MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Chris Pappas (D-NH)

Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) joined Senator Jeanne Shaheen (NH), a lead negotiator of the water provisions in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Senator Maggie Hassan (NH) and Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander (NH-02) in applauding the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) announcement of $28,650,000 in new funding for New Hampshire to identify and remove lead pipes. The funding comes from the bipartisan infrastructure law, which was supported by Shaheen, Hassan, and Pappas.

“Removing lead pipes is essential to ensure New Hampshire families and children have safe, clean drinking water,” said Congressman Chris Pappas. “I fought to pass the bipartisan infrastructure law to deliver federal resources to New Hampshire, and I’m pleased these funds will help communities modernize water infrastructure and protect the health and well-being of Granite Staters.”

“Granite State families should be able to trust that the water coming out of their tap is lead-free and safe to drink,” said Senator Shaheen. “With new funding from a Bipartisan Infrastructure Law program that I helped negotiate, more communities will be able to upgrade aging water infrastructure and remove toxic lead pipes from water systems.” 

“Every Granite Stater should have reliable access to clean and safe drinking water,” said Senator Maggie Hassan. “This new $28 million in federal funding will help communities across our state identify and remove aging lead pipes that put families at risk. When I helped negotiate and pass the bipartisan infrastructure law, investments like this were a top priority, and I will keep working to deliver resources to protect public health and support our economy.”

“Every Granite Stater needs reliable access to clean water,” said Congresswoman Goodlander. “This federal investment will make life better for hardworking people across New Hampshire, and I’ll never stop fighting to deliver every penny promised to our state.”

The New Hampshire Congressional delegation has championed work to ensure every Granite Stater has access to clean, safe drinking water, no matter where they live. Including the $28.65 million announced this week, New Hampshire has received more than $363 million for water infrastructure from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law since its enactment in 2021.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Josh Harder (CA-10)

WASHINGTON – Today, during National Family Caregivers Month, Rep. Josh Harder (CA-09) introduced new legislation to deliver immediate relief to sandwich generation parents – people taking care of their children as well as their aging parents. Like millions of Californians, this is personal for Harder – he is raising two young daughters while also supporting his mother-in-law who has a complex medical condition. The Double Dependents Relief Act gives parents some desperately-needed breathing room by creating a tax credit to cover caregiving costs up to $10,000 a year for families with multiple dependents.

Sandwich generation parents are being squeezed by immense financial and mental costs:

• One-third of caregivers spend at least 40 hours a week taking care of their dependents, and two-thirds work a full-time job on the side.
• Nearly half experience severe stress while caregiving, and a quarter have difficulty taking care of their own health.
• Half have struggled financially, ranging from early retirement, lost job benefits, more debt, or given up working entirely because of caregiving-related work disruptions.

“My family understands what it’s like to raise kids at the same time as caring for aging parents. It’s incredibly difficult and millions of people in our country are struggling financially with how to make it all work,” said Rep. Harder. “This bill is well overdue – parents in the sandwich generation have been struggling for years now, and it’s time we get them some financial relief for the caregiving they’re providing.”

What the Double Dependents Relief Act means for our families:

• Financial Relief – Up to $10,000 tax credit for qualified expenses like medical care, equipment, and care-related services.
• Better Health Outcomes – Reducing immediate financial burdens will mean less emergency room visits and greater access to critical care that is often currently deferred.
• Better Careers – Providing support to parents will allow them to spend more time staying in their job, pursuing additional training, and building lifelong stability.

Parents with multiple dependents are among the most at-risk and vulnerable households facing devastating Medicaid cuts and expiring Affordable Care Act (ACA) health care tax credits. In addition to working to re-invest in the families that Washington is trying to pull away from, Harder is fighting to reverse cuts that will rip health care away from 50,000 people in San Joaquin County alone, as well as cause premiums to double or triple.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Josh Harder (CA-10)

WASHINGTON – Today, as California considers yet another housing agency, Rep. Josh Harder (CA-09) introduced new legislation to hold Sacramento bureaucracy accountable and stop housing costs from continuing to skyrocket. The Bring Down Housing Costs Act would establish a federal task force to investigate and conduct oversight of states failing to curb rising housing costs and develop emergency action plans to make housing more affordable.

Despite reforms, Sacramento’s housing bureaucracy is still an expensive mess: 

• Years of prioritizing process over outcomes has created a bureaucratic monster covering everything from horse racing and alcohol, while also in charge of housing reform.
• The state’s new housing agency, set to start in 2026, is already falling short of prioritizing the most basic housing reforms.
• Bureaucratic bloat has caused California to have the highest housing prices in the nation, making homebuying in the Valley entirely unaffordable.

“Our families are getting priced out of an affordable life in the Valley. We need real action, not another round of musical chairs by Sacramento bureaucrats,” said Rep. Harder. “My bill holds Sacramento’s feet to the fire and makes housing our #1 priority by bringing new federal oversight to yearslong chaos. If these out-of-touch bureaucrats continue to fail, they should be held accountable and fired.”

How the Bring Down Housing Costs Act cleans up Sacramento’s mess:

• New Oversight – Creates a new federal housing task force to investigate states with the highest rising housing costs.
• New Partnerships – Brings together representatives from across the federal government and housing experts for the first time to bring down housing costs in the worst markets.
• Emergency Plans – Issues emergency action plans and best-practice guidelines for states facing year-over-year median home price increases. 

As a fifth-generation resident of the Valley, Harder is committed to restoring the affordable dream that brought so many families to our community in the first place. Harder is leading federal efforts to pass the biggest housing reform legislation in decades that would modernize outdated regulations, incentivize smarter land use, and build more homes.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14)

WASHINGTON – Representative Lauren Underwood (IL-14) introduced the Strong Farms, Strong Future Act, bipartisan legislation co-led by Rep. Zach Nunn (R-IA). The legislation will update and strengthen U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs dedicated to fighting climate change and building resilient local agriculture systems. The legislation also makes sure farmers receive inflation-adjusted payments for implementing and strengthening climate practices on their farms.

“While Illinois farmers face the dual challenges of rising costs and a changing climate, this bipartisan legislation will make it easier for them to do what they do best: keep food on our tables and drive the economy of our entire nation,” Underwood said. “The Strong Farms, Strong Future Act will make sure that farmers are paid more as costs go up, and it gives them flexibility and strong incentives to fight the climate crisis here in our community.”

“Our farmers feed the nation and power our economy. They’re stewards of the land and are at the heart of what makes Iowa great,” said Rep. Zach Nunn. “This bill gives farmers the tools and flexibility they need to protect their soil, boost productivity, and keep Iowa’s land strong for the next generation. It’s a commonsense, market-based approach that rewards conservation and family farming.”

The Strong Farms, Strong Future Act builds on Underwood’s Farmers Fighting Change Act, which was signed into law in the Inflation Reduction Act in 2022, and will:

Provide inflation adjusted payments to farmers fighting climate change

• Pay farmers for activities like resource-conserving crop rotations, advanced grazing management, and perennial production systems. Payments are adjusted over time to reflect rising costs associated with planning, materials, and labor.

Update and strengthen USDA’s Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)

• Allow farmers who adopt or improve effective conservation operations to be eligible for automatic contract renewals.

• Provide flexibility to producers by making additional practices and bundles eligible for contracts, allowing farmers to tailor their conservation activities to their specific needs.

Strengthen Climate Change Mitigation Bundles

• Make permanent the Climate Change Mitigation Bundles established in the Inflation Reduction Act, helping farmers who implement conservation activities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase carbon sequestration.

• Increase options for producers by creating region-specific bundles for different types of land, including cropland, pastureland, rangeland, and forest land.

The Strong Farms, Strong Future Act is endorsed by the Illinois Farm Bureau, Illinois Stewardship Alliance, Illinois Corn Growers Association, Practical Farmers of Iowa, and the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition.

“Illinois Farm Bureau appreciates and supports Rep. Lauren Underwood’s leadership on the Strong Farms, Strong Future Act. This important legislation addresses long-standing challenges within the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) that place unnecessary burdens on farmers. Modernizing the CSP renewal process helps ensure that farmers’ conservation practices are recognized, supported and prioritized through inflation-adjusted payments and other incentives. It also allows greater flexibility for conservation practices and accounts for the diverse regional differences that exist across the country,” said Brian Duncan, Illinois Farm Bureau President. “Farmers are deeply committed to caring for their land, but rising costs can make it difficult for many family farms to implement conservation measures. The Strong Farms, Strong Future Act is a commonsense, farmer-focused approach that removes financial barriers and rewards conservation. We thank Rep. Underwood for advancing legislation that strengthens farmers’ role as proactive stewards of the land.”

“The Illinois Stewardship Alliance applauds Representative Lauren Underwood for championing the Strong Farms, Strong Future Act. This bill recognizes what many Illinois regenerative farmers already know: conservation isn’t just good for the land—it’s essential for the long-term success of our farms,” said Liz Rupel, Deputy Director, Illinois Stewardship Alliance. “We’re especially encouraged to see this bill prioritize a diverse range of conservation bundles, including support for perennial production systems, specialty crops, soil health management, and advanced grazing. These are critical tools for farmers building resilient, climate-smart operations tailored to their unique land and livelihoods. By expanding these options and ensuring they’re accessible to farms of all types and sizes, this bill empowers more farmers to lead in the face of a changing climate. When farmers have the tools they need to be good stewards of the land, we ALL benefit; from healthy soil, nutritious food, clean water, and more resilient communities.”

“The Strong Farms, Strong Future Act provides ever greater producer choice in the Conservation Stewardship Program,” said Jesse Womack, Conservation Policy Specialist at National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition. “This bill strengthens CSP’s ability to provide robust cost-share for producers building complex, innovative conservation systems on their farms, conservation systems that will make them more resilient, profitable, and ecologically sound.”

“Investment in conservation on farms is essential to the long-term viability of our farms and communities,” Sally Worely, Executive Director of Practical Farmers of Iowa. “This bill helps farmers make investments to increase the resiliency of their farms, which is crucial to the future of our farm and food systems.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14)

WASHINGTON – Rep. Lauren Underwood introduced the Baby Changing in Health Centers Act, bipartisan legislation co-led by Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ-02). The Baby Changing in Health Centers Act would require federally qualified community health centers to provide safe, accessible baby changing tables in public restrooms. The legislation builds on the bipartisan success of Underwood’s Baby Changing on Board Act, which passed the House earlier this year.

Since the first Community Health Centers opened in 1965, the federally supported health center system has provided affordable health care to millions of people. But despite that extensive network of care, many facilities lack adequate baby-changing stations, leaving families without necessary amenities to care for their kids.

“Every parent or caregiver who walks into a community health center should know that they’ll have a clean, accessible, and safe environment to take care of their kids,” said Rep. Underwood. “Our common-sense, bipartisan legislation is a practical and necessary step to make sure families have access to the amenities they need.”

“Our federally qualified health centers are there to help families, and parents should have what they need when they walk through the door,” said Rep. Van Drew. “Having a safe, clean place to change a baby should not be an afterthought. It is something every parent expects and deserves. I am proud to be a colead in this important effort.”

The Baby Changing in Health Centers Act requires the installation of baby-changing tables in public-facing restrooms and the posting of clear signage indicating their location. The legislation also provides $5 million to assist facilities with upgrades. 

The Baby Changing in Health Centers Act is endorsed by MomsRising. 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Representatives Lauren Underwood and Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), together with Senators Katie Britt (R-Ala.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.), reintroduced the NIH IMPROVE Act, bipartisan legislation to ensure consistent funding for research on maternal care and mortality.

In 2019, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) launched the Implementing a Maternal health and PRegnancy Outcomes Vision for Everyone (IMPROVE) Initiative. The IMPROVE Initiative supports research to reduce preventable causes of maternal deaths and improve health care for women before, during, and after pregnancy.

However, this critical research program lacks a sustained funding source, threatening research outcomes and conclusions. The NIH IMPROVE Act would authorize consistent funding for this existing program for the next seven years, providing NIH the support and resources to pursue research into the root causes of America’s maternal mortality crisis.

“Six years ago, we worked with the National Institutes of Health to start the IMPROVE Initiative to make smart investments in comprehensive research and evidence-based solutions that save moms’ lives and advance birth equity,” said Representative Lauren Underwood. “Since 2019, IMPROVE has invested more than $200 million in life-saving research that will help end our nation’s maternal health crisis. Our bipartisan NIH IMPROVE Act will advance maternal health research by permanently authorizing funding for IMPROVE, making sure that NIH can continue this critical work.”

“Far too many maternal deaths in America are preventable, and addressing that reality demands research that is stable, long-term, and grounded in measurable outcomes. The NIH IMPROVE Act locks in the dedicated funding NIH’s maternal health portfolio needs to track outcomes over time, evaluate what works in high-risk settings, and direct resources to the communities facing the greatest challenges,” said Representative Brian Fitzpatrick. “This bipartisan legislation strengthens a proven NIH initiative and ensures that mothers across our nation benefit from research that saves lives and improves care throughout the entire pregnancy journey.”

“I’m proud to fight for moms and women across Alabama and America. This bipartisan legislation will support targeted funding for critical research to improve health outcomes for women throughout their pregnancy journey,” said Senator Katie Britt. “I’m committed to ensuring the NIH remains the gold-standard of research and provides solutions to improve health outcomes for women before, during, and after pregnancy.”

“Studies show that 80% of maternal deaths are preventable, and the NIH IMPROVE Act is a critical step forward in addressing our nation’s ongoing maternal health crisis,” said Senator Cory Booker. “This bipartisan legislation expands research and strengthens data collection so we can better understand how to save lives and close long-standing disparities in care.”

The NIH IMPROVE Act would authorize $53.4 million annually for seven years to carry out the IMPROVE Initiative and support research on potential causes of maternal mortality and severe morbidity. Additionally, the act would approve research that would target disparities associated with maternal mortality and severe morbidity, and aim to reduce preventable causes of maternal deaths, as well as build an evidence base for improved care and outcomes in underserved maternal care deserts. 

Information on projects funded by the IMPROVE program can be found on the Momnibus Money Tracker here. 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14)

BROADVIEW, IL—Today, Representative Lauren Underwood, Ranking Member of the House Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, conducted an oversight visit to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Broadview Processing Center, one of the primary facilities used to hold Illinoisians during Operation Midway Blitz. Underwood’s visit marks the first time that a member of Congress has been granted access to the facility since Donald Trump took office, despite repeated requests that were previously denied by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The visit follows widespread community outrage at Operation Midway Blitz’s constitutional violations and ongoing questions about federal immigration enforcement practices across Illinois and the nation.

Underwood received a briefing from leadership of the Chicago Field Office and toured the entire facility, including intake rooms, holding spaces, and officer work areas. The visit occurred as dozens of constituents across her community continue to report being detained, confronted, or questioned by federal personnel. For weeks, the Illinois delegation received no timely responses to basic inquiries regarding the safety or location of constituents impacted by the operation.

“Families in our community are living with fear and confusion because of Operation Midway Blitz. They deserve answers about what is happening inside these facilities and what authority DHS is using,” said Underwood. “My visit confirmed serious concerns about conditions, staffing, recordkeeping, and transparency. I will continue pressing for accountability and immediate corrective action.”

During her visit, Underwood was informed that the Broadview Processing Center employs twenty-two staff, the same number as before the operation. The facility previously operated Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. but now runs seven days a week with significant overtime and plans for a third shift. She was informed that contracted officers at Broadview work for Paragon, which also supplies contracted personnel to the Federal Building in downtown Chicago and the ICE downtown Chicago processing center. Underwood was told that both sites are preparing for substantial expansion, including a potential reconfiguration of Broadview to accommodate temporary workspaces. Broadview Processing Center will reportedly be used as a training facility for newly hired Deportation Officers, due to the high volume of detainees. 

Although Broadview is a processing center rather than a long-term detention site, the Trump Administration has used it to detain individuals for longer than DHS policy allows. Consistent with community and media reports, Underwood observed holding areas that did not meet ICE’s detention standards. Toilet stalls had three-foot tall privacy barriers, only providing privacy for those seated. Some holding rooms had space for more than thirty people but lacked showers. Staff reported that individuals were held for two to three nights in October 2025, far beyond the twelve-hour limit that DHS waived for all processing centers in June 2025.

DHS staff informed Underwood that there are no medical staff on site at Broadview. Officers call 911 for emergencies. The facility is reportedly seeking assistance from the ICE Health Service Corps or a private medical contractor, but no timeline was provided. This gap places individuals with chronic medical needs at significant risk.

Underwood examined paper intake forms that track basic arrest information, including the arrest team, whether the arrest was targeted or collateral, and whether the individual had medication or identification on their person. All intake information is still collected on paper rather than electronically. This raises concerns about accuracy, completeness, and accountability. It remains unclear whether ICE is logging all arrests connected to Operation Midway Blitz or consistently documenting encounters involving United States citizens.

Officers reported that there were no individuals present during the visit due to a scheduled security system video camera update. They also confirmed that the facility received an oversight visit from a magistrate judge and the ACLU approximately two weeks ago. Recent detainee populations included individuals from Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua, and several African countries. Detention beds for women is limited in this region, and so most female detainees are being transferred to Kentucky. Transgender detainees are being sent to Denver. 

Detained individuals are offered a phone call as a courtesy. Attorney phone calls are routed through the facility control room. 

During the visit Underwood also raised concerns about the lack of clear communication from DHS regarding the status of Operation Midway Blitz. No formal notification has been provided indicating whether the operation has concluded. Officers at Broadview stated that Border Patrol does not work inside the facility and were unsure where Border Patrol is currently headquartered in Illinois. However, Underwood was informed that a Border Patrol scout team and intelligence team from El Paso and Detroit entered Illinois in the weeks and months before formally joining the operation.

DHS officials told Underwood that the Chicago immigration court docket is now among the largest in the nation, with more than two hundred  thirty thousand cases pending and more than four hundred seventy thousand across the six-state region. Thirty thousand individuals in the Chicago area are categorized as ready for removal. Deportation flights are conducted out of the Gary, Indiana, airport. Currently, within their area of responsibility—which includes Wisconsin, Indiana, Kentucky, Kansas, and Missouri—they have three thousand detainees in custody. In response to the influx of detainees, CoreCivic is building a new ICE detention center in Leavenworth, Kansas.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Yesterday, Rep. Lauren Underwood, Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Appropriations, delivered the following speech from the House floor:

“I rise today because what happened in Illinois during Operation Midway Blitz can never happen again. 

The last time this chamber convened before House Republicans took an 8-week vacation was September 19th.

So, this is the first chance I’ve had to address the House about the outrageous abuses of power our community has endured for the past two months. 

Under Kristi Noem’s so-called leadership, Department of Homeland Security agents have terrorized my district. 

Their reckless and incompetent methods have traumatized families and endangered entire neighborhoods. 

No community in America should live under siege by the federal government, as mine has.

Federal immigration officers and National Guard personnel, weaponized and politicized by the Trump Administration, swept into my district with no communication, no coordination, no transparency, no accountability, and no regard for public safety.

They came barging into our towns, ignored our laws, and trampled on our civil and human rights. 

In Aurora, a federal agent pepper sprayed a constituent of mine directly in the face from inches away, while she was standing completely still with her hands at her sides, unarmed.  

Elsewhere in my district, we heard reports that federal officers used an elementary school as a staging area, positioning armed tactical teams on school grounds in full view of children. 

Parents are afraid to leave their homes after hearing about neighbors abducted by masked agents while walking their kids to school, leaving the children unattended by the side of the road. 

Workers fear going to their jobs, our economy is suffering, and local businesses have seen foot traffic collapse.

Because, despite the Trump Administration’s claims of targeting “the worst of the worst,” their immigration enforcement operations have been a chaotic mess—sweeping up U.S. citizens, legal immigrants, and people with no criminal record.

I was horrified when federal agents rappelled down from helicopters to a Chicago apartment complex in the middle of the night, smashed windows and doors, threw flash-bang grenades, dragged children from their beds, and zip-tied and detained U.S. citizens for hours.

And yet, after all that, federal prosecutors have not filed criminal charges against anyone detained that night. 

And in a recent court filing, DHS listed 614 people arrested as part of Operation Midway Blitz—and only 16 of them have criminal histories of any kind. That’s 2.6%. 

The other 598 people have no criminal record!

What’s happening in Illinois is called racial profiling. 

Greg Bovino, the Border Patrol agent who led Operation Midway Blitz, literally told a reporter that agents arrest people based on, quote, “how they look.”  

Masked officers are violently targeting people, including U.S. citizens, because their brown skin and black hair make them seem suspicious.

This is a complete failure. Our Founding Fathers warned us about this type of government overreach after seeing how a desperate king’s troops could trample on our unalienable right to LIBERTY.

And yet, as we approach our 250th birthday, we are confronting a similar tyranny.

That’s not all—many of those arrested were essentially disappeared. Members of Congress could not get basic information from DHS about where they took our constituents. 

During the Republican shutdown, DHS leadership chose to furlough the liaisons we rely on to locate detainees and resolve urgent casework. 

When a constituent reached out because her husband was denied access to medical care in a detention facility, my office’s emails bounced back, and our calls went unanswered. Weeks later, I’m still waiting for a response.

But the shutdown didn’t stop DHS agents from harassing citizens and using force on peaceful protesters, because the Administration deemed these violent tactics “essential.”

That was not an accident. That was a policy choice. 

This is not what legitimate law enforcement looks like. 

Operation Midway Blitz disregarded Illinois state laws, federal laws, and the U.S. Constitution.

Due process—a foundational constitutional right for ALL people in this country—went out the window. Local police and officials were kept in the dark. People were snatched off the streets seemingly at random.

Many of my constituents felt like they were being hunted, because of the language they speak or the color of their skin. Simply because they needed to run an errand at the hardware store or walk their kids to school.

This is not about public safety. When the President has the power to terrorize American communities for his political purposes, it makes us all less safe, and less free.

The people of Illinois deserve answers—and Americans deserve better.”

Footage of Underwood’s speech can be viewed here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ted Lieu (33 District of California)

WASHINGTON – Today, Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries announced the launch of a new House Democratic Commission on AI and the Innovation Economy that will convene throughout 2026. The commission will develop policy expertise in partnership with the innovation community, relevant stakeholders and committees of jurisdiction. Caucus Vice Chair Ted Lieu (CA-36), Rep. Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05) and Rep. Valerie Foushee (NC-04) will serve as Co-Chairs. Rep. Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), Ranking Member of the Science, Space and Technology Committee and Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06), Ranking Member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, will serve as Ex Officio Co-Chairs. Democrats that served on the Bipartisan AI Task Force last Congress will hold key roles, and all Members of the House Democratic Caucus will be invited to participate.

“The brilliance and ingenuity of the innovation community has positioned America to lead the world in artificial intelligence and pioneer potentially life-changing breakthroughs in medicine and other fields of human endeavor that will benefit humanity. It is important that American companies continue to thrive in this area. At the same time, Congress must consider what policies are needed to prevent bad actors from exploiting this transformative technology and inflicting harm upon the American people,” said Leader Jeffries. “Unfortunately, Republicans abandoned the Bipartisan Task Force on AI. At this watershed moment in technological history, the people we are privileged to represent understandably have questions about how AI will affect their lives into the future. House Democrats are ready, willing and able to lean into those issues so we can uplift the health, safety and economic well-being of the American people. I’m thankful to Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren, Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Caucus Vice Chair Ted Lieu, Rep. Josh Gottheimer and Rep. Valerie Foushee for their leadership, commitment and willingness to serve.”

“I’m honored to join Representatives Lofgren, Pallone, Foushee and Gottheimer as members of the House Democratic Commission on AI and the Innovation Economy, and I’m grateful to Leader Jeffries for the opportunity to help continue to lead this critical work,” said Vice Chair Lieu. “Artificial intelligence is advancing at a breakneck pace, and Congress must keep up. House Democrats are committed to fostering innovation, expanding economic opportunity and strengthening America’s competitiveness in AI—while also ensuring sensible guardrails are in place to prevent significant harm. What is the Trump administration’s plan? Selling high-performance AI chips to China, pushing government ownership and revenue sharing requirements onto tech companies and spreading harmful deepfake videos. House Democrats reject this misguided approach, which risks leaving Americans vulnerable and our competitiveness weakened. Instead, Democrats will meet the moment by working with all stakeholders to develop smart, durable solutions that strengthen innovation and protect the public.”

“AI is a transformational technology. It has the potential to make the lives of everyday Americans profoundly better. However, it also carries with it risks,” said Ranking Member Lofgren. “Policymakers in Congress need to educate themselves about this game changing technology so that we can have informed debates about the issues that surround it. Unfortunately, House Republicans have been largely MIA when it comes to the issue of AI this Congress. I applaud Leader Jeffries for launching this Commission on AI and the Innovation Economy so that Democratic Members can stay engaged with academia, industry and other stakeholders to keep up with this rapidly evolving technology and ensure that America leads the world in the deployment of safe and trustworthy AI.”

“The United States can and must continue to lead the world in the development of artificial intelligence,” said Ranking Member Pallone. “Rather than blanket moratoriums, we should be learning from the work of our state and local counterparts to deliver well-considered legislation that provides American businesses and communities the framework and resources to succeed. Congress must both support policies that foster innovation and ensure we’re protecting Americans’ privacy and safety. I look forward to working with members of the commission and the entire Democratic Caucus to ensure we continue to win the future of AI.”

“From health care to education, the potential for artificial intelligence is boundless. The key for our economy, global competitiveness and national security is staying ahead of the curve—and ahead of our global competitors,” said Congressman Gottheimer. “As a member of the House Intelligence Committee, and the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on the National Security Agency and Cyber, I see every day just how quickly the landscape is shifting. That’s why this new Commission on AI and the Innovation Economy is so important. We need to ensure Congress is educated on these new technologies, that we’re putting the right policies and guardrails in place to grow and protect Americans, and that the U.S. continues to be the leader in AI-fueled jobs and innovation.“

“Artificial intelligence is already reshaping our economy, our democracy, our communities and the future of work in real time, yet the Trump administration has refused to put in place responsible guardrails to protect the American people, workers and families from the downsides of rapid technological change,” said Congresswoman Foushee. “As co-chair of the new House Democratic Caucus Commission on Artificial Intelligence and the Innovation Economy, I am committed to advancing clear, enforceable rules of the road to foster responsible innovation, keep Americans safe, protect privacy and civil rights, safeguard jobs, strengthen our economy and ensure that AI serves the public interest instead of undermining it. We cannot afford more delays or more excuses. It is time for Congress to lead.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05)

Today, Chicago Congressman Mike Quigley (IL-05) released the following statement on the passing of the deadline for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of the Inspector General to provide answers on ICE’s misconduct in Illinois:

“Three weeks ago, I led the entire Illinois House Democratic delegation in calling for Inspector General Joseph Cuffari to investigate misconduct, requiring a response by November 21, 2025. That date has come and gone, with no word from Cuffari. In the meantime, federal courts have investigated hundreds of warrantless arrests and found widespread inappropriate use of force in my city.

“Throughout Operation Midway Blitz, out-of-control federal agents wrought chaos and violence on Chicago. Families were ripped apart, neighborhoods were tear-gassed, and children were zip-tied — all while citizens and legal residents were abducted. Despite this chaos and a government shutdown, my office has remained open and responsive to those affected. My staff has made numerous calls and emails to regional ICE officials to find out who is being detained and where. We have yet to get an informed response back. We have been stonewalled in response.

“The people of Illinois deserve answers. The families of those who have been detained deserve to know where their loved ones are. And the American people deserve reassurance that this will never happen again.

“I am demanding an immediate response from Inspector General Cuffari — DHS must be held accountable.”

To read the letter from Congressman Quigley and the members demanding that DHS IG launch an investigation into ICE misconduct, CLICK HERE.