“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.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif)
Seaside, CA – United States Representative Jimmy Panetta was joined by Seaside Mayor Ian Oglesby, Monterey County Supervisor Wendy Root Askew, Monterey Peninsula Unified School District Board Member Dr. Bettye Lusk, and International School of Monterey Head of School Jessica Allen to announce $850,000 in federal funding for the City of Seaside to rebuild the San Pablo Pedestrian Bridge. The completion of this project will reconnect two local parks, increase local greenspace accessibility, provide a safe school route, and promote public health.
“The San Pablo Pedestrian Bridge has been an iconic, uniting fixture of our Seaside community since 1960, but significant weathering over the years led to its unfortunate closure in 2023,” said Rep. Panetta. “The San Pablo Pedestrian Bridge Project will not only restore the bridge, but it will also make it universally accessible so that children, families, and seniors can continue to play, walk, and travel safely in Seaside. I’m proud to work with our local partners and ensure that the federal government plays its part to not just rebuild our bridge, but to bring our Seaside community together.”
“We are grateful to Congressman Panetta for securing federal funding for the San Pablo Pedestrian Bridge Project,” said Mayor Ian N. Oglesby. “This project will improve pedestrian safety, strengthen neighborhood connectivity, and support our Safe Routes to School corridor for students and families. This investment represents a meaningful partnership between federal and local government to improve infrastructure and quality of life in Seaside.”
“For decades, the San Pablo Bridge connected neighborhoods, parks, and schools in a way that kept students out of traffic and families at ease. Since its closure, that sense of safety has been lost. This investment moves us forward on what matters most — safe routes to school, access to healthy spaces, and connected neighborhoods. Rebuilding the San Pablo Bridge is a clear example of how we advance community health, effective infrastructure, and resilient communities all at once,” said Supervisor Wendy Root Askew.
“This investment represents more than infrastructure. It’s an investment in our students and families. Rebuilding the San Pablo Pedestrian Bridge restores a safe, reliable route for students to get to school, access nearby parks, and stay connected to their community. When we remove barriers to safe access, we support attendance, well-being, and the everyday success of our students,” said Dr. Bettye Lusk, Board Member, Monterey Peninsula Unified School District.
“This is what it looks like when a community comes together for our students. We’re grateful for the partnership and leadership that made this possible. Safe, accessible pathways like the San Pablo Pedestrian Bridge matter because they help our students stay connected to their schools, their parks, and each other. At MPUSD, we believe we’re better together, and this project is a great example of that in action,” said PK Diffenbaugh, Superintendent, Monterey Peninsula Unified School District.
“On behalf of the International School of Monterey, we are deeply grateful for the investment in rebuilding the San Pablo Pedestrian Bridge,” said Jessica Allen, Head of School, International School of Monterey. “The bridge is more than infrastructure to us—it is an essential part of our students’ daily lives. It provides a safe route to and from school, ensures access to a secure emergency relocation site, and connects our community to vital parks and shared spaces that support student health and development. For many, we are known as ‘the school by the bridge,’ and its restoration represents not just safety but also belonging, connection, and opportunity to be with people and places in our local community. We are excited for what this project will mean for our students, families, and the broader Seaside community.”
The pedestrian bridge over San Pablo Avenue connects Lincoln-Cunningham Park and Manzanita-Stuart Park and provides a safe route for students at the International School of Monterey. The existing bridge, built in 1960, has been closed since early 2023. The funding will support two phases of the bridge’s demolition and reconstruction as a critical step toward reopening the historic fixture to the public, making it ADA compliant, and reconnecting the parks.
Rep. Panetta worked for this federal funding to be included in the most recent appropriations package, For FY 2026, he secured $2.77 million in community project funding for local projects across Monterey County, and a total of over $15 million to fund 14 local projects in California’s 19th Congressional District.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Jesús Chuy García (IL-04)
CHICAGO — Congressmen Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04), member of the Judiciary and Transportation & Infrastructure Committees, Robert Garcia (CA-42), Ranking Member of the Oversight and Accountability Committee, and Ro Khanna (CA-17), Member of the Oversight and Accountability Committee, led 40 Members in a letter to DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin, Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons, and White House Border Czar Tom Homan firmly opposing the deployment of armed ICE agents to airports around the country.
In the letter, the Members emphasize that this “unprecedented and unnecessary action causes chaos and fear at our airports, fails to support TSA workers—whose pay Republicans in Congress have repeatedly blocked—or reduce security lines, and serves as an intimidation tactic to coerce Congress into passing harmful, anti-democratic legislation.”
The Members said in the letter that “No President has ever sent armed ICE agents to airports. They are not qualified to screen passengers or manage airport security, and their lawless actions around the country underscore that their presence will cause confusion and fear at some of our nation’s largest airports.”
The Members reiterated their support for funding TSA, FEMA, and certain other DHS components while Congress negotiates necessary reforms to rein in ICE and CBP. The Members also asked a series of oversight questions to better understand the scope and rationale for this deployment.
Members signing this letter include: Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03), Becca Balint (VT-00), Nanette Barragán (CA-44), Shontel Brown (OH-11), André Carson (IN-07), Greg Casar (TX-35), Gil Cisneros (CA-31), Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Danny Davis (IL-07), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), John Garamendi (CA-08), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Dan Goldman (NY-10), Jahana Hayes (CT-05), Val Hoyle (OR-04), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Hank Johnson (GA-04), Robin Kelly (IL-02), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), Stephen Lynch (MA-08), Christian Menefee (TX-18), Kelly Morrison (MN-03), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-00), Frank Pallone (NJ-06), Mike Quigley (IL-05), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Terri Sewell (AL-07), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Darren Soto (FL-09), Greg Stanton (AZ-04), Mark Takano (CA-39), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Ritchie Torres (NY-15), Juan Vargas (CA-52), Nydia Velázquez (NY-07), and Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12).
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steny H Hoyer (MD-05)
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05), Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the Bipartisan Congressional Ukraine Caucus, Congressman Bill Keating (MA-09), Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee On Europe, and Congressman Jim Costa (CA-21), Ranking Member of the Transatlantic Legislators’ Dialogue, released the following statement in response to President Donald Trump’s threat to withdraw the United States from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Alliance.
“This week, President Donald Trump has renewed his dangerous threats to withdraw the United States from the NATO Alliance. NATO is the Free World’s best defense against aggression toward any member nation—including the United States. Make no mistake: NATO is a strength multiplier for our country. It continues to be essential for American security and prosperity. We’ve been proud to defend this alliance in Congress and will continue to do so.
“President Trump has recklessly disregarded the will of the American people and the requirements of the Constitution in this war of his choice, and further undermines our standing among our Allies when he acts on impulse and without coordination. There is nothing that tyrants like Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping want more than to see the United States weaken NATO. The best way to deter aggression from Moscow, Beijing, and others is by continuing to strengthen and lead the most powerful military alliance in human history.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07)
“Bills don’t stop. People work hard on their jobs. They earn a paycheck, and they deserve to be able to access it quickly.”
“There is an affordability crisis, and there is also a payroll timing issue that can actually be fixed right now. And that is exactly why FedNow payment service is so important.”
WASHINGTON – At a House Financial Services Committee Hearing, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) highlighted the importance of FedNow, a real-time payment system at the Federal Reserve that she championed to ensure customers can access their paychecks faster and keep up with their bills. Additionally, Congresswoman Pressley emphasized how FedNow can help small community banks compete with FinTech platforms and update their technology systems to serve their customers.
Since 2019, Congresswoman Pressley and her colleagues have championed the Payments Modernization Act, legislation to make consumers’ funds deposited in their bank accounts immediately available for withdrawal. Following the introduction of this legislation, the Federal Reserve announced in August 2019 that it would move forward on setting up a real-time payments system. The lawmakers have since updated the bill, following the Federal Reserve’s progress on developing its real-time payments system, FedNow.
A transcript of the Congresswoman’s line of questioning is available below, and the video is available here.
Transcript: Pressley Highlights Importance of FedNow to Ensure Workers’ Immediate Access to Paychecks
House Financial Services Committee
March 25, 2026
REP. PRESSLEY: Thank you, Mr. Chair. I’m going to date myself a little bit here. When I was growing up—may she rest in peace, my mother used to sing a song that went like this—”ain’t nothing going on, but the rent.”
Bills don’t stop. People work hard on their jobs. They earn a paycheck, and they deserve to be able to access it quickly.
We know that workers are struggling to make ends meet, especially now, and especially until pay day, those checks, hit.
And so consequently, many end up using FinTech apps like Klarna or Affirm to pay for their gas, their groceries, and utility bills.
It’s no doubt that everyday workers and families—they want services that work for them, technology that helps them get paid faster instead of waiting until payday. Businesses want it too. It’s how you can retain your workforce.
There is an affordability crisis, and there is also a payroll timing issue that can actually be fixed right now. And that is exactly why FedNow payment service is so important.
FedNow is an instant payment service offered by the Federal Reserve, and I’ve really enjoyed working closely with Chairman Hill and Senator Van Hollen in the Senate to get that service created years ago.
FedNow can help households get their money in real time. FedNow can also help small community banks that have fewer resources and technological infrastructure compete with these FinTech platforms to offer households their money when they need it, while still complying with regulations.
Ms. Parkhill, how does something like FedNow help smaller community banks and credit unions compete while still serving their customers safely?
MS. PARKHILL: It allows them to offer more products and services to their members that meet the needs of exactly what you had mentioned, that the payments and moving money quickly.
REP. PRESSLEY: Okay. And making customers aware of the fraud risk compliance services that FedNow provides—that’s one way that we can be helpful. But what else can Congress and regulators be doing to support small community banks and credit unions as they access the benefits from FedNow?
MS. PARKHILL: I think providing opportunities for them to, I guess, resources so that they know what tools are available and really listening to their members to be able to provide the services that they’re asking for.
REP. PRESSLEY: Alright, thank you. Mr. Guynn, as a director of the Federal Reserve and someone who does have experience in the private sector before coming to the Fed, what steps is the Federal Reserve taking to increase the number of financial institutions that are signing up for the FedNow service?
MR. GUYNN: So I think there’s a process to sign up for it, I don’t think that’s the roadblock at all. I’m not sure there’s anything to improve it, other than to continue inviting institutions to sign up for it.
REP. PRESSLEY:Okay. Well, you know, I think the bottom line is, is that we need to be able to meet the urgent needs of families while also supporting our smaller community banks and credit unions, customers that deserve and need those financial systems that work for them.
We should be leveraging the tools that are available to us, like FedNow, to responsibly leverage technology, meet customers where they are, and you know, again, it can help these smaller banks and credit unions comply with regulations and still compete with those new financial platforms in order to retain their customers.
So I look forward to continuing to work together with you [and] my colleagues across the aisle to do this essential work and to make sure folks are aware of this tool that’s available and leverage it accordingly.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Joaquin Castro (20th District of Texas)
April 03, 2026
SAN ANTONIO, TX — Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) released the following statement:
“The president is asking for an extra $350 billion for his reckless war against Iran.
“I will vote not to fund this illegal war, and will vote no.
“The president started this war under false pretenses and without congressional authorization. He claimed that Iran posed an imminent threat to the United States. It didn’t. They did not have a weapon that could strike the United States and there was no indication that they were going to target us.
“Over the last month, President Trump’s disastrous Iran War has turned into one of the biggest national security blunders in the last generation. Iran has been able to effectively close the Straits of Hormuz, where 20 percent of the world’s oil and significant amounts of fertilizer and other critical products flow through.
“Americans everywhere are facing higher gas prices and grocery bills.
“I am alarmed by rising American casualties, the destruction of critical military equipment, the rapidly depleting stocks of munitions, and the attacks on civilian targets in Iran.
“I am most alarmed by the President’s consideration of a significant ground invasion that will only cost more American lives and commit another generation of Americans to a regime change war in the Middle East.
“Even countries like Israel, which are actually directly threatened by Iran, are not willing to send ground troops into Iran. The United States should not either.
“Rather than immediately ending this war, which he never should have started, by negotiating a ceasefire and a diplomatic agreement to re-open the Straits of Hormuz, the President is asking Americans to pay for it by cutting services they rely on like Medicaid and Medicare.
“A vote to fund this illegal war is a vote for this illegal war. I will vote no.”