’s Statement on Trump’s Threat to Kill an Entire Civilization
NEWPORT NEWS, VA – Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement:
“The president has engaged in activities that experts are describing aswar crimes in Iran and other parts of the world over the past few months. Republicans in Congress have refused to rein him in, and earlier today he threatened to obliterate the Iranian people.Genocide is a war crime.
“The Joint Chiefs and all military personnel must be aware they can be held accountable long into the future for war crimes that are committed in the present.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (9th District of Illinois)
EVANSTON – Today, U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), released the following statement in response to President Trump’s Truth Social post threatening Iran:
“Donald Trump’s words, ‘a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again,’ are more than empty threats. His reckless actions and statements are putting the American people in harm’s way and threatening global stability.
“Someone this unstable, whose behavior endangers the nation, should not remain in office. Republicans who stay silent are complicit. The 25th Amendment must be invoked. If Trump’s Cabinet is too cowardly to act, Congress must do its duty and begin impeachment proceedings before more damage is done.
“Constituents are calling my office in tears. They are terrified. I have always recognized the threat posed by Iran’s hardline regime. Iran should never be permitted to have a nuclear weapon. That is why I helped negotiate the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and lead efforts to ensure it was implemented. This successful diplomatic agreement cut off every pathway to an Iranian nuclear weapon until Trump single-handedly tore it up in 2018. We would not be in this situation today if diplomacy had not been abandoned.
“Trump’s dangerous rhetoric cannot be normalized. We must act immediately to hold this administration accountable and protect the American people.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (25th District of FLORIDA)
HIALEAH, FL – Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart (FL-26), Dean of the Florida Delegation, invites members of the media to attend a check presentation ceremony onWednesday, April 8, at 11:30 a.m.
The event celebrates the $4.9 million in federal funding secured by Congressman Díaz-Balart for the City of Hialeah stormwater improvements inSoutheast Hialeah. This funding will be used for infrastructure improvements along SE 6thand 8 Ave and SE 4thand 8thStreet. The proposed improvements include stormwater mitigation through the installation of curbs and gutters, as well as the reconstruction of roadways. The installation of sidewalks and energy-efficient LED street lighting is also included.
WHAT: Check Presentation Ceremony
WHO:
Rep. Mario Díaz-Balart (FL-26), Vice Chair of the House Appropriations Committee and Dean of the Florida Delegation
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Don Beyer (D-VA)
Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA) today released the following statement after President Trump announced his intention to further escalate the conflict in Iran and explicitly commit war crimes by targeting Iranian civilian infrastructure:
“My Republican colleagues in Congress continue to abdicate their duty and turn a blind eye as the President makes unhinged threats to obliterate an entire civilization in clear violation of basic human decency and American ideals. This is a moral failure and cowardice of the highest order. Speaker Johnson must bring the House of Representatives back into session immediately to reclaim its constitutional authority, serve as a desperately needed check on this increasingly erratic president, and vote on a War Powers Resolution to put an end to this madness at once.
“For decades, across both parties and all three branches of government, we have collectively failed to rein in the expansion of presidential power. Authority that the Constitution explicitly entrusted to Congress has steadily been ceded to the executive, eroding one of the most fundamental checks in our system. The Supreme Court compounded this failure by granting sweeping immunity to the President, further insulating the office from accountability. Today, that unchecked power rests in the hands of an immoral and unwell man willing to wield it recklessly, and the world is holding its breath.
“We have missed multiple opportunities to stop us from careening down this awful path. Senate Republicans confirmed a longtime advocate for war crimes and war criminals to be Secretary of Defense, despite his manifest unfitness for the job. Congress failed to stop unlawful boat strikes in the Caribbean that have killed dozens, many of them innocent fishermen, and in doing so allowed a dangerous precedent to take hold. When my colleagues who served in uniform sought to remind their fellow servicemembers of their duty to oppose illegal orders, the administration’s response was to attempt to prosecute and sanction them. The message from Secretary Hegseth and President Trump has been a clear and consistent endorsement of impunity for criminal acts under the color of our flag. And Republicans in the House and Senate have pulled out all the stops on multiple occasions to defeat War Powers Resolutions that would have stopped this war. Now, the President is emboldened and untethered from consequences. He is escalating threats that, if carried out, would constitute egregious war crimes committed on behalf of the United States government and the American people. This moment demands urgent congressional intervention.
“The American people are under no illusion about the gravity of this moment. They know this is not normal, not justified, and not making us safer. They expect their elected representatives to decisively act, not retreat into silence out of blind allegiance to the President.
“The House cannot continue to stand idly by as this crisis deepens. I again call on Speaker Johnson to immediately bring the House back into session and ensure that this President does not further dishonor our country by carrying out this blatantly illegal and immoral threat.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA)
Griffith Announces $617,181 HHS Grant to Virginia Tech
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded Virginia Tech, based in Blacksburg, Virginia, a grant for $617,181. The funding supports research into heart arrhythmia mechanisms. U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement:
“The heart is a major organ that supports the cardiovascular system.
“This HHS grant for more than $617,000 helps Virginia Tech delve deeper into cardiovascular research.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)
Know Your Immigration Rights
If you or a loved one encounter immigration enforcement officials, it is essential that you know your rights and have prepared your household for all possible outcomes.
Ask for a warrant: The Fourth Amendment of the Constitution protects you from unreasonable search and seizure. You do not have to open your door until you see a valid warrant to enter your home or search your belongings.
Your right to remain silent: The Fifth Amendment protects your right to remain silent and not incriminate yourself. You are not required to share any personal information such as your place of birth, immigration status or criminal history.
Always consult an attorney: You have a right to speak with an attorney. You do not have to sign anything or hand officials any documents without speaking to an attorney. Try to identify and consult one in advance.
The New York City Office of Civil Justice and the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) support a variety of free immigration legal services through local nonprofit legal organizations. To access these resources, dial 311 and say “Action NYC,” call the MOIA Immigration Legal Support Hotline at 800-354-0365 Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. or visit MOIA’s website.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mike Thompson Representing the 5th District of CALIFORNIA
Davis, CA –Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-04)presented a $1,000,000 check to Davis Mayor Donna Neville, Yolo County Supervisors Lucas Frerichs and Sheila Allen, and Capitol Corridor Managing Director Robert Padgette for the Amtrak Depot / Olive Drive Connection Project. The funding will support the construction of a pedestrian and bicycle connection from Olive Drive to the Davis Amtrak Station, improving access and public safety for South Davis residents.
“This project is about connecting our community and making it easier and safer for Davis residents to get where they need to go,” said Thompson. “Whether it’s walking downtown, accessing essential services, or hopping on Amtrak or a bus, this connection will make a real difference in the lives of Olive Drive residents and the broader South Davis community.”
“The City of Davis is deeply appreciative of Representative Thompson’s success in securing much-needed federal funding,” said Davis Mayor Donna Neville. “This $1,000,000 will be used to modernize the historic Davis Amtrak Station by improving access between the Amtrak station and the Olive Drive neighborhood and is an important part of closing the project’s funding gap.”
This funding will connect the Amtrak Depot directly to Olive Drive. The project will provide residents of Olive Drive the ability to walk and bike downtown, access basic needs and social services, and utilize Amtrak and bus options. It will also improve public safety by offering an alternate route that is safer and easier than the busy Olive Drive/Richards Boulevard intersection.
The funding for this project is part of the $13,317,000 secured this year by Thompson for community projects in our district.
Each year, Members of Congress may direct federal funding to a limited number of community projects through the appropriations process. Under this program, each House member may submit up to 20 project requests on behalf of their district for competitive review by the House Appropriations Committee. Projects selected for funding must meet strict transparency and accountability requirements before being included in federal appropriations legislation.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative James E (Jim) Clyburn (6th District of South Carolina)
SANTEE, SC — Congressman James E. Clyburn of South Carolina joined local leaders and officials for the groundbreaking ceremony marking the start of construction on the replacement of the I-95 bridges over Lake Merion in Clarendon County.
This major infrastructure investment will enhance safety, improve traffic flow, support regional and interstate commerce along one of the Southeast’s most critical transportation corridors. The I-95 bridges over Lake Marion serve as a vital link for freight and passenger travel along the East Coast. The replacement project will modernize the corridor, improve structural integrity, and enhance long-term reliability for motorists traveling through South Carolina.
The project is supported by a significant federal investment made possible through one of the largest federal discretionary grant awards ever received by the South Carolina Department of Transportation, underscoring the strong partnership between state and federal leaders to modernize America’s infrastructure. This $175 million grant award was a USDOT milestone first federal grant agreement under the Bridge Investment Program.
“For years, we have worked to secure the resources needed to modernize this critical corridor,” said Congressman James E. Clyburn. “This investment will not only improve safety and reliability but also strengthen our economy by ensuring goods can move efficiently along the East Coast. I am proud to support this project and the benefits it will bring to South Carolina and beyond.”
“Today’s groundbreaking is a proud moment for Team South Carolina and a testament to what can be accomplished when state and federal partners work together to deliver for the people of South Carolina,” said South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster. “These new bridges will strengthen one of our most important transportation corridors, improve safety for drivers, and help drive continued economic development across our state.”
“The Trump Administration is delivering results at an unprecedented pace to rebuild America’s crumbling infrastructure one project at a time,” said Federal Highway Administrator Sean McMaster. “This investment in South Carolina exemplifies Secretary Duffy’s leadership to get America Building Again and put shovels in the ground to deliver for South Carolina’s transportation needs, not just for South Carolina today, but for its future.”
“This project represents a major milestone for South Carolina and for everyone who relies on I-95,” said Justin Powell, Secretary of Transportation for SCDOT. “Replacing the Lake Marion bridges ensures we are delivering a safer, more reliable corridor that supports economic growth and keeps people and goods moving efficiently through our state for decades to come.”
The project includes full replacement of both bridge structures and improvements to the surrounding roadway approaches. Once complete, the new bridges will meet current engineering standards and provide long-term durability with reduced maintenance needs. Construction is expected to take several years, with work phased to minimize disruptions to traffic along this vital interstate corridor.