MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Hank Johnson (GA-04)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, Artificial Intelligence and the Internet, delivered the following remarks at House Democrats’ hearing marking five years since the January 6 attack on the Capitol, featuring testimony from former law enforcement, state officials, Members who were present at the Capitol on that day, and a Jan. 6 participant who rejected Trump’s pardon, amid an ongoing effort by Republicans to whitewash the truth.

Born and raised in Washington, D.C., the U.S. Capitol has been a building permanently etched in my mind from an early age. It regularly came into my view as daily life took my family and I around the District of Columbia. To me, the Capitol was always citadel — a beacon of freedom, democracy and justice. At the age of ten I developed the vision that one day I would serve there as a legislator.

I was always so proud even today I’m still in awe of the U.S. Capitol, what it stands for, and the fact that it is my workplace, and has been for 19 years!

On January 6, 2021, amidst social distancing in response to the COVID pandemic then still ongoing, I was so proud to be one of a limited number of members of the House to be in the chamber to witness the certification of the 2020 elections. Though somewhat envious of those who were seated on the floor, I nonetheless savored the honor of having a seat in the House gallery from which I could observe the solemn proceeding.

As the peaceful transfer of power was taking place in the chamber, the proceedings were rudely, then violently interrupted. The disorder became louder and louder as the insurrectionists got nearer and nearer. The cacophony shut down the Speaker and caused the business of the House to stop. From the gallery, I watched as the Speaker was extracted from the Chair, and my colleagues evacuated from the floor. What would happen to us in the gallery?

The situation became scary, dire, and dangerous. I felt like a sitting duck. In those moments while in self-preservation mode I thought of jumping from the Gallery onto the floor so that I could be evacuated. My thoughts then turned to my colleagues also in the Gallery, and my thoughts turned to my moral responsibility to them. I would never leave them to save myself.

As we were being spirited out of the chamber into the hallway, I saw dozens of violent insurrectionists lying spread eagle on the marble floor, under gunpoint of the Capitol Hill Police.

I later learned that all those insurrectionists had been released without charges because there was not enough law enforcement manpower to take them into custody. They all walked. They came into the U.S. Capitol, disrupted our work and desecrated this citadel of democracy. They all walked.

Needless to say, I was gratified later when more than 1,500 perpetrators were prosecuted, some of the worst offenders receiving 20-year sentences. There was a sense that people had been held accountable for their crimes.

Then on January 20, 2025, Donald J. Trump shot Lady Justice on 5th Avenue in broad daylight by pardoning each and every January 6 insurrectionist. It was a blow to justice and the Rule of Law in America. And my sense of anger at injustice has intensified as Donald Trump and lapdog Republicans in Congress do everything in their power in an unholy and futile attempt to whitewash and rewrite the history of what happened on January 6.

While Donald J. Trump and MAGA Republicans continue their systematic assault on truth and justice, I will proudly stand in the breech with House Democrats and all people of goodwill, to defend the concepts of truth, freedom, liberty, and justice for all, which IS Democracy in America.

I want to thank the Capitol Hill and Metropolitan Police for protecting us on January 6, I want to thank Leader Jeffries and Chairman Thompson for holding this hearing to commemorate the 5 year anniversary of this fateful day, and I want to thank Speaker Emerita Pelosi for her leadership during those difficult times.

For hi-res video, click HERE. 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Danny K Davis (7th District of Illinois)

President Trump’s actions with respect to Venezuela raise serious concerns, not only about his apparent tolerance for authoritarian behavior abroad, but about his willingness to disregard democratic norms at home.

I join with millions of people and elected officials who believe that the principles of democracy are relevant and essential for all people, not just the powerful, but also the most vulnerable.

I have no respect for President Nicolás Maduro. I agree that drug trafficking originating in Venezuela must be addressed, and that the Venezuelan people deserve competent leadership and a stable, functional system of government in which the people, not force rule.

However, for the President of the United States, acting as Commander in Chief, to invade another country, attempt to impose leadership, and unilaterally determine that nation’s future is wholly unacceptable and has no place in our constitutional system.

Congress, not the executive alone, holds the authority over acts of war. For that reason, I join my colleagues in calling for immediate briefings from the executive branch to fully inform Congress of the nature, scope, and objectives of this action.

At a minimum, these events raise profound constitutional concerns. At worst, they represent a direct violation of the separation of powers that underpins our democracy.

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

WASHINGTON — Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) announced today his intention to introduce the No Occupation of Venezuela (NOVA) Act, legislation to prohibit the use of any federal funds—military or civilian, direct or indirect—to further in any way the occupation or internal administration of Venezuela.

The NOVA Act reasserts Congress’s constitutional power of the purse by cutting off funding for any U.S. effort to occupy, govern, or administer Venezuela, whether through military force or civilian authorities. The legislation makes explicit that there is no authorization for the United States to run Venezuela’s government, energy sector, financial system, or law enforcement, including through the Department of Defense, Department of Energy, Treasury Department, or any other federal entity.

“At a moment when families are getting hit with rising costs of living, President Trump is trying to drag the country toward another overseas occupation he has no authority to start,” said Congressman Krishnamoorthi. “The Constitution is clear: Congress controls the money, and Congress has not approved the United States occupying or running Venezuela—militarily, economically, or administratively. Americans do not want another endless entanglement abroad or their tax dollars used to subsidize an occupation while health care and Medicaid are on the chopping block at home. The NOVA Act stops this power grab cold.”

Under the NOVA Act, no funds of the federal government may be used, directly or indirectly, to further the occupation or internal administration of Venezuela, ensuring the Executive Branch cannot pivot from military action to civilian control, economic administration, or sector-by-sector takeover without explicit congressional authorization. The legislation will not prohibit the provision of emergency humanitarian assistance, preserving aid to the Venezuelan people while preventing any U.S. occupation or governance of the country.

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

WASHINGTON — Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi issued the following statement in response to reports that the Trump administration is moving to freeze billions of dollars in federal funding for child care and family assistance programs in Illinois, California, Colorado, Minnesota, and New York:

“Reports that the Trump Administration may impose a blanket freeze on child care and family assistance funding for states, including Illinois, are deeply disturbing. Such a move wouldn’t punish bad actors — it would harm working parents and children who rely on these programs. As someone who grew up on essential social programs when my family got knocked down, I know firsthand how life–changing that support can be. At a time when Illinois families are already facing an affordability crisis, the Trump Administration should not undermine support that helps parents remain in the workforce or play petty politics with the well-being of America’s families.”

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

WASHINGTON — Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi today sent a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem raising serious concerns about how DHS conducted Operation Midway Blitz in Illinois, including in his district, warning that the operation appears to have swept up large numbers of individuals without criminal convictions and produced deadly consequences.

The Congressman writes:

“DHS has said this operation focused on dangerous criminals, but the facts suggest that many people with no criminal convictions were arrested instead. During my oversight visit, I learned that individuals were targeted and held not because they had been convicted of a crime, but merely because they had been charged with an offense in the past.”

He further notes that public reporting contradicts DHS’s stated priorities: 

“While DHS has stated that roughly 4,500 people were detained during Operation Midway Blitz, reports show that only about 15 percent of those detained had prior criminal convictions. When enforcement actions primarily affect people without criminal convictions, it undermines DHS’s stated focus on targeting the most dangerous individuals.”

The letter also highlights the death of Nenko Gantchev, who died in DHS custody after being arrested when he voluntarily appeared for a scheduled immigration interview.

“He was not detained because of a criminal conviction,” Krishnamoorthi writes, “but because of enforcement practices that prioritized increasing the number of immigrants detained rather than focusing on genuine public safety threats. His case underscores the human cost of enforcement actions that do not center on individuals with criminal convictions.”

To ensure accountability, Congressman Krishnamoorthi requests written responses from DHS by January 15, 2026, to the following questions:

1. How many people detained during Operation Midway Blitz had criminal convictions?

2. How many detainees with no prior criminal convictions were charged with a crime by DHS at the time of their arrest?

3. Please provide body-camera footage for any arrests of individuals without prior convictions or active charges.

4. To which facilities were individuals detained in Illinois transferred, and how many of those transferred experienced serious health deterioration while in DHS custody?

5. How will DHS ensure that future enforcement actions target individuals with serious criminal convictions or active warrants?

The Congressman concludes:

“Immigration enforcement should focus on individuals who pose real public safety risks, not on families, workers, or bystanders caught in a dragnet. Until DHS can provide transparency and assurance that these operations are conducted lawfully and effectively, similar enforcement actions should be suspended.”

The letter is available here.

 

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

CHICAGO—Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) joined Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, Cook County Health leadership, and Illinois residents today at Bronzeville Community Health Center on Chicago’s South Side to highlight the real-world consequences of Congress’s failure to extend enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium tax credits, which expired at midnight on December 31. Everyday Illinoisans already bearing the brunt of the ACA tax credit cuts joined the event to speak firsthand about how higher premiums have already affected their families and their ability to access care. During the visit, Krishnamoorthi met with patients and providers to hear directly from those navigating rising costs and coverage uncertainty, as well as from community health centers facing increased demand with fewer resources.

“Families were hit overnight with massive premium hikes because congressional Republicans refused to act,” said Congressman Krishnamoorthi. “People who did everything right are now being priced out of care, not because they made a mistake, but because Republican leadership chose politics over patients. I’m fighting to restore these ACA tax credits because affordable health care should not disappear overnight. Congress can fix this by reversing these cuts, protecting Medicaid, and keeping families covered.”

“Local governments should not have to backfill for federal disinvestment,” said Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle. “Health care is a right, and we at Cook County will continue to deliver care with compassion and excellence. We will also continue to prove that even in the face of federal cuts, a values-driven public health system can protect lives, strengthen communities, and uphold the dignity of every person we serve.”

“Allowing ACA subsidies to expire will reverse health coverage gains, destabilize safety-net systems, and negatively impact working families and communities across Illinois,” said Dr. Erik Mikaitis, CEO, Cook County Health. 

More than 550,000 Illinois residents are enrolled in the ACA marketplace in 2025, including over 360,000 Cook County residents, roughly 90 percent of whom rely on premium tax credits to afford coverage. If the credits expire, average monthly ACA premiums in Cook County are projected to rise by about 95 percent, pricing many families out of insurance overnight.

The ACA coverage cliff comes as Cook County Health faces additional strain from President Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” which cut Medicaid by more than $1 trillion nationwide and imposed new work requirements. More than 3 million Illinois residents—one in four statewide—depend on Medicaid, which accounts for approximately 56 percent of Cook County Health’s patient revenue. The system estimates it could lose $88 million annually in Medicaid reimbursements as patients lose coverage.

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

WASHINGTON—Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), a senior member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, released the following statement regarding President Trump’s unilateral use of military force and public assertion that the United States will run Venezuela:

“Nicolás Maduro is an illegitimate dictator who has inflicted immense suffering on the Venezuelan people, but that reality does not give any president a blank check to use military force without Congress. By acting without congressional authorization and publicly asserting U.S. control over another sovereign nation, President Trump is abusing presidential power and undermining the Constitution’s separation of powers. The Administration must immediately account for the safety of U.S. personnel, disclose whether there were any casualties, and fully and immediately brief Congress. The President has now stated that the United States will run Venezuela, committing the country to open-ended responsibility. Neither the American people nor Congress approved that course. This use of force and claimed control erode the rule of law, embolden Moscow and Beijing to push boundaries elsewhere, weaken America’s credibility, and ultimately make Americans less safe.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (9th District of Illinois)

Full Text of Bill (PDF)

WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the House Democratic Task Force on Aging and Families, reintroduced the Stop Unfair Medicaid Recoveries Act, legislation to end the federal requirement that forces states to pursue repayment from the families and estates of deceased Medicaid recipients who received long-term care.

Under current law, state Medicaid programs are required to recover the costs of long-term care services after a beneficiary’s death, which often results in placing liens on or forcing the sale of a family home. Even when states recognize the harm caused by this practice, federal law leaves them little choice.

“Families should not face financial ruin while they are grieving the loss of a loved one,” said Congresswoman Schakowsky. “Yet every year, thousands of families are shocked to learn that Medicaid is demanding repayment, which sometimes totals hundreds of thousands of dollars, for care their loved one needed. Too often, the only way states can recover this money is by seizing the family home, wiping out generational wealth and causing immense emotional and economic harm.”

The Medicaid Estate Recovery program is little known but widely destructive. Since 2021 alone, thousands of Illinois families have lost their properties as a result of this mandate. Nationwide, the policy disproportionately harms low-income families, blue-collar households, and communities of color.

“Medicaid is the only public benefit program that requires families to pay back the cost of care after a beneficiary’s death,” Schakowsky continued. “This policy keeps families in poverty, discourages seniors and people with disabilities from seeking care, and fails to meaningfully offset Medicaid costs. This ineffective program recovers less than 1% of total long-term care spending. It is unjust and cruel.”

Consider the case of a widow who owns a modest $90,000 home and has two adult children with limited incomes. After suffering a stroke, she spends her final years in a nursing home, with most of her care covered by Medicaid. Following her death, her children receive a bill for $150,000 in nursing home costs, which forced them to sell the family home and surrender every dollar to the state.

“This is not how our nation should treat its seniors or their families,” Schakowsky said. “We need a real, humane long-term care policy that provides dignity, security, and peace of mind. I am proud to reintroduce this bill and will continue fighting to end this cruel and unnecessary practice.”

The Stop Unfair Medicaid Recoveries Act would repeal the federal estate recovery mandate and prohibit harmful practices such as placing liens on a Medicaid recipient’s home during their lifetime. The legislation would give states the flexibility to protect families while preserving access to long-term care.

“By forcing the sale of family homes, Medicaid estate claims keep families in poverty, perpetuate the racial wealth gap, and increase the risk of homelessness,” says Eric Carlson, Director of Long-Term Services and Supports Advocacy, Justice in Aging. “The Stop Unfair Medicaid Recoveries Act will relieve low income older adults from having to choose between getting the care they need or risking their family home.”

“Estate recovery laws punish families simply because a loved one with a disability needs long-term services and supports through Medicaid. These policies allow the government to take homes from low-income families, undermining their stability and blocking opportunities to build even modest wealth, particularly harming families of color. At a time when access to both health care and housing is more urgent than ever, the National Health Law Program strongly supports the Stop Unfair Medicaid Recoveries Act and urges the 119th Congress to end this harmful and inequitable practice,” said Jennifer Lav, Director, Disability Practice Area, National Health Law Program.

“National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA): “NAELA is extremely grateful to Representative Schakowsky for continuing to bring attention to this important issue. Our members frequently work with individuals who are trying to balance their need for Medicaid’s long-term services with a desire to pass along their family home to the next generation. No one should have to make that choice.” said Alexander T. Graham, Chief Executive Officer, National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. 

“Consumer Voice is extremely grateful to Representative Schakowsky for reintroducing this bill. The estate recovery program is an outdated system that punishes low income Medicaid recipients and their families who take advantage of long term care supports and services. It also serves as a barrier to access to services, since many eligible individuals forgo necessary care out of fear of losing their home. This bill would make access to LTSS easier, remove the financial and housing burden on low income families, and ensure that individuals are able to receive care without fear of repercussion,” said Sam Brooks, Director of Public Policy, Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care.

The Stop Unfair Medicaid Recoveries Act is cosponsored by Reps. Nanette Barragán (CA-44), Kathy Castor (FL-14), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), Steve Cohen (TN-09), Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), Sylvia García (TX-29), Dan Goldman (NY-10), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Robin Kelly (IL-02), Doris Matsui (CA-07), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), Mike Quigley (IL-05), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), Marilyn Strickland (WA-10), Paul Tonko (NY-20), Lori Trahan (MA-03), and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23). 

The Stop Unfair Medicaid Recoveries Act is endorsed by Justice in Aging, National Health Law Program, National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA), the National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care, and the Epilepsy Foundation.

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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 on the unauthorized attack by the Trump administration against Venezuela:

“I strongly condemn Trump’s unilateral strikes and regime-change efforts in Venezuela, which was carried out without Congress and in violation of international law.

“Simply put, this is about oil and enriching himself and his billionaire donors. The American people don’t want another war for oil.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman John Moolenaar (4th District of Michigan)

Headline: Moolenaar on Nicolás Maduro’s Arrest

Congressman John Moolenaar made the following statement in reaction to President Trump’s announcement that the United States has Venezuela’s illegitimate ruler, Nicolás Maduro, in custody. 

“Today may be a new day in Venezuela. Nicolás Maduro was a dictator who contributed to narco-terrorism targeting Americans and subjected his people to unspeakable horrors. He must be held accountable for these atrocities. I am thankful to the men and women in the military for their bravery last night and pray for their continued safety.” 

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