MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (15th District of Texas)

Contact: Alexis Torres

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08)

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08) recently visited water storage tanks in Covington with local leaders to celebrate federal funding she was able to secure for the Covington Water District Reservoir Construction Project.

“Water infrastructure is quite literally a life and death issue, whether from a health or a firefighting perspective. That’s why making sure Covington’s water tanks are earthquake resilient is so important,” said Congresswoman Schrier. “I am committed to bringing federal tax dollars home for projects like this one that will ensure reliable access to drinking water and bring peace of mind to the people of Covington.”

A study of Covington’s reservoir concluded that the current water tanks would likely be unusable or even destroyed in an earthquake, potentially preventing residents from accessing water and disrupting the local economy. To address this issue, Congresswoman Schrier secured $1,092,000 to replace the tanks with an improved 5.7 million-gallon reservoir through FY 2026 Community Project Funding (CPF) requests in Congress. 

“This funding is more than a project – it’s an investment in stability, growth, and opportunity,” said Covington Chamber CEO Dana Neuts. “It ensures our businesses can continue to operate efficiently today while also supporting stable infrastructure, future development, and a thriving economy.”

“The Covington Water District’s mission for access to safe, clean, reliable drinking water is the backbone of a healthy community. Representative Schrier’s efforts to secure the necessary resources for these vital systems do not go unnoticed,” said Covington Water District General Manager Thomas Keown. “By prioritizing investments in our infrastructure, she is directly contributing to the long-term sustainability and resilience of all communities in Washington’s Eighth Congressional District.”

Congresswoman Schrier’s visit showcased the importance of improving the current infrastructure to ensure that Covington residents and the surrounding areas have access to a safe and stable water storage system. This Congress, Congresswoman Schrier also secured funding for local water infrastructure projects in Carbonado, Wilkeson, and Darrington.  

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

“Life is too expensive. Food prices are up. Rent and home insurance costs keep climbing. Healthcare costs – if you can even afford coverage at all – are doubling and tripling for some of us,” said Wasserman Schultz. “And now I fear this war against Iran is only going to make matters worse on our families as gas prices take a bigger bite out of family and small business budgets. Worse, rising diesel costs will drive up food prices our community just cannot afford right now. I’ll fight for solutions, like raising wages, and crackdowns on price gouging by oil companies.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose)

SAN JOSE, CA — Today, Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren released the following statement on the passing of her friend and former colleague, Rod Diridon:

“Rod and I served for years together on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors. The son of Italian immigrants and “the father of modern transit” in Santa Clara County, his decades of public service have made a lasting impact on our community. Anytime we pass by Diridon Station in San Jose or enjoy California’s light-rail system, we should remember the man who dedicated his life to improving our area’s infrastructure and serving the common good. I’m thankful for the time I got to spend with Rod, and my thoughts are with the Diridon family.”

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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 program with a new federal grant. The $3.7 million will 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 critic of the administration’s efforts to defund and reorganize the Department of Education. She has visited multiple Head Start programs in Kansas and led multiple pieces of bipartisan legislation to allow Kansas families to save on high child care expenses and live more affordably.

Students in early childhood education programs are 25 percent more likely to graduate high school and are four times more 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. 

I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

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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.”  

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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.

A PDF copy of the full letter can be found here.

“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…”

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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.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Haley Stevens (MI-11)

Washington D.C. – In response to President Trump’s $1.5 trillion military budget request, Michigan Congresswoman Haley Stevens issued the following statement:

“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.”

 

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