Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sharice Davids (KS-3)
Today, Representative Sharice Davids announced that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded the East Central Kansas Economic Opportunity Corporation’s (ECKAN) Head Start programwith a new federal grant. The$3.7 millionwill be used to continue providing early education opportunities and family support services to children and families in Andreson and Miami Counties.
“Children who participate in Head Start programs receive countless benefits — they’re healthier, have better social skills, and are more likely to graduate high school and achieve further education,” said Davids. “That’s why I’m doing what I can to make education at every stage more affordable and accessible because when we invest in our kids, we’re strengthening our entire community.”
“We’re excited that our refunding application has been approved by the Office of Head Start for the 2026–2027 year,” said Crystal Anderson, CEO, ECKAN. “At ECKAN, we’re proud to continue supporting children and families and helping them thrive, and we’re grateful for the support of Sharice Davids in advancing this important work.”
Davids has long fought to protect education and child care in Kansas and has been a fierce criticof the administration’s efforts to defund and reorganize the Department of Education. She has visitedmultiple Head Start programsin Kansas and led multiple pieces of bipartisanlegislation to allow Kansas families to save on high child care expenses and live more affordably.
Students in early childhood education programs are 25 percentmore likely to graduate high school and are four timesmore likely to complete a bachelor’s degree in comparison to non-Head Start students. Children in Head Start are also healthier and have better social and emotional skills. In adulthood, statistics show that former Head Start students experience greater economic stability and earn higher wages.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (District of Columbia)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) reintroduced the Paul Laurence Dunbar Commemorative Coin Act to direct the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue 50,000 five-dollar coins, 400,000 one-dollar coins and 750,000 half-dollar coins in honor of Paul Laurence Dunbar. The surcharge from each coin sold would benefit scholarships and other activities of the Dunbar Alumni Federation, the alumni association for Paul Laurence Dunbar Senior High School. Congresswoman Norton is a proud Dunbar Senior High School alumna.
“Paul Laurence Dunbar holds a special place in my life as the namesake of my high school, the Paul Laurence Dunbar Senior High School, which was the first preparatory high school in the nation for African American students,” Norton said. “Paul Laurence Dunbar is recognized as one of the greatest African American poets in United States. Minting a coin in his honor would be a fitting tribute to such a historic figure, while also helping to continue raising funds for important causes undertaken by the Dunbar Alumni Federation.”
Paul Laurence Dunbar Senior High School was established in D.C. in 1870 as the Preparatory High School for Colored Youth. The school was renamed for Dunbar in 1916. Notable alumni include Edward Brooke, the first popularly elected African American to the U.S. Senate; Wesley A. Brown, the first African American to graduate from the U.S. Naval Academy; and Robert C. Weaver, the first-ever Secretary for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The Dunbar Alumni Federation was organized in 2002 to provide scholarships and other financial support to students and graduates of Paul Laurence Dunbar Senior High School.
Norton’s introductory statement follows.
Statement of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton on the Introduction of the Paul Laurence Dunbar Commemorative Coin Act of 2026
April 6, 2026
Today, I introduce the Paul Laurence Dunbar Commemorative Coin Act, which would direct the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue coins in honor of Paul Laurence Dunbar. This bill would recognize one of the first influential African American poets in American literature and benefit the Dunbar Alumni Federation, the alumni association for the Paul Laurence Dunbar Senior High School in the District of Columbia, which was the first public high school for African Americans in the United States. I am a proud graduate of Dunbar, a storied African American high school.
Paul Laurence Dunbar was born on June 27, 1872, to formerly enslaved parents, and went on to pen such classics as Majors and Minors and Lyrics of Lowly Life. He also wrote the lyrics for In Dahomey, the first all-African American musical produced on Broadway. By the late 1890s, Dunbar had become a prominent author, having had his poems published in major national newspapers, including The New York Times. Dunbar died on February 9, 1906, at age 33.
Paul Laurence Dunbar Senior High School was established in 1870 as the Preparatory High School for Colored Youth. It was the first college preparatory high school for African Americans in the United States. The school was renamed for Dunbar in 1916. The Dunbar Alumni Federation was organized in 2002 to provide scholarships and other financial support to students and graduates of Paul Laurence Dunbar Senior High School. The Dunbar Alumni Federation has alumni from more than 35 graduating classes, and supports the school through its scholarship efforts, community activities and other endeavors. This bill would authorize the Secretary of the Treasury to mint 50,000 five-dollar coins, 400,000 one-dollar coins and 750,000 half-dollar coins, with a surcharge on each coin. The surcharges would benefit the scholarships and similar activities of the Dunbar Alumni Federation.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Gregory W Meeks (5th District of New York)
Washington, D.C. – Representative Gregory W. Meeks, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, today issued a statement on the rescue of the second downed airman in Iran, and called for the war to be immediately brought to an end.
“I commend the extraordinary professionalism and courage of our intelligence officers and service members who recovered our American airman safely. Their skill and discipline reflect the very best of the United States military and intelligence community.
“But tactical success is not a strategy. The American people deserve an honest answer on why American troops remain in harm’s way. The President must now pivot to serious diplomacy to de-escalate tensions, protect our personnel, and bring this war to a responsible end.
“That is why the President’s public statement this morning is so alarming. In a post threatening to destroy Iran’s power plants, bridges and other civilian infrastructure, the President used language that was profane and incoherent. That is not strength—it raises the risk of miscalculation, undermines U.S. credibility, and makes diplomacy more difficult.
“I am praying this Easter for the safety of our service members who continue to do their jobs with courage and distinction. The President must now match their professionalism with discipline, clarity, and a credible plan to end this conflict—not rhetoric that makes that outcome harder to achieve.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Gregory W Meeks (5th District of New York)
Washington, D.C. – Representative Gregory W. Meeks, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Senator Tim Kaine, Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, today led 50 Representatives and Senators in sending a letter to President Trump that condemns the administration’s ongoing blockade of Cuba. In their letter, the lawmakers outlined how these policies are exacerbating a humanitarian crisis and called for a new approach that reverses six decades of failed U.S. policy toward Cuba.
“We write with great urgency to express our alarm at the dire humanitarian crisis in Cuba, a crisis your administration is actively worsening through its expansion of a policy that has failed for more than six decades. For 64 years, the United States has relied on the flawed premise that maximum pressure would yield political change on the island. It has not.
“Doubling down on failed strategies by restricting access to energy and health care is contrary to American values and is needlessly exacerbating a humanitarian crisis. By engineering an accelerated energy collapse, your administration has shifted responsibility for Cuba’s suffering away from the Cuban government and squarely onto the United States.
“Conditions in Cuba are deteriorating rapidly. As widespread blackouts, shortages of basic goods, and the collapse of critical infrastructure are placing extraordinary strain on ordinary Cubans. The most vulnerable—children, the elderly, and those with chronic illnesses—are bearing the heaviest burden. With hospitals unable to stay online due to fuel shortages, patients are being turned away for treatment, and people will die if you do not reverse course immediately…”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Gregory W Meeks (5th District of New York)
Washington, D.C. – House Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking Member Gregory W. Meeks (D-NY), House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Adam Smith (D-Wash.), and House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Ranking Member Jim Himes (D-Conn.) issued the following statement demanding that President Donald Trump announce in tonight’s national address that he is negotiating a ceasefire and diplomatic end to his disastrous war of choice against Iran.
“More than a month has passed since President Trump unilaterally launched his war of choice with Iran and he is no closer to achieving his ill-defined goals. There has been no fundamental change to the Iranian regime to ensure that it will no longer be able to pursue a nuclear program, build ballistic missiles, or support terrorist proxies. He has also failed to provide relief to the long-suffering people of Iran. Not only have none of those goals been achieved, President Trump’s war also has had a profoundly devastating impact on the region and the world.
“The staggering costs include the deaths of 13 U.S. service members, hundreds more injured, and billions of dollars’ worth of munitions expended and military equipment damaged or destroyed. Thousands of Iranian civilians have been killed, including over 150 Iranian schoolgirls. And countless individuals have been radicalized against the United States thanks to Trump unleashing mass destruction.
“The U.S. and global economies are significantly affected by the severely reduced flow of essential commodities, including fertilizer, helium, and oil. The military conflict against Iran has engulfed the Middle East in hostilities. After Trump has humiliated, belittled, coerced, and degraded allies and partners since retaking office, some of our oldest and most loyal partners are now refusing to be forced into supporting his war. This should come as no surprise given how Trump has treated them and how he has pursued his war of choice with no strategic advantage achieved or clear plan for how to clean up the mess he created.
“As President Trump prepares to address the world tonight, we hope to hear details on where we go from here, how he will bring this war to an end, and how he will address the broader instability that he has created with his war. We urge the president to immediately negotiate a ceasefire with Iran and work toward finding a diplomatic solution. That is the only plausible way to end his catastrophic war before the costs grow even more cataclysmic and we find ourselves in yet another unwinnable, forever war.”
“Americans are already paying $1 billion a day for Donald Trump’s reckless and illegal war in Iran. Now, he’s demanding Congress stick Michigan families with an additional $1.5 trillion bill–paid for by cutting funding for their health care, education, and childcare.
“From the gas pump to the grocery store, Michigan workers are already dealing with rising costs from Trump’s policies. Congress cannot give Donald Trump a blank check to wage more endless foreign wars, put American lives at risk, and leave Michigan families behind.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Haley Stevens (MI-11)
Washington, D.C. — Today, Rep. Haley Stevens introduced the Social Security Customer Service Act, legislation to reverse staffing cuts at the Social Security Administration (SSA) and restore reliable service for Americans. In the first five months of the current Trump Administration, more than 7,000 SSA workers were forced out—the largest staffing cut in the agency’s history. The result: a beneficiary-to-staff ratio of 1,480 to one, compared to 480 to one in 1967.
These cuts are already hitting Americans hard—longer wait times, system outages, understaffed field offices, and delayed benefits. For millions who rely on Social Security, that means real uncertainty.
“Families across Michigan rely on Social Security to pay the bills and plan for retirement,” said Rep. Stevens. “They earned these benefits over their lifetimes, and they deserve to access them without delays, dropped calls, or broken systems. This bill is about restoring basic service and making government work for people again.”
The Social Security Customer Service Act would:
Restore SSA staffing to end-of-Biden Administration levels
Require at least 75% of new hires to serve in customer service roles
Direct the remaining 25% to critical support and management positions that directly serve beneficiaries.
By prioritizing customer-facing staff, the bill targets resources where they’re needed most, helping Michiganders access benefits quickly and reliably.
The legislation is endorsed by the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE).
“AFGE strongly supports Rep. Haley Stevens’ legislation to restore Social Security Administration staffing levels so the agency can properly serve the millions of Americans who rely on their earned benefits,” said AFGE National President Everett B. Kelley. “We thank Rep. Stevens for her leadership in standing up for the federal workforce and helping ensure SSA has the frontline staff needed to deliver timely service to seniors, people with disabilities, and families.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (7th District of Washington)
Havana, Cuba — U.S. Representatives Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) and Jonathan Jackson (IL-01) released the following statement upon the conclusion of their five-day Congressional delegation to Cuba:
“The illegal U.S. blockade of fuel to Cuba—90 miles south of the United States—adds to the longest embargo in world history and is causing untold suffering to the Cuban people. The United States prevented a single drop of oil from entering Cuba for over three months. This is cruel collective punishment—effectively an economic bombing of the infrastructure of the country—that has produced permanent damage. It must stop immediately.
“We witnessed firsthand premature babies in incubators, weighing just two pounds, who are at tremendous risk because their ventilators and incubators cannot function without electricity. Children cannot attend school because there is no fuel for them or their teachers to travel. Cancer patients cannot receive lifesaving treatments because of lack of medications. There is a water shortage because there is little electricity to pump water. Businesses have closed. Families cannot keep food refrigerated, and food production on the island has dropped to just 10 percent of the people’s needs.
“We heard from a wide variety of voices—families, religious leaders, entrepreneurs, civil society organizations, the Cuban government, Latin American and African ambassadors, humanitarian aid organizations, and Cubans across the political spectrum, including dissidents. Across all sectors, there is agreement: this illegal blockade must end immediately. We do not believe that the majority of Americans would want this kind of cruelty and inhumanity to continue in our name.
“The Cuban government has sent many signals that this is a new moment for the country. While we were there, President Diaz-Canel released over 2,000 prisoners. The Cuban government has begun to liberalize its economy with significant reforms, including allowing Cuban American entrepreneurs to invest in private businesses in Cuba. Entrepreneurship has grown substantially, with small- and medium-sized private businesses now comprising large parts of the economy. Significantly, the Cuban government has invited in the FBI to conduct an independent investigation of a lethal speedboat shooting. The remaining obstacles to progress in Cuba now rest with the United States changing our outdated, Cold War-era policy of coercive economic measures and military pressures against Cuba.
“True reform will only come from charting a new course. The United States and Cuba must immediately enter into real negotiations that provide for the dignity and freedom of the Cuban people and the tremendous benefits to the American people that will accrue from a real collaboration between our two countries.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)
Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries appeared on ABC’s This Week, where he emphasized that House Democrats will continue to push back against Donald Trump’s reckless war of choice in the Middle East and demand reforms to the Department of Homeland Security.
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Now I want to bring in the Democratic Leader of the House of Representatives, Hakeem Jeffries. Congressman, thank you for joining us this morning. Your reaction to these developments overnight.
LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, I’m thankful that a second U.S. airman has been rescued heroically by our Special Forces. And we, of course, continue to pray for the safety, the health, the well-being of all of our men and women who are in uniform in a very dangerous theater of war. Of course, Donald Trump has gotten us involved in this reckless war of choice without any plan, any strategic objectives and no clear exit strategy. Instead, billions of dollars are being spent every day to drop bombs in the Middle East when Donald Trump as a candidate promised to never get us involved in this type of conflict.
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: You’ve made it clear you’re opposed to the war, but what should the exit strategy be right now?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, that’s the challenge that, of course, Donald Trump has gotten us into this reckless war of choice without ever clearly laying out the strategic objectives, the plan, how this is designed to actually make life better for the American people. We’ve seen the exact opposite, particularly as it relates to the dramatic increase in gas prices when we already are dealing with an affordability crisis here in the United States of America. Donald Trump purported to deliver a speech to lay out a case to the American people a few days ago, but he failed dramatically.
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: He is expanding, he’s threatening this morning to expand again. He says the Iranians are going to be living in Hell if they don’t open up the Strait of Hormuz by Tuesday. Is that possible without U.S. ground troops?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, certainly there is no circumstance where U.S. ground troops should be sent over to the Middle East. This war is already deeply unpopular for obvious reasons amongst the American people, and the American people are not going to accept ground troops being put into harm’s way in this war of choice, when there’s no clear evidence that it actually is designed to improve our national security interests. Instead, we see a war that continues to escalate. More than a dozen countries are involved. And billions of dollars of taxpayer money are being spent overseas when this administration refuses to actually spend a dime to make life more affordable for the American people.
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: And the President sent a request for $200 billion in supplemental spending to the Defense Department, as well. It’s pretty clear Democrats are going to oppose that, but are you concerned that that will undercut the war effort?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Listen, the Department of Defense has been given over a trillion dollars within the last year. They have more than enough resources as far as we can tell in order to do what is necessary. At the same period of time, Congress has to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars. The cost of living in this country is out of control and Donald Trump promised to actually lower cost on day one. That hasn’t happened. In fact, life has become more expensive for the American people because of decisions made by Donald Trump and extreme Republicans in the Congress. The Trump tariffs have increased costs on everyday Americans by thousands of dollars per year, as well as on small business entrepreneurs and on farmers throughout this nation. Republicans have refused to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits and that has resulted in tens of millions of Americans experiencing dramatically-increased health insurance premiums. And now this reckless and costly war of choice is increasing the cost of living on everyday Americans, particularly through gas prices and soon through food prices all across the country in ways that are hurting the American people.
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: The President said this week that the United States is considering withdrawing from NATO, a sentiment that was echoed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Are you confident that Congress can keep the United State in NATO?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Certainly, I hope that there will be a bipartisan effort to convince this administration that withdrawing from NATO would be a reckless choice. This is a dangerous world. We need more friends, not more adversaries. And we should not walk away from an alliance that has actually kept the world and the United States as safe as possible in the aftermath of World War II. And the President should stop issuing these threats and attacking our allies, while coddling up to people like Vladimir Putin and Russia, which is a sworn enemy of the United States of America. He’s got our priorities in terms of our friends and our adversaries all wrong.
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Let me switch gears now to the Department of Homeland Security and ICE funding. As you know, the Democrats have been pushing for reforms in ICE as a condition for that funding. But now the Republicans are saying they’re going to try to circumvent that by going through the reconciliation process, which means they could get the funding just by having a majority vote. So does that moot your efforts?
LEADER JEFFRIES: The first thing that needs to happen is that the House of Representatives under the leadership of Speaker Johnson and Republicans need to bring us back into session so we can actually reopen the Department of Homeland Security, stop creating chaos at airports all across the country and forcing people, including what happened to TSA agents for weeks, to work without pay. There is a bipartisan bill that has been sent over from the Senate, not once, but twice. Every single Democrat, every single Republican in the Senate supports that legislation. House Democrats support that legislation so we can reopen every other aspect of the Department of Homeland Security, including TSA, Coast Guard, FEMA and our cybersecurity professionals, while continuing to work on the effort to get ICE under control.
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Let’s look ahead to the midterm elections. We saw the President sign that executive order this week on mail-in voting. I know you believe it’s unconstitutional. But what is your message to Democrats who are concerned that the President’s party are going to be able to find ways to subvert the elections?
LEADER JEFFRIES: We’re going to work as hard as we can to make sure that this is a free and fair election. That executive order is unlawful and unconstitutional. We’ve already filed litigation and we expect that it will be declared so in short order by the courts. We’ve won victory after victory in terms of even this very conservative Supreme Court, most recently, of course, in connection with the unlawful Trump tariffs. I expect that this executive order, which is designed to try to suppress the electorate, alter the landscape in order to artificially keep control of the House and the Senate will be rejected. At the same time, George, we’re going to continue to articulate an affirmative vision to the American people of what we as Democrats will do if they give us the opportunity to lead in the majority. We’re going to fight hard to lower the high cost of living, to fix our broken healthcare system, to get ICE under control, to end this reckless war of choice in the Middle East and to focus every single day, every single week, every single month, on actually making life better and more affordable for hardworking American taxpayers.
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Why isn’t that breaking through? The Democrats in Congress are almost as unpopular as the President right now.
LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, one of the things that I will say is breaking through is that consistently, for the last 15 months, Democrats have been winning elections all across the country, up and down the ballot, including most recently in deep red states like Texas, like Louisiana and, of course, a few weeks ago in Florida, particularly in Mar-a-Lago. So at the end of the day, when the American people evaluate who’s going to push back against Republican extremism, who is going to actually make life better for them and focus on the issues that matter, consistently they’re choosing Democrats. Now as it relates to the parties being perceived as unfavorable across the country, we understand that dynamic because the American people want to see action. Things haven’t been working out for them over the last several decades. Far too many people are struggling to survive and certainly can’t thrive, paycheck to paycheck in this country, which should not be happening in the wealthiest country in the history of the world. And so we’re going to continue to forcefully push back against the extremism being unleashed on the American people, push back agains the chaos, while at the same period of time convince every single American that it’s us who are determined to do the things that are necessary, bring about the bold, transformational changes necessary to support working-class Americans, everyday Americans and middle-class Americans in a manner consistent with who we are when we are the best version of ourselves here in America.
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Congressman Jeffries, thanks very much for your time this morning.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Brad Schneider (D-IL)
LINCOLNSHIRE, IL – Rep. Brad Schneider (IL-10), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and co-founder and co-chair of the Abraham Accords Caucus, released the following statement in response to President Trump’s address to the nation on the war in Iran:
“Five weeks after starting his war against Iran, President Trump finally addressed the American people to explain the timing of the attack and his end goals. Though he repeatedly stated his commitment to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, his speech offered neither certainty nor clarity regarding his strategy. Gone was any word of sympathy or encouragement for the Iranian people to free themselves from the oppressive regime. Most significantly, the President did not define how he will set the region on a path to stability and peace.
“Even though Iran’s regime is still intact, its nuclear program is still in place, and its missiles remain a threat to our allies, particularly the UAE and Israel, President Trump is talking about walking away from the chaos of the war he started.
“Last Congress, I passed a resolution with Foreign Affairs Committee Chair McCaul declaring it U.S. policy that Iran will never obtain a nuclear weapon. Tragically, President Trump’s war has only strengthened Iran’s commitment to building one, while doing little to actually prevent it from doing so. Instead of removing Iran’s 60% enriched uranium, the President is leaving it buried beneath damaged facilities, with only an open-ended threat of more missiles as his answer.
“The President took our nation to war without seeking congressional authorization, in violation of our Constitution, and has still not comprehensively informed Congress about the strategy and progress on each of these fronts—nuclear, missile, proxy, the Strait, and the future of the Iranian people. Congress must hold hearings, debate, and vote on the path forward.
“We must not leave Iran able to manufacture and launch missiles at will, capable and more committed to getting nuclear weapons, and with continued control over the Strait of Hormuz. The path to ending this war requires working together with our allies, using both good faith negotiations and the threat of shared military might.
“Lastly, we keep the men and women serving in our military in our hearts. They have executed their assigned missions with remarkable precision and effect. Thirteen brave souls have made the ultimate sacrifice, and hundreds more have been wounded. We pray that our servicemembers continue to be successful and return home safely.”