Media Advisory: Rep. Díaz-Balart to Present $6 Million in Federal Funding to Reduce I-75 Traffic Congestion in Miami-Dade

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (25th District of FLORIDA)

MIAMI, FL – Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart (FL-26), Dean of the Florida Delegation, is pleased to invite members of the media to attend a check presentation ceremony on Wednesday, April 1 at 11:00 a.m.

The event will celebrate the $6 million in federal funding secured by Congressman Diaz-Balart for the Florida Department of Transportation for the planning and design to alleviate traffic congestion on and off I-75 around NW 170th Street and NW 154thStreet.

This project received funding through the Senate Amendment to H.R. 7148, the Consolidated Appropriations Act 2026, which was approved by Congress and signed into law by the President on February 3, 2026.

WHAT: Check Presentation Ceremony

WHO:

  • Rep. Mario Díaz-Balart (FL-26), Vice Chair of the House Appropriations Committee and Dean of the Florida Delegation
  • Local officials

WHEN:

Wednesday, April 01, 2026 at 11:00 a.m.

WHERE:

Intersection of NW 89th Ave & NW 170th St

All interested credentialed media may RSVP to Andrea.Morales@mail.house.gov

DeGette Statement on Colorado “Conversion Therapy” Case

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Diana DeGette (First District of Colorado)

DENVER, CO — Today, Congresswoman Diana DeGette (CO-01) issued the following statement in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Chiles v. Salazar:

“The Supreme Court’s decision in Chiles v. Salazar will lead to traumatic experiences for vulnerable children. So-called “conversion therapy” is not protected speech, it is abuse. That’s exactly why Colorado did the right thing by banning it.

“There is no debate among serious health care providers that “conversion therapy” is a pseudoscientific practice that harms children and drives them to take their own lives. That’s why I signed an amicus brief in this case and cosponsored legislation to ban this cruel practice nationwide. After today, those legislative efforts are now more vital than ever. 

“The fact that this Court announced its decision on Trans Day of Visibility is particularly disturbing. Our kids deserve to know they are safe and loved for who they are.”

Rep. Cleaver Secures $850,000 for Grandview Main Street Market, Helps Unveil Official Name of Main Street Space

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II (5th District Missouri)

(Grandview, MO) – Today, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) joined Grandview Mayor Leonard Jones and local leaders for a check presentation of $850,000 in federal funding Cleaver secured for the City of Grandview’s new Main Street Market. Following the presentation, the leaders unveiled the name of the transformative space in the heart of the community. The Main Street Market is one of 15 separate investments totaling more than $15 million for local projects supported by the congressman.

“This Community Project Funding for Grandview’s Main Street Market is an investment in the heart of the south Kansas City community, and I’m proud to have secured this $850,000 in federal funding to help bring this vision to life,” said Congressman Cleaver. “This project will transform downtown Grandview into a vibrant, accessible gathering space where families can connect, small businesses can grow, and local farmers can thrive. By creating a permanent market with modern amenities, green space, and sustainable infrastructure, the city is not just building a structure, it’s building opportunity, strengthening our local economy, and creating a place that reflects the pride and spirit of Grandview for generations to come.” 

“Congressman Cleaver shows up for Grandview and takes action for our residents,” said Mayor Jones. “His advocacy in Washington helped secure crucial dollars the city needed to build a space on Main Street to serve as a gathering space and promote public health as home of the Grandview Farmers Market.”

The future home of the Grandview Farmers Market will also serve as a year-round gathering space designed to support small businesses, local farmers, and community events. The new facility will feature a mix of enclosed and open-air market space, modern amenities, green space, and flexible design elements to support programming through every season. Located along the railroad corridor, the structure will included slanted rooftops, steel and timber elements, multiple garage doors, and an outdoor plaza for community-centered gatherings.

Following the check presentation, Congressman Cleaver helped Mayor Jones Unveil the official name of the Main Street Market Space – Grandview Station.

The Main Street Market represents the latest major community investment Rep. Cleaver has secured for Grandview. In 2024, Congressman Cleaver delivered $4.6 million for the Blue Ridge Boulevard Reimagined project, a multi-phase effort to enhance infrastructure, accessibility, and connectivity across the corridor.

Photos from the event can be found here.

Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee’s Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Greenwood, Blue Springs, North Kansas City, Gladstone, and Claycomo. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee and Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance.

ICYMI: Guthrie Continues Leading Effort to Combat Illicit Drugs That Harm American Communities

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Brett Guthrie (2nd District Kentucky)


Washington, D.C. – 
Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, continued his efforts to counter the devastation in American communities that has been caused by the distribution and use of illicit drugs. 

Last week, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health conducted a legislative hearing titled Policies to Protect Our Communities from Illicit Drug Threats. It focused on over one dozen bills that aim to crack down on illicit drug threats facing our nation. By examining the supply chain dynamics of these drugs and their precursors, in addition to looking at new and emerging illicit drug threats, the subcommittee took a comprehensive look at the crisis that has ravaged communities and killed hundreds of thousands of Americans for decades. 

This hearing built upon the work Chairman Guthrie and the House Committee on Energy and Commerce have done throughout the 119th Congress to prevent overdose death and support those battling addiction; including the passage of the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act and HALT Fentanyl Act – both of which were signed into law by President Trump last year. 

Additional information about this hearing can be found HERE.

You can watch the full subcommittee hearing HERE.

Chairman Guthrie’s Opening Statement, as Prepared for Delivery:

“Thank you, Chairman Griffith. And thank you to all of the witnesses for being here.

“Today, we will hear from a diverse panel about existing and emerging drug threats and discuss policies designed to help keep our communities safe. 

“These drug threats continue to evolve from opioids like oxycodone and heroin, to illicit fentanyl—to now—the prevalence of nitazenes, as well as synthetic 7-OH, known as ‘gas station heroin.’ 

“Bad actors are using illicit pill presses and fentanyl to make pills including punches and dyes imprinting logos onto those pills, making them look like legitimate prescription medication. 

“Just last week, DEA announced a significant seizure in my home state of Kentucky from this past January. The DEA seized approximately 17 kilograms of fentanyl, two industrial grade pill presses, and two kilo-brick presses. According to DEA, this seizure prevented almost 9 million potentially lethal doses of fentanyl from reaching our communities.

“I’m proud of the work we’ve done in this Committee to crack down on the influx of illicit drugs and to uplift individuals and families struggling with substance use disorders—like getting the HALT Fentanyl Act and the SUPPORT Act signed into law—but there is still work to be done to ensure law enforcement can adequately detect and combat the proliferation and distribution of deadly substances. I’m thankful to my colleagues who are leading on these efforts.  

“We have bills like the Combatting Illicit Xylazine Act to permanently place xylazine into schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act while ensuring veterinarians, farmers, and ranchers can continue to administer the sedative to animals, and the STOP Nitazenes Act to permanently place the drug class of nitazenes into schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act. 

“Further, the END 7-OH Act would place synthetic 7-OH into schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act, and we’ll consider a range of bills aimed at cracking down on the illicit distribution of pill press machines.  

“We must work to advance policies that ensure those who make, import, and distribute these poisons in our communities are brought to justice on behalf of the families who have experienced so much pain already, and to help those with substance use disorders find treatment and recovery so we can save lives in the future. 

“I thank the witnesses for their participation and look forward to today’s discussion. I yield back.”

Chairman Guthrie’s five minutes of witness questions can be found HERE

Ranking Member Huffman Blasts Trump Cabinet’s Illegal Gutting of Endangered Species Protections to Benefit Big Oil Donors

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jared Huffman Representing the 2nd District of California

March 31, 2026

Washington, D.C. — Today, House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) released the following statement after the Trump administration’s Endangered Species Committee voted to exempt all oil and gas drilling in the Gulf of Mexico from Endangered Species Act protections:

“The grotesque pay-to-play pageantry that unfolded today was, thankfully, so clearly illegal that it will not stand. But that should not temper the disgust and outrage of every American who cares about the environment and the integrity of our government. This sham “God squad” proceeding lacked any semblance of serious deliberation. It was merely Trump’s cabinet of MAGA puppets doing as they were told and giving a massive gift to Big Oil, just as Trump promised he would do when he asked them at Mar-a-Lago to raise $1 billion for his campaign.

“Wiping out all endangered species protections in the Gulf of Mexico so that oil companies can drill without limits and kill without consequence is beyond extreme; no president in our history has ever done anything like this. And doing it under a perfunctory claim of “national security” insults the intelligence of the American people.

“Trump started a reckless war with Iran that sent gas prices through the roof, and now he’s citing the mess he created as grounds for an exemption that has never been invoked in the history of the Endangered Species Act. The people who will pay for this are Gulf Coast families and communities, where people’s livelihoods depend on healthy fisheries and clean water. For the oil executives who already posted record profits last quarter, this is just another dark chapter in their greed and overreach.

“The corrupt bargain between the Trump administration and the fossil fuel industry will not stand. My Democratic colleagues and I will fight this in court, in Congress, and we’ll have the support of every community in America that values public integrity and a healthy environment.”

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Wasserman Schultz Delivers $1 Million Federal Investment for Fort Lauderdale Public Safety Training Complex

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

“My top priority is to keep our families safe. One of the best ways to do that is to ensure our first responders get consistent, high-level training,” said Wasserman Schultz. “So, I’m extremely proud to partner with City of Fort Lauderdale leaders to deliver this cutting-edge professional development facility. It’s a critical investment to better protect our community and visitors.”

Fort Lauderdale, FL – Today, U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25) joined Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis, Police Chief Bill Schultz, Fire Chief Stephen Gollan, and Fort Lauderdale Commissioners Ben Sorensen and Pam Beasley-Pittman to announce a $1 million federal investment she secured to help build the Fort Lauderdale Public Safety Training and Professional Development Complex.

The funding marks a major step forward in building a state-of-the-art training hub for police, fire and regional first responders. This federal investment is aimed at strengthening emergency response and protecting residents and visitors.

“My top priority is to keep our families safe. One of the best ways to do that is to ensure our first responders get consistent, high-level training,” said Wasserman Schultz. “So, I’m extremely proud to partner with City of Fort Lauderdale leaders to deliver this cutting-edge professional development facility. It’s a critical investment to better protect our community and visitors.”

“Public safety is the foundation of a strong city,” said Trantalis. “This investment is a step toward building the kind of modern, world-class training facility our first responders deserve.”

The Fort Lauderdale Police Department (FLPD) is the largest municipal law enforcement agency in Broward County, with a current professional staff of over 700 personnel and yet it does not have a training facility that can accommodate the class size and/or variety of training needs required.

FLPD does not have adequate space to conduct all the trainings that are required to fully prepare and equip an officer with the tools and skills needed. FLPD Training personnel must rely on other facilities to rent space and work around their availability to schedule classes. This generally leads to facility rental costs, facility staff costs, costs associated with overtime for the officers being trained, as well as for overtime for officers to backfill positions when fellow officers are in scheduled training.

The tri-county area currently lacks a comprehensive facility that can provide a ‘one stop shop’ for both new recruits and experienced personnel that prepares them to be a first responder of the 21st century. Local police agencies must wait for availability to enroll new recruits in the police academy and there is usually insufficient availability for career enhancement courses, like the introduction to investigations.

The training complex will be located less than 30 minutes from both the international and executive airports, Port Everglades and Brightline and Tri-Rail. Regional police and fire departments, as well as federal and state law enforcement, will also be able to utilize the state-of-the-art facility.

Wagner Introduces Bill to Confront China, Limit Its Influence

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO-02)

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO), Member of the House Intelligence Committee, released the following statement after introducing the Export Control Enforcement and Enhancement Act. The legislation streamlines government processes to ensure sensitive American technologies are not sold to foreign adversaries.

“For nearly thirty years, the Department of Commerce’s Entity List has been a crucial tool in ensuring foreign adversaries do not gain access to sensitive American technologies and products. However, nations that wish to harm the United States are constantly changing their tactics, creating illicit networks to evade U.S. export controls. 

“This much-needed legislation will modernize our export control regime and streamline the ability of the Departments of State, Defense, and Energy to quickly modify the list of foreign entities—ranging from governments to companies and research institutions—that pose a serious risk to our national security. 

“By implementing a thirty-day clock on proposed additions, removals, or other modifications to the Entity List, our government will be able quickly address any efforts by our adversaries to cheat the system and obtain superior, American-made technology.”

Pappas Pushes Legislation to Ban Members of Congress from Cutting Airport Security Lines

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

Pappas is the first Democrat to sign onto this reform legislation to end special privileges for Congress not enjoyed by the traveling public

As Americans face long wait times and delays at America’s airports, Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) is co-sponsoring bipartisan legislation, the End Special Treatment for Congress at Airports Act, introduced by Congresswoman Ashley Hinson (IA-02). This legislation would prevent members of Congress from getting preferential treatment by cutting the security line ahead of the traveling public. Members of Congress and other “political VIPs” have long been given special privileges at airports, including the ability to bypass long security lines. 

“It is unacceptable for members of Congress or anyone in the public trust to expect special treatment of any kind, and that includes cutting the line at TSA to go ahead of travelers waiting for security screenings,” said Congressman Pappas. “As our TSA agents work hard through incredibly challenging conditions, members of Congress should not be afforded special treatment, which can cause further delays and disruptions. Americans continue to face skyrocketing costs under the Trump administration and Republican Congress. It only adds insult to injury for travelers to see their representatives, who are supposed to be making their lives better, literally leave them behind.”

In February 2024, Pappas strongly opposed an amendment offered by Senator Ted Cruz to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization legislation that would have allowed members of Congress and other “political VIPs” to get special privileges, including police escorts through airport terminals and expedited private security screenings. 

Underwood, Schrier, Schatz Introduce Legislation to Address Youth Mental Health Crisis

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

WASHINGTON – Representative Lauren Underwood, Representative Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08), and Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI) introduced the Child Suicide Prevention Act, legislation that would address suicide among children and young adults by providing evidence-based training to current and future health care professionals. Suicide is currently the second leading cause of death for young people ages 10-24. From 2000 to 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that suicide rates among young Americans increased 52 percent.

“I have heard from so many young people about their challenges and struggles with mental health. We can and we must do better for our kids, and I want them to know that there is hope,” said Underwood. “Representative Schrier, Senator Schatz, and I introduced the Child Suicide Prevention Act to make sure health care providers are equipped with life-saving training and interventions backed by data. Our legislation takes meaningful action so that young people can get the help they need to lead safe and healthy lives.”

“As a pediatrician, children’s health and well-being have always been my top priority,”said Congresswoman Schrier, M.D. “We are in the midst of an unprecedented youth mental health crisis that has led to skyrocketing suicide rates among children. We must do all we can to address this crisis head-on, which is why I’m proud to introduce legislation to give healthcare providers the tools and resources they need to help keep our children safe.”

“Youth suicide is a crisis in Hawai‘i and across America, and we need to do everything we can to get young people help when they need it,” said Senator Schatz. “This bill provides important training and resources to medical professionals who will be able to deliver timely help and prevent these tragedies.”

The Child Suicide Prevention Act would provide funding for evidence-based training on youth suicide prevention to current and future health care professionals. Additionally, the bill would create a centralized database of resources where at-risk youth and their families, medical and nursing schools, and health care professionals can turn for best practices in suicide prevention.

If you or someone you know is experiencing thoughts of suicide, help is available. Call, text, or chat with the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988, or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741. Rep. Underwood’s website also includes a Behavioral Health Resources page to help our community find support.

Krishnamoorthi, McBath, Scott, and Randall Demand DOJ Restore Critical Protections Against Prison Rape for Transgender and Intersex Inmates

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

WASHINGTON — Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi joined Representatives Lucy McBath, Bobby Scott, and Emily Randall in demanding that Attorney General Pam Bondi immediately rescind a Department of Justice directive that weakens protections against sexual violence for transgender and intersex people in correctional facilities.In a letter sent today, the lawmakers warned that the Department’s December 2025 memo directing Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) auditors to stop applying standards designed to protect transgender and intersex inmates “undermines critical safeguards established to prevent sexual abuse in correctional facilities, places countless people at risk, and violates the PREA law.”

The letter, led by Krishnamoorthi, underscores that PREA was enacted to “establish a zero-tolerance standard for the incidence of prison rape in prisons in the United States” and argues that the Department’s current policy directly conflicts with both the law and its own data showing that transgender inmates face dramatically higher rates of sexual victimization.

“PREA clearly establishes that no one who is incarcerated should experience sexual violence, yet the Department of Justice is actively telling auditors to ignore regulations that help minimize the risk that transgender and intersex inmates experience sexual violence,” the members wrote.

The lawmakers called on the Department to reverse the memo immediately and fully enforce the 2012 PREA regulations, including protections for transgender, intersex, and other LGBTQ+ inmates.

“We urge you to rescind the Department’s December 2, 2025 memo and ensure that all covered facilities are fully complying with the 2012 regulations and doing everything in their power to protect against sexual victimization in prison facilities, including protecting transgender and intersex inmates,” the letter states.

In addition to demanding the memo’s withdrawal, the members requested a briefing within 30 days on the legal basis for the Department’s directive and the specific steps it is taking to protect incarcerated individuals from sexual abuse.

The letter from the members is available here.