MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Andy Biggs (AZ-05)

Washington, D.C.- Today, Congressman Andy Biggs (AZ-05) voted on a continuing resolution to restore funding to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for sixty days. The vote marked the fourth time the U.S. House of Representatives has approved a funding package for DHS.

Congressman Biggs issued the following statement: 

“In the middle of last night, the U.S. Senate cowered to Minority Leader Chuck Schumer by passing a woefully inadequate resolution to restore funding to parts of DHS, which effectively defunded Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This package inexplicably withheld funding for operations combating child and sex trafficking, and it lacked funding for CBP agents and thousands of ICE staff.

“While I could take the easy way out and vote to fund most of DHS and hope everything turns out alright, that’s not what I came to Washington, D.C. to do. I will not allow my friends in CBP and ICE to wonder where their future payments might be, while the Members of Congress playing these political games receive theirs. These men and women on the front lines of our border and immigration enforcement deserve much more commitment and backing from their elected representatives. That is why I have voted for the fourth time to fund DHS- all of it. As part of the solution, President Trump has made sure TSA agents will be paid until the Democrats come to their senses and join us in fully funding DHS.

“The House has done its job. Now, the Senate must return to fulfill its responsibility.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Betty McCollum, Dean of the Minnesota Congressional delegation, issued the following statement on Friday:  

“For 42 days, President Trump has allowed TSA agents to go without pay. No one should be surprised. The long lines, travel delays, and financial hardship Americans are experiencing never should have happened. Trump has always had the authority to pay TSA salaries from the $75 billion Department of Homeland Security slush fund which is currently paying ICE and Border Patrol agents to do enforcement activity.  

“I’m calling on Speaker Johnson to allow the House to vote on the bipartisan legislation that unanimously passed the Senate early this morning. That bill will provide a full year of funding to pay our TSA agents. What it won’t do is provide any more money for the illegal and harmful activities of ICE and Border Patrol agents. 

“Let me be clear: I support the bipartisan Senate bill to fund TSA, FEMA, CISA, and the Coast Guard, but I will not vote for another dollar of funding for ICE or Border Security operations until their agents stop violating Americans’ rights and adhere to the same standards our local law enforcement follow. Democrats will not stop fighting for policy changes to bring essential oversight and accountability to ICE and Border Patrol.

“I will not support Speaker Johnson’s plan to extend the crisis we are seeing unfold across American airports. Speaker Johnson and House Republicans should bring the bipartisan funding bill for the rest of DHS to the floor now and stop the pain and suffering they are inflicting on federal workers and the American people.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Nydia M Velázquez (D-NY)

WASHINGTON — Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) and Democratic members sent a letter to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) raising concerns regarding a draft regulation prepared by Puerto Rico’s Integrated Transportation Authority (PRITA) to drastically increase passenger and freight fares of the Puerto Rico Ferry route between Ceiba and the Island Municipalities of Vieques and Culebra. If approved, the fee would represent increases of 462 and 400 percent, respectively to the only public transportation method that connects Vieques and Culebra to the mainland of Puerto Rico.

“We are concerned that, with this change, PRITA may be violating federal regulations related to the grants and awards it has received from the Federal Transit Administration,” wrote the lawmakers. “In addition, we have heard from our constituents that this regulation has not undergone the processes required by local law to provide the public ample opportunity to comment or make recommendations.”

The Puerto Rico Highway and Transportation Authority (PRHTA) manages their services through its private operator, HMS Ferries, Inc. The PRHTA, with PRITA as a subrecipient, was awarded $11.9 million in 2024 under the Formula Grants for Rural Areas program to acquire a new passenger vessel for the Island Service. This funding is tied to certain objectives and legal requirements that the proposed ferry fares may contradict.

“First, PRHTA proposed to increase passenger flow between Ceiba, Vieques and Culebra by acquiring this vessel,” wrote the lawmakers.  “However, increasing each ferry trip from $2.25 to $10 would reduce the number of annual passengers from 1,170,153 (ridership in 2015) to 558,580, representing a 52.26 percent reduction.  And this may be an underestimate, given the calculation was made over ten years ago, and the proposed fare is not $10, but $11.25 per one-way trip.”

The proposed fare hike raises serious equity concerns. It would not be applied uniformly as the residents of Vieques and Culebra would receive steep discounts, while travelers from other municipalities would be forced to pay full price. In the letter, Velázquez notes this kind of disparity risks violating federal protections under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination in programs receiving federal funding.

Velázquez is calling on the FTA to respond by Monday, March 30 — two days before the fare increases are set to take effect on April 1. The letter poses five questions to the agency, including whether it has imposed any obligation requiring PRITA to quadruple fares and whether the increases comply with federal anti-discrimination requirements.

“As both a resident and a merchant, I depend entirely on the ferry service as the sole means of public transportation connecting Vieques to mainland Puerto Rico — what we on the island affectionately call “la Isla Grande,” said Nelson Boulogne, Vieques Resident and Business Owner. “This ferry is not simply a convenience; it is the backbone of our quality of life, our economic growth, and our ability to maintain essential ties with family members who reside on the mainland. A fare increase of approximately 400% would be devastating. It would drive up the cost of goods and services across the island, discourage workers and contractors from traveling to Vieques, and further strain the budgets of residents and families who cross regularly. The impacts would be felt not only by those of us who live here, but by every person connected to this island’s economy and well-being.”

The letter was signed by Rep. Dan Goldman (D-NY), Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-IL), Res. Commr. Pablo José Hernández (D-PR), and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY).
The letter was endorsed by Federación de Pescadores Comerciales (FEDPDEMAR), and Colectivo Somos Más Que 100×35.

Find the full letter here.
 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Barry Loudermilk (R-GA)

Washington, D.C. (March 27, 2026) | Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-GA) issued the following U.S. House vote on restoration of funding for the Department of Homeland Security:

“For weeks, good faith attemps have been made by Republicans in the House to reach a bipartisan agreement, but Democrats have rebuffed these attempts as they seek to hold American workers hostage in order to prevent federal law enforcement from carrying out their duty to keep our borders secure and remove illegal aliens and known terrorists from our country.

“Early Friday morning, the Senate passed partial funding legislation that still leaves ICE and Border Patrol without proper resources at a time when protecting the American homeland is of the utmost importance. Today, I have once again voted to fully fund all aspects of DHS, including CBP and ICE.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Rep Ro Khanna (CA-17)

Washington, DC — Today, Representative Ro Khanna (CA-17) alongside Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) reintroduced the End Polluter Welfare for Enhanced Oil Recovery Act (EOR) to end the tax break rewarding the fossil fuel industry for using carbon capture for EOR. The legislation would reform one of the largest and most egregious domestic fossil fuel subsidies. 

Fossil fuel companies currently receive a tax credit for injecting carbon dioxide into oil wells to extract more oil, a process known as enhanced oil recovery (EOR). The credit was expanded in 2022 and is part of the $34.8B in subsidies Big Oil collects annually on top of the over $100B they earn in annual profits. The subsidies do nothing to lower prices at the pump and increase the profits of fossil fuel companies. Especially as Americans are paying over a dollar more per gallon at the pump on average due to President Trump’s war in Iran, we need to be prioritizing lowering prices for Americans, not using tax dollars to pad the pockets of the fossil fuel industry.

“Subsidizing enhanced oil recovery undermines our ability to hold Big Oil accountable and just increases profits for fossil fuel companies,” said Rep. Ro Khanna. “As the Trump administration continues the reckless war in Iran, Congress must ensure help goes to Americans getting crushed by prices at the pump and not Big Oil.”

“It is outrageous that Republicans included billions of dollars of new subsidies to oil companies in their ‘Big, Ugly Betrayal’ law while gutting health care for millions of Americans already struggling,” said Sen. Jeff Merkley. “Climate chaos is fueling wildfires, droughts, and other extreme weather events, while the fossil fuel companies making record profits are undermining our democracy with pay-to-play politics. Congress must put the health of the American people, our climate, and our economy above the wish lists of powerful special interests by passing this bill to end rewards for billionaire corporations at the expense of hardworking families.”

“As Americans are facing rising energy costs and a broad crisis of affordability, they are more fed up than ever with taxpayer handouts going to the very industries fleecing them – and poisoning the planet while they’re at it. With this critical legislation, Senator Merkley and Representative Khanna are standing up for families and pushing back on a system that priorities profits over people. Ending billions of dollars in corporate giveaways for the oil and gas industry should be at the top of a common-sense agenda in Congress,” said Jim Walsh, Policy Director, Food & Water Watch.

“The time to end handouts to oil billionaires is now. We are glad to see Representative Ro Khanna and Senator Merkley’s “End Polluter Welfare for Enhanced Oil Recovery Act” that will end tax breaks that encourage big business to dig, burn and dump more and put our communities in harm’s way. Contaminated drinking water, explosions, or pipeline leaks which can occur when using false climate scams such as enhanced oil recovery should be off limits, especially at a time when families face increasing attacks on their economic, health, and environmental well-being, ”Mar Zepeda Salazar, Legislative Director, Climate Justice Alliance.

“The grossly generous 45Q tax credit handout makes it profitable at just $16 per barrel for multi-billion oil corporations to extract what would be otherwise unprofitable oil deposits using carbon dioxide via the Enhanced Oil Recovery process, according to analysis by Enervus,” said Paul Blackburn, attorney and policy advisory at Bold Alliance. “Extraction costs via Enhanced Oil Recovery are not economic absent these wasteful federal subsidies that are fleecing taxpayers to boost Big Oil’s profits, and should be eliminated.”

Cosponsors: Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Ed Markey (D-MA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Representatives Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Nanette Barragán (D-CA), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Maxwell Frost (D-FL), Delia Ramirez (D-IL), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), and Kevin Mullin (D-CA).

The full list of organizations that have endorsed the End Polluter Welfare for Enhanced Oil Recovery Act of 2026 include: Better Path Coalition, Bold Alliance, Center for Biological Diversity, Center for International Environmental Law, Climate Justice Alliance, Earthworks, Eco-Justice Collaborative, Food & Water Watch, For a Better Bayou, Friends of the Earth US, Greater New Orleans Interfaith Climate Coalition, Oil Change International, Our Revolution, Sierra Club, The Alliance for Affordable Energy, The Raices Collab Project.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sharice Davids (KS-3)

High fertilizer prices “could lead to people everywhere paying more for food”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman John Moolenaar (4th District of Michigan)

Headline: Moolenaar Votes to Fund Entirety of Department of Homeland Security

Today, Congressman John Moolenaar voted in favor of legislation to fund the Department of Homeland Security in its entirety. This is the fourth attempt by House Republicans to end the partial government shutdown affecting agencies including TSA, FEMA, Border Patrol, ICE, and the U.S. Coast Guard. 

“DHS employees keep our country safe and deserve to get paid for their critical work. The measure passed by the Senate in the dead of night unfortunately leaves critical aspects of DHS national security operations unfunded. This is not a time for half-measures. DHS should be funded in its entirety,” said Moolenaar. “If Congress needs more time to negotiate reforms for specific agencies, DHS employees should not be caught in the middle. The House proposals to fully fund DHS are the only serious efforts to reopen the department, and it should be taken up by the Senate immediately.”

The Department of Homeland Security has remained shut down since funding lapsed for the department on February 14. Many DHS agencies are deemed essential, requiring its employees to work without pay for the duration of government shutdowns.

The legislation passed by the Senate at 2:30 AM last night defunds U.S. Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, leaving 26% of DHS unfunded. By contrast, the legislation passed this evening by the House funds all of the department’s crucial national security operations until May 22, and provides Congress the opportunity to negotiate year-long appropriations. 

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

Miami Springs, 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 Monday, March 30th at 12:00 p.m.

The event will celebrate federal funding secured by Congressman Diaz-Balart for the Village of Virginia Gardens Police Department Police Department and the Miami Springs Police Department. The check for the Village of Virginia Gardens Police Department will be presented earlier in the day.

The $450,000 funding for the Village of Virginia Gardens Police Department will be used to upgrade technology infrastructure such as communications systems, surveillance equipment, and data analytic tools to improve officer coordination and efficiency.

The $500,000 funding for the Miami Springs Police Department will be used to upgrade six marked Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) which will make communities safer, help improve visibility for officers, deter crime, and create greater interactions within the community.

These projects received funding through the Commerce, Justice, Science; Energy and Water Development; and Interior and Environment Appropriations Act, 2026,which was approved by Congress and signed by the President on January 23, 2026.

WHAT: Check Presentation Ceremony

WHO:

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

WHEN:

Monday, March 30th at 12:00 p.m.

WHERE:

Curtiss Mansion

500 Deer Run,

Miami Springs, FL 33166

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

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (7th District of Washington)

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (7th District of Washington)

WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. Representatives Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) and Gregory W. Meeks (NY-05), Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, are today introducing the Prevent an Unconstitutional War in Cuba Act to block President Trump from using any federal funding to use military force in or against the Republic of Cuba without Congressional authorization. 

“Trump has started illegal regime change conflicts in Venezuela and Iran and is now threatening Cuba. These military attacks put our troops in danger, endanger innocent civilians, waste billions of taxpayer dollars, and are not what the American people want,” said Jayapal. “Trump promised to end forever wars — he lied. Congress alone has the power to declare war, something Trump clearly does not respect. He has no plan to improve conditions for the Cuban people or promote democracy, and we must pass this legislation to block him from acting on a whim.”

“Cuba is not for Donald Trump to take, and today we stand firm against the illegal use of the U.S. military to pursue turning Cuba into another playground for Trump’s chaotic adventurism. Such a reckless course would risk American lives, cost taxpayers billions, and, in all likelihood, leave the underlying political and economic conditions unchanged. The United States cannot bomb Cuba out of economic collapse or political repression—lasting change must come through empowering the Cuban people, not doubling down on a failed approach that disproportionately harms them,” said Meeks. 

President Trump and Secretary Rubio are doubling down on a decades-long, failed “maximum pressure” policy on Cuba that has inflicted disproportionate harm on the Cuban people while doing little to foster change on the island. The Trump administration is imposing an oil blockade that has led to the collapse of Cuba’s already fragile energy infrastructure and is only exacerbating suffering on the island. In recent days, Trump stated, “I do believe I’ll have the honor of taking Cuba.”

This legislation would prevent Trump from using taxpayer dollars to introduce military force in Cuba without prior Congressional authorization or in response to an imminent threat or as self-defense.

The full text of the bill can be read here. 

The legislation is also sponsored by Gabe Amo (RI-01), Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Sara Jacobs (CA-51), Jesús G. “Chuy” García (IL-04), Henry C. “Hank” Johnson (GA-04),  Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), James P. McGovern (MA-02), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Janice D. Schakowsky (IL-09), Melanie A. Stansbury (NM-01), Dina Titus (NV-01), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), and Nydia M. Velázquez (NY-07).

Issues: Foreign Affairs & National Security