MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mark DeSaulnier Representing the 11th District of California

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman DeSaulnier sent a letter to the United States Department of Justice requesting information and expressing concerns about the impending closure of the San Francisco Immigration Court in San Francisco, California and the impact it will have on the Concord Immigration Court. This letter comes after employees and judges received notice in January that the San Francisco Immigration Court would close by the end of this year, resulting in the transfer of remaining personnel and many cases to the Concord Immigration Court in Concord, California, a city the Congressman represents, nearly 30 miles away. 

In the letter, Congressman DeSaulnier wrote, “If this San Francisco closure proceeds, the Concord court will be one of only two federal immigration courts in the entirety of Northern California—a region called home by over 12 million people. Individuals with cases before these courts are following legal asylum and immigration processes, and this closure will place additional logistical hurdles on individuals who already face enormous obstacles to securing their legal rights.

Since January 2025, the number of judges at both the San Francisco and Concord immigration courts have dwindled. San Francisco’s court, which began 2025 with 21 judges, now has just four judges after 14 were fired and four were pressured into early retirements. According to the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC), the San Francisco and Concord courts currently have a combined backlog of 177,827 cases, and court dates are already being scheduled years in the future. Given the low capacity and enormous caseload of these two courts, further reducing options for migrants pursuing legal asylum cases in the Bay Area would be irresponsible.”

He continued, “In an effort to better understand your decision to close the San Francisco Court, please provide the below information by April 14, 2026:

1. What data did your agency use to come to the decision to close the San Francisco Immigration Court? Please provide that data, in addition to data on the current backlog at the San Francisco and Concord courts, the average time to a merits hearing at these courts, court caused continuation rates, and in absentia rates.
2. What courts other than the Concord court will receive cases currently pending at the San Francisco court?
3. What is the timeline for transfer of cases to Concord or other courts?
4. How will respondents and counsel be notified of new hearing locations and dates?
5. Will there be automatic continuances for cases affected by the transfer?
6. Will there be expanded remote or hybrid hearing options?
7. How does your agency plan to reduce the enormous backlog of pending cases at immigration courts in California and nationwide, while ensuring that everyone with a case gets the fair and legal process to which they are entitled?
8. Does your agency plan to physically expand the Concord Immigration Court or hire additional judges in order to accommodate increased demand?
9. How will your agency ensure that migrants with cases before the Concord court feel safe and welcome when attending their scheduled hearings? Will your agency ensure that federal immigration enforcement agents present at the court are transparent about their agency, badge number, and name and refrain from wearing facial coverings and openly carrying firearms?
10. Are additional immigration judges being hired or reassigned to handle the transferred docket to the Concord court?
11. What is the projected backlog attributable to consolidation? 

Additionally, I would like to request a meeting with Assistant Chief Immigration Judge Julie Nelson of the San Francisco Immigration Court to discuss these matters further. Thank you in advance for your timely consideration and response.”

The full text of the letter can be found here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Dina Titus (1st District of Nevada)

WASHINGTON – This week Congresswoman Dina Titus (NV-01) introduced the Diplomatic Reserve Corps Act of 2026. This legislation would authorize the State Department to establish a 1,000-member ready reserve to carry out U.S. diplomatic efforts during times of heightened demand. This bill is co-led by Congressman Michael Baumgartner (WA-05) and supported by the American Academy of Diplomacy.

“While our armed forces are equipped to handle surges in demand with a ready reserve corps, the State Department, often called our first line of defense, is not,” said Congresswoman Dina Titus. “A Diplomatic Reserve Corps would ensure that the United States continues to put forth well-trained and experienced diplomatic professionals during times of international crisis. This is essential to maintain our relationships around the world, protect U.S. citizens abroad, mitigate conflict, and advance our national security interests.”

“Strengthening America’s ability to respond to global crises requires more than good intentions – it requires a trained, ready, and rapidly deployable diplomatic workforce. A Diplomatic Reserve Corps would give the State Department the surge capacity it has long lacked, ensuring we can protect Americans, support our partners, and advance our interests without pulling personnel away from essential missions. This is a practical reform that brings our civilian crisis response capabilities closer to the standard long set by our military reserves. It’s a smart investment in American leadership and preparedness,” said Congressman Michael Baumgartner.

“The American Academy of Diplomacy strongly endorses HR 8167, the Diplomatic Reserve Corps Act of 2026. This Bill will greatly increase the Department of State’s ability to react efficiently and effectively to protect American citizens in crises such as mass evacuations, wars, and disasters.  It will ensure that the appropriate personnel with the right skills can be sent quickly to a crisis. The Academy urges the rapid passage of this bipartisan effort to improve the effectiveness of American diplomacy,” said Ambassador Ronald E. Neumann, President of the American Academy of Diplomacy.

A robust and agile diplomatic service is essential to protect national security. Quickly unfolding crises such as the 2021 Afghanistan evacuation underscore the need for a modernized Diplomatic Corps. When they occur, the State Department cobbles together volunteers such as short-term hires, willing retired professionals, and contractors, all of whom leave behind important roles, creating a cycle of vacant positions. These solutions are also costly and unsustainable in a complex and demanding global environment. Instead of struggling with patchwork solutions, we need a longer-term solution. The Diplomatic Reserve Corps Act of 2026 is tailored to meet these complex challenges.

This bill would amend the Foreign Service Act of 1980 to establish a Diplomatic Reserve Corps under the State Department. This group of 1,000 trained, on-call professionals would become available to supplement, when the need arises, the Civil Service, Foreign Service, Personal Service Contractors, and Locally Engaged Staff who now carry out U.S. diplomatic efforts both day-to-day and in times of crisis.

The Corps would consist of four components:

• “Senior Diplomatic Retiree Reserve” composed of retired senior State Department professionals, just as the U.S. military reserves include retired professionals from all the armed services.
• “Diplomatic Retiree Reserve” composed of retired State Department professionals at lower grade levels.
• “Senior Diplomatic Reserve” composed of members of the public drawn, for example, from academia; think tanks; experts in areas such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, data science, cyber, and biotechnology; retirees from other federal, state, or local agencies; and the private sector with the experience to provide senior-level expertise in Washington and in the field.
• “Diplomatic Reserve” composed of members of the public, also drawn, for example, from academia; think tanks; experts in areas such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, data science, cyber, and biotechnology; other federal, state, or local agencies; and the private sector who have relevant experience to assist in executing required tasks.

The Corps would be fully formed over a five-year period. In “Year Zero,” the fiscal year of enactment of the Diplomatic Reserve Corps Act of 2026, the State Department would create the infrastructure needed to recruit, support, and manage the Corps and develop the training modules. Induction into the Corps would then commence during the following fiscal year.

Full text of the Diplomatic Reserve Corps Act of 2026 is available here.

###

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Kelly (R-PA)

NORTH EAST, PA — Today, during a ceremony in North East, Erie County, U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA) presented $975,000 in Community Project Funding to the Greenfield Twp. Vol. Fire Company for a critical public safety project benefitting communities in northeastern Erie County.

Kelly secured the funding in the fiscal year (FY) 2026 budget, which President Trump signed into law in November 2025.

This project would construct a new fire station for the Volunteer Fire Company in Greenfield Township. The existing fire station was built in the 1940s when fire engines were much smaller. The station is also on a busy 50-mph highway, which presents traffic safety issues when entering and leaving the station. A new station will allow the fire company to safely provide critical emergency services.

“Pennsylvania has the third-most volunteer or mostly volunteer fire departments in the United States. This funding is critical to make sure the department has the equipment needed to serve our communities,” said Rep. Kelly. “I believe it’s important for everyone to remember: this isn’t the government’s money. These are your tax dollars at work in your community.”

BACKGROUND

Congressional leaders resumed Community Project Funding (CPF), formerly known as ‘earmarks’, for the 119th Congress. With increased transparency and stricter guidelines, lawmakers were permitted to submit up to fifteen (15) funding requests during the appropriations process. Rep. Kelly fielded input from local leaders throughout Northwestern Pennsylvania before selecting these projects.

Details on CPF rules and guidelines can be found here.

This funding comes after Rep. Kelly secured more than $50 million in Community Project Funding requests from 2022-2024.

In 2020, Rep. Kelly also delivered two BUILD Grants for the 16th Congressional District, including $25 million for improvements along State Route 228 in Butler County, and $21 million for the City of Erie’s Bayfront Parkway Project. In 2018, he also secured a BUILD Grant for the State Route 228 project worth $20 million.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi Representing the 12th District of California

Annapolis, Md. – Yesterday, Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi returned to her home state of Maryland for a day of honors, reflection and family celebration—highlighting her deep roots in Baltimore and a lifetime commitment to public service.

The day began in Annapolis, where Governor Wes Moore hosted Speaker Pelosi as the guest of honor at a breakfast reception in Government House. During the program, Pelosi reflected on her Maryland upbringing and the values instilled by her family.

View photos from the event here.

Watch footage of the event here.

Read coverage of the event below:

Maryland Matters: Pelosi honored, Women’s Hall grows, but it’s still tough for women
[Danielle J. Brown, 3/31/26]

Baltimore-born Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) was given a warm “welcome home” by the General Assembly and Gov. Wes Moore (D) Monday, in a day chock-full of events honoring her legacy as the first female speaker of the U.S. House, as she winds down the last term of her lengthy political career.

Pelosi’s day in Annapolis started in Government House, where Moore hosted a breakfast in honor of Pelosi, who he said will always be “a daughter of Baltimore.”

The event was closed to press, but in a social media post about it, Moore was quoted as saying Pelosi “is an absolute force of nature. While I know your heart and your representation might belong to San Francisco, she is Maryland Tough and Baltimore Strong.”

…

---

Following the morning, Speaker Pelosi traveled with her family to the Fire Museum of Maryland for a tour of the historic Tommy Fireboat, named for her father, former Baltimore Mayor and Congressman Thomas D’Alesandro, Jr.—honoring the enduring legacy of public service in her family.

View photos of the tour here.

Watch coverage of the tour here. 

---

Later in the evening, Speaker Pelosi returned to Government House to deliver remarks at the Maryland Women’s Hall of Fame ceremony, where her mother, Nancy D’Alesandro, was inducted. In deeply personal remarks, Pelosi reflected on her mother’s life of service and dedication to helping others.

View photos of the event here.

Read coverage of the event below:

WMAR: Nancy Pelosi returns to Maryland to accept awards and honor her mother’s Hall of Fame induction

[Taylor Epps, 3/30/26]

Baltimore native and Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi returned to her home state today to be recognized for her work and celebrate her family’s legacy during Women’s History Month.

The day of honor and recognition started at the Governor’s Mansion at the Maryland Women’s Hall of Fame induction. Pelosi’s mother, Annunciata M. “Nancy” D’Alesandro, and 7 other women were inducted Monday evening.

“Thank you,” Pelosi said. “You have no idea how much this means to our family. This is an emotional evening for us.”

Her mother, often called Big Nancy, was recognized for her work as the First Lady of Baltimore.

“They called her a one-woman social service agency. When I talk about her as being a force in politics, it was with women; she always was respecting the women,” Pelosi said.

…

---

Speaker Pelosi then addressed both chambers of the Maryland General Assembly. In the Maryland Senate, she was honored with the First Citizen Award, recognizing her decades of leadership and contributions to public service.

View photos of the visit here.

Read coverage of the visit below:

Baltimore Banner: Moore, Maryland Democrats honor Rep. Nancy Pelosi in Annapolis
[Brenda Wintrode, 3/30/26]

Maryland Democrats honored the public service of House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi from dawn until dusk Monday, in a series of ceremonies held in Annapolis.

The Senate awarded the Baltimore native the First Citizen Award, given annually to Marylanders who have helped make government work for the benefit of all. The House of Delegates also presented Pelosi with a resolution, commending her time in office.

“Nothing happens because of one person,” Pelosi said before the Senate. “It’s all about a collaboration. It’s all about bringing people together, it’s all about community, which has the word unity right in it.

Pelosi’s husband and other family members attended the ceremonies.

…

---

Finally, Pelosi crossed to the House of Delegates—where her father began his political career—to deliver remarks and receive a separate honor from the chamber. Reflecting on the historic significance of the institution, she emphasized Maryland’s enduring role in advancing democracy and building a more perfect union.

View photos of the visit here.

Watch footage of the speech here.

Read coverage of the visit below:

Baltimore Sun: ‘Baltimore strong’: Nancy Pelosi praised in Maryland as she nears retirement
[Jeff Barker, 3/31/2026]

Nancy Pelosi, 86, the Baltimore-raised congresswoman who, in 2007, became the first female speaker of the U.S. House, was honored by the House of Delegates on Monday night.

The state House presented a resolution to the Speaker Emerita. Then, Pelosi thanked the delegates during their regular session in Annapolis, congratulating the chamber on having “not one, but two women Speakers of the House of Delegates.”

House Speaker Joseline A. Peña-Melnyk praised Pelosi as the “most consequential speaker of the House of Representatives in our history.”

“There are millions of girls and young women in this country on both sides of the aisle who can picture themselves achieving at the highest level,” Peña-Melnyk said. “I know that Baltimore is in her blood, and Maryland is in her heart. Once a Marylander, always a Marylander.” 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Rick Allen (R-GA-12)

Today, Congressman Rick W. Allen (GA-12) announced that Lakeside High School students Saisurya Lakkimsetti, Arnav Patel, and Mingzhe Zhang have been selected as the winners of the 2026 Congressional App Challenge for Georgia’s 12th District.

The students were chosen for their work developing Tempo, a software application that blends productivity, mental health, and brain wellness into a single intelligent experience. It helps users stay organized, focused, and mentally sharp while maintaining balance and emotional awareness. At its core, Tempo is a smart planner that learns each user’s daily rhythm, adapting reminders and focus sessions to match natural energy levels. It includes valuable tools such as a Flow Timer for deep work, a planner for task management, and a Rhythm Log that visualizes how time is divided between focus, rest, and leisure. For seniors, Tempo offers an optional Brain Health Hub with simple cognitive games, memory prompts, and medication reminders that strengthen focus and recall.

As the winner of this year’s App Challenge, Tempo will be featured on the U.S. House of Representatives website and displayed in a U.S. Capitol exhibit. Additionally, the students are invited to Capitol Hill for the #HouseOfCode celebration, where they will have the opportunity to demo their app to Members of Congress.

Upon the announcement, Congressman Allen issued the following statement:

“I extend my warmest congratulations to Saisurya, Arnav, and Mingzhe for winning the 2026 Congressional App Challenge. The creativity they displayed in developing Tempo from the ground up is nothing short of remarkable. I am very proud to recognize these students for a job well done, and for using their extensive talents to create something that will truly benefit others.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Clay Higgins (R-LA)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Clay Higgins (R-LA) announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) awarded a grant of $772,800 to the Port of Morgan City for the procurement of a new crane to be used at the terminal facility. 

Congressman Higgins penned a letter of support for this project to USDOT Secretary Sean Duffy in July of 2025. Read the letter here. 

“The Port of Morgan City is a major economic asset to the surrounding region, and the new crane project makes it even more competitive,” said Rep. Higgins. “This investment will increase efficiency, reduce vessel turnaround times, and help expand the Port’s economic activity for years to come.”

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

WASHINGTON — Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, Ranking Member of the House Oversight Subcommittee on Health Care and Financial Services, today pressed health insurers for answers over whether they are diverting premium funds that federal law expressly requires to be reserved for abortion coverage.

In a letter sent today to America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), Krishnamoorthi warned:

“Recent guidance issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services fundamentally misreads the Affordable Care Act and unlawfully permits insurers to divert these segregated funds for purposes unrelated to abortion care. This policy threatens to deny enrollees access to legally covered abortion services and enables insurers to convert funds dedicated to reproductive health care into profit.”

The letter goes on to warn that the new policy creates a direct financial incentive for insurers to retain funds that federal law requires be used exclusively for abortion services:

“Instead, it creates a perverse incentive for insurers to over-collect abortion premiums and then pocket the surplus. As abortion access is increasingly restricted nationwide, insurers have a legal and moral obligation to ensure affordable, accessible reproductive health care within their provider networks.”

Krishnamoorthi also underscored the stakes for patients’ access to care, writing:

“In the midst of a reproductive health crisis, funds explicitly set aside to ensure access to abortion care must not be diverted into insurance company revenue streams. Allowing insurers to siphon off funds reserved for abortion care, particularly in this moment, is indefensible.”

The letter requests that AHIP provide the following information by April 14, 2026:

1. Since the issuance of the December 9, 2025, CMS guidance, how many of your members have converted Section 1303 segregated funds that have been segregated for more than one year into revenue, or used the funds for a purpose other than abortion? What purposes have the funds been used for? 

2. Prior to the December 9, 2025, CMS guidance, have any of your members ever converted Section 1303 segregated funds into revenue, or used the funds for a purpose other than abortion? 

3. What amount of funding has been maintained in the segregated accounts of each relevant member over the last 10 years? 

4. Federal law requires that plans that cover non-Hyde abortions charge a minimum of one dollar, per member, per month. In your calculation, what is the actual cost to your members of providing non-Hyde abortion coverage to enrollees? 

The letter is available here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Norma Torres (35th District of California)

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Pete Stauber (MN-08)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Pete Stauber’s (MN-08) American Water Stewardship Act passed the House unanimously. This bipartisan legislation will reauthorize funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) and several other long-standing programs to maintain and improve water quality across the nation.

 “The Great Lakes are not only national treasures, they are economic powerhouses that strengthen jobs, tourism, and communities across our region,” said Congressman Pete Stauber. “Protecting the Great Lakes has always been a top priority of mine, so I am proud to champion this bipartisan bill that keeps these precious natural resources and other American waterways safe, beautiful, and clean for generations to come.”

The GLRI provides the most significant investment in the Great Lakes ecosystem, targeting areas of concern, invasive species, non-point source pollution, and projects to support habitats and local species. More than 8,000 projects have been carried out through the GLRI program in partnership with states, non-profits, and other community partners, generating more than $3 in economic activity for every federal dollar invested.

In addition to the GLRI, the American Water Stewardship Act reauthorizes the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Long Island Sound and Columbia River Basin Restoration programs, the National Estuary Program, and the EPA’s Beach Act program, all of which will help address water quality issues and carry out ecosystem restoration projects. 

See Congressman Stauber speak on his bill on the House floor HERE.

###

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif)

Boulder Creek, CA – United States Representative Jimmy Panetta was joined by Santa Cruz County Supervisor Monica Martinez, Executive Director of the Regional Transportation Commission (SCCRTC) Sarah Christiansen, Director of Community Development Matt Machado, Boulder Creek Business Association (BCBA) President Tess Fitzgerald, and Chief Mark Bingham of the Boulder Creek Fire Protection District to announce $850,000 in federal funding for the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission to fund the Boulder Creek Complete Streets Project, which will improve critical road infrastructure along Highway 9 and Highway 236. The funding announced today will be used to update critical public road infrastructure along Highways 9 and 236 to improve road safety and accessibility for drivers, pedestrians, families and local businesses. 

“Although Highway 9 is a lifeline for the San Lorenzo Valley, it also can be a major hazard for some of the communities on the road,” said Rep. Panetta. “By investing in the infrastructure along the roadways, this improvement project will ensure a slower highway and a safer main street for Boulder Creek. This is a big project that will take all levels of government coming together, so I’m proud to ensure that the federal government through the power of its purse played a part in funding the Boulder Creek Complete Streets Improvement Project.”

The funding announced today will be used to update critical public road infrastructure along Highways 9 and 236 to improve road safety and accessibility for drivers, pedestrians, families and local businesses. This section of highway weaves the community together but has seen a tragic series of pedestrian and bicycle collisions. These congressionally-funded improvements will add sidewalks, medians, bike lanes, and improved crosswalks to enhance downtown Boulder Creek and make Highway 9 safer for everyone.

“I am so grateful to Congressman Panetta’s office for this funding,” said Santa Cruz County Supervisor Monica Martinez. “Highway 9 is the backbone of the San Lorenzo Valley. It is how most residents commute to their jobs; it’s a main evacuation route; and it’s used by tourists who come to visit our beautiful towns and open spaces – including the Big Basin State Park. Despite having only a population of 5,300, Boulder Creek’s main intersection sees nearly 17,000 trips every day and more than double the collision and injury rates of comparable California corridors. By expanding sidewalks, bike lanes, lighting, signage, and other critical safety measures, this project will help improve pedestrian and bicycle access to our elementary school, local businesses, library, and bus stops.” 

“This project is a top priority for RTC’s program in San Lorenzo Valley because it addresses safety concerns along Highway 9 in Boulder Creek, which has accident rates that exceed the state average for similar facilities,” SCCRTC Executive Director Sarah Christiansen. “While our local Measure D sales tax provides critical funding to move projects forward, it is not enough on its own—state and federal investments like this are essential to successful delivery of these improvements. This funding allows us to take a major step forward in advancing meaningful safety upgrades, and we look forward to continuing our partnership with the Boulder Creek community to create a safer, more accessible, and vibrant downtown for years to come.”

“If you’ve ever tried to cross Highway 9 on a busy day, you know why we’re here. I especially want to thank Congressman Jimmy Panetta for securing funding for this project,” said BCBA President Tess Fitzgerald. “At the end of the day, this is about making Boulder Creek safer and easier for the people who live here, work here, and visit. When people feel safe spending time downtown, our businesses grow – and the whole community benefits.

Rep. Panetta worked for this federal funding to be included in the most recent appropriations package, For FY 2026, he secured $5.92 million in community project funding for local projects across Santa Cruz County, and a total of over $15 million to fund 14 local projects in California’s 19^th Congressional District.

###