WATCH: Pressley, Advocates Rally to End Child and Family Detention, Demand Trump Stop Traumatizing Our Neighbors

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07)

Pressley Has Led Efforts in Congress to Address Childhood Trauma, Championed Policies to Support Child Health, Education, Safety

WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) rallied with colleagues, caregivers, advocates, and impacted families to demand the end of child and family detention. While the Trump Administration continues attacking our immigrant neighbors, detaining families, and traumatizing children, Congresswoman Pressley delivered powerful remarks where she discussed the importance of keeping families together, protecting children from trauma, and ensuring immigration policies do not place children and families in harmful detention.

The rally was organized by the National Domestic Workers Alliance and the 10 Steps Campaign, and featured an installation of 620 teddy bears and paper dolls—one for every ten children arrested by ICE—alongside a rally and public story hour on the Capitol grounds.

In a March Oversight committee hearing, Rep. Pressley centered the children detained and traumatized by ICE who are being forced to bear the effects of lifelong trauma. In February, in her boycott of Trump’s State of the Union, Rep. Pressley spent the day uplifting the stories of children traumatized and detained by ICE through counterprogramming engagements, a floor speech, and an office installation depicting their stories and art.

A transcript of the Congresswoman’s remarks at the rally is available below and the video is available here.

Transcript: Pressley, Advocates Rally to End to Child and Family Detention, Demand Trump Stop Traumatizing Our Neighbors
U.S. Capitol

May 20, 2026

Hello, movement family! 

And indeed we are one movement family, one human family. Our freedoms and our destinies are tied. 

Thank you for being here today. Thank you for speaking out, and thank you for speaking up for our babies and our neighbors. 

James Baldwin once said, “the children are always ours, every single one of them, all over the globe, and I’m beginning to suspect that whoever is incapable of recognizing this may be incapable of morality.”

Three months ago, I stood in the well of the house floor and decried the child abuse taking place behind the wall at the Dilley Detention Center, a baby prison. 

Children denied formula, water too putrid to drink. Sick babies, children with disabilities deteriorating. Fathers holding their babies in their arms as they scream, unable to sleep under the bright prison lights. Children’s drawings torn to shreds by guards to try to hide the truth from the world. Mothers with high-risk pregnancies thrown in vans and dropped along the border with nothing but funds in a commissary account. 

The world is watching. The world is watching as the United States is destroying the lives of children and parents. Trauma that can endure for a lifetime. Innocent babies, hardworking people who committed no crime came to this nation with hopes and dreams, who fled horrific violence, who work demeaning jobs and make unspeakable sacrifices for their babies’ survival. 

Let me be clear, no family should be torn apart by this government. No family should be detained. No family should be separated. 

We must close the Dilley Detention Center immediately. We must reunite families. 

Our immigrant families are our neighbors, our coworkers, our loved ones. 

Seeking asylum is a human right. Being undocumented is not a crime. Families should be able to live and work in our communities while they go through the immigration process.

In a just America, these families would have been offered a just legal process, compassionate care, and a pathway to residency and citizenship. 

A parent seeking safety for their child is always just. A child seeking a childhood is always just. 

Many of the families at Dilley have been mired in the process of working towards legal status for many years, like a family of four that’s locked away at Dilley right now. Before they were kidnapped by ICE, their dad was working late shifts at two jobs and driving Uber to make ends meet. Their two daughters were thriving at their school, their mother beloved by neighbors, and building a life for their family. 

That’s what this fight is about. That’s who it’s for. Our effort is not futile, it is righteous. Every family we have fought for the release of is proof that we are powerful, and our advocacy matters. 

Those who are driving this hurt and harm, they want us to feel small, they want us to feel defeated, they want us to feel isolated, but we are powerful, and we will not give in to the ease of cynicism. We will practice the discipline of hope when families are counting on us to stand in the gap.

Not when seven year old Mathias is begging to go back to school from behind the wall of the Dilley prison.

Not when nine-year-old Valentina is praying to God to free her from behind the wall of the Dilley prison.

Not when 11-year-old Manreet spent her birthday behind bars vomiting from the toxic water at Dilley.

Not when two-year-old Daphne, from my district, has spent months asking where’s daddy?

To every family impacted, no matter the status of your paperwork, no matter how many months you have called America home — this congresswoman loves you. 

You deserve to be safe. I’m so proud to call you my neighbor, and I will fight for your childhood like you are my own child, because you deserve that. 

You deserve a childhood. You deserve a life free from fear. 

Thank you.

Congresswoman Pressley has been an outspoken advocate in defense of immigrant communities and fought to bring detained neighbors home.

Carbajal Announces Over $2 Million in Federal Funding for SLO Airport

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Salud Carbajal (CA-24)

U.S. Representative Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24), a senior member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, announced $2,255,000 in federal funding for the San Luis Obispo County Airport to improve the baggage screening system. The airport’s current system is too undersized and outdated to adequately meet current operational demand. The grant will fund a complete system replacement to improve the travel experience for passengers. 

“Given SLO’s beautiful landscapes, innovative companies, and acclaimed universities, it is no surprise that SLO County Airport welcomed a record-breaking number of passengers last year,” said Rep. Carbajal. “This federal funding will support necessary infrastructure upgrades, allowing the airport to accommodate the growing number of travelers coming into SLO County each year.”

“We are incredibly grateful to Congressman Carbajal and his team for their continued partnership and support of SLO County Airport. This funding supports the replacement of the terminal’s undersized outbound baggage screening system, to better meet current operational demand and enhance the travel experience for families and passengers traveling through our community airport. Investments like this are critical to maintaining safe, efficient and reliable service as passenger activity continues to grow,” said Courtney Johnson, Airport Director, SLO County Airport.

This funding is from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s Airport Terminals Program. These grants provide funding for safe, sustainable and accessible airport terminals, airport-owned airport traffic control towers, and on-airport rail and bus projects that improve multimodal connections, ensuring a safe and seamless travel experience for families across the U.S.

Since its passage in 2021, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has delivered more than $1 billion in funding to projects up and down the Central Coast of California. As a senior member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Carbajal played a key role in crafting and passing the landmark legislation in partnership with the Biden Administration.

Last fall, Carbajal announced over $3 million in funding for two airports in San Luis Obispo County for infrastructure improvements. SLO County Airport received $2,725,597 to construct a new 315-foot Taxiway B3 to bring the airport into conformity with current standards. Oceano Airport received $313,500 to reseal 2,325 feet of existing Runway 11/29 pavement to extend its useful life.

Krishnamoorthi Denounces Proposed Constitutional Amendment to Bar Naturalized Citizens from Congress, the Federal Judiciary, Senate-Confirmed Posts

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

WASHINGTON — Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, a naturalized citizen who immigrated to the United States as an infant, today released the following statement in response to Representative Nancy Mace’s proposed constitutional amendment to bar naturalized citizens from serving in Congress, the federal judiciary, and Senate-confirmed government positions:

“My parents brought me to this country as an infant because they believed in the American dream of a better life and in a uniquely American promise: that in this country, what matters is not where you came from, the color of your skin, whom you love, or how you worship, but your character, your hard work, and your commitment to American values. Representative Mace’s proposal to bar naturalized citizens from serving in Congress, on the federal bench, and in Senate-confirmed positions is a betrayal of that promise and of a principle that has helped define the American story since our founding. As President Reagan often said, ‘anyone, from any corner of the Earth, can come to live in America and become an American.’ From Alexander Hamilton helping shape our republic to generations of naturalized citizens who strengthened our communities, widened the horizons of what America could become, and answered the call to public service, America has always drawn strength from people who chose this country as their own. In this country, patriotism is measured not by birthplace, but by service.

Generation after generation, naturalized citizens have renewed our nation — and countless have worn the uniform of the United States and, too often, given the last full measure of devotion for the country they chose to make their own. The responsibility of American citizenship is not simply to enjoy the blessings of freedom, but to carry forward the values of this country and leave it better for the next generation. To suggest that Americans who are willing to serve this country, fight for it, and even give their lives for it are somehow not American enough to serve in public office is an affront to one of the most enduring principles of the American story. Long after our nation forgets the electoral ambitions of those who sought power by demonizing naturalized citizens, those very Americans will continue to contribute, to sacrifice, and to carry forth the promise of America.”

CASTRO, KEATING LEAD LEGISLATION CALLING FOR TRANSPARENCY ON TRUMP ADMIN’S DEPORTATION POLICY

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Joaquin Castro (20th District of Texas)

May 20, 2026

Washington, D.C. – Today, Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere Ranking Member Joaquin Castro (D-TX) and Subcommittee on Europe Ranking Member Bill Keating (D-MA) introduced legislation to require the Trump administration to disclose all agreements regarding the deportation of third-country nationals to Congress. The Trump administration’s agreements with foreign countries to deport third-country nationals are both opaque and inhumane. Congress, in its oversight role, must do all it can to ensure these agreements are reported to the public and that no American citizens are subject to illegal deportation because of a mistake.

“The Trump Administration’s third-country deportation scheme is inhumane and senseless,” said Ranking Member Castro. “Children and families who came to the United States to seek asylum are having their rights violated and are being sent to countries they have never been and know no one. This legislation requires the administration to provide transparency on its agreements with foreign countries so that Congress can better protect vulnerable people from reckless third-country deportation. I thank Ranking Member Keating for co-leading this effort and urge the House to swiftly take it up for a vote.”

“The Trump administration’s reckless deportation of third-country nationals has been a stain on our country’s reputation. As has been reported, numerous Americans including children have been caught up and deported as part of this effort. Simply put, this is wrong, and it is inhumane,” said Ranking Member Keating. “This legislation would require the Department of State to transmit all third-country national agreements to Congress so the Trump administration can no longer hide these actions behind bureaucratic walls and inflammatory rhetoric. I thank Ranking Member Castro for his personal leadership on this issue and for co-leading the legislation.”

This legislation would:

  • Require the Trump administration to disclose all agreements with foreign countries regardless of the form of that agreement to deport third country nationals, and
  • Update the timelines on mandated Government Accountability Office audits of the Department of State’s compliance with reporting requirements required under the Case-Zablocki Act.

Read the full bill text here


McBath, Merkley, Bonamici, Thompson, Mannion, Lawler, Kiggans Lead Bipartisan Bill to Tackle Child Care Workforce Shortage

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Suzanne Bonamici (1st District Oregon)

Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Representative Lucy McBath (D-GA-06) and U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon) led a bipartisan group of lawmakers to introduce the Early Childhood Workforce Advancement Act. The bipartisan bill would address the child care workforce shortage by investing in career and technical education (CTE) programs and incentivizing more students to enter the early childhood workforce upon graduation.

In the House, U.S. Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-01), Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA-15), John Mannion (D-NY-22), Mike Lawler (R-NY-17), and Jen Kiggans (R-VA-02) co-led the introduction of the Early Childhood Workforce Advancement Act. The bill is also co-sponsored by U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Adam Schiff (D-CA), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

“Every parent deserves the peace of mind that comes with knowing their child is in good hands while they go to work and provide for their family. For too long, finding affordable, quality childcare has been out of reach for working Americans,” said McBath. “The Early Childhood Workforce Advancement Act will invest in career and technical programs that open doors for students who want to serve their communities as early childhood educators. It’s our responsibility to prepare the next generation of childcare workers and give families the support they need to thrive.”

“As I hold town halls in all of Oregon’s 36 counties every year, I hear from folks about child care being too inaccessible. Ensuring working families can access decent, affordable child care is an essential foundation for the middle class to thrive,” said Merkley. “Our bipartisan bill invests in the child care workforce, a win for parents who need child care and for Oregon businesses who need more child care providers.”

“Child care is essential for children, families, businesses, and communities to thrive,” said Bonamici. “We need more students to enter this critical profession, and career and technical education (CTE) programs have great potential to make it easier and more affordable for them to do so. I’m grateful to work with a group of bipartisan colleagues to introduce this commonsense legislation.” 

“The shortage of childcare workers has a negative effect upon families needing structured care environments and also our economy,” said Thompson. “I am proud to support the Early Childhood Workforce Advancement Act to help expand career and technical education, and create pathways in childhood education to meet the needs of parents, children, and workers.” 

“No parent should have to choose between earning a paycheck and caring for their children. That’s why I’m proud to join my colleagues in this common-sense bipartisan effort to address the child care shortage head-on. In Central New York and the Mohawk Valley, childhood poverty rates remain among the highest in the nation. This legislation will help strengthen career and technical education (CTE) programs, giving our children the strong foundation they need to succeed. It represents an important step towards a robust federal commitment to supporting children and families across the country,” said Mannion.

“Working families depend on access to affordable, reliable childcare, but workforce shortages continue to make that harder to find. This bipartisan legislation helps build a stronger pipeline of early childhood educators by investing in career and technical education and creating pathways for students to enter the field. Supporting childcare workers means supporting families, strengthening our economy, and giving children the foundation they need to succeed,” said Lawler.

“Access to affordable, reliable childcare is essential for working families and for the strength of our economy,” said Kiggans. “Right now, too many parents are struggling to find quality care, while childcare providers continue to face severe workforce shortages. I am proud to support the bipartisan Early Childhood Workforce Advancement Act because it takes meaningful steps to strengthen the pipeline of skilled early childhood educators and expand opportunities for students interested in this critical profession. We must ensure America’s parents are supported and their children have a strong foundation to succeed!”

The Early Childhood Workforce Advancement Act would:

  • Award grants to eligible partnerships such as institutions of higher education, child care providers, or relevant workforce training programs with schools;
  • Establish, expand, or support career and technical education and career pathway programs of study in early childhood education.

The bipartisan Early Childhood Workforce Advancement Act is supported by Advance CTE, American Federation of Teachers, Association of Career and Technical Education, Bipartisan Policy Center, Council for Professional Recognition, Center for Law and Social Policy, Child Care Aware, Children’s Defense Fund, Early Care and Education Consortium, First Five Years Fund, First Focus Campaign for Children, National Education Association, National Head Start Association, National Partnership for Women and Families, National Women’s Law Center Action Fund, Save the Children, and Zero to Three.

Full text of the bill can be found by clicking here.

House Committee Advances Bipartisan Bonamici Legislation to Strengthen Water Power

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Suzanne Bonamici (1st District Oregon)

WASHINGTON, DC [5/20/2026] – Today the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology approved bipartisan legislation led by Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) to modernize the Department of Energy’s (DOE) water power research, development, and demonstration programs.

The Water Power Research and Development Reauthorization Act, H.R. 7129, is co-led by Congressman Nick Begich (R-AK) and would enhance the science and demonstrations needed to bring marine energy, pumped storage, and hydropower technologies to scale. Bonamici led the last reauthorization of these programs in 2020, when it was signed into law with bipartisan support.

“As the representative for Oregon’s north coast, I’ve seen how visionary scientists can successfully partner with federal programs to harness the power of waves, tides, and currents,” Bonamici said ahead of the Committee vote on the legislation. “Water power, including marine energy, hydropower, and pumped storage, plays a critical role in grid reliability, lowering energy costs – which is something everybody needs right now – and supporting domestic manufacturing… As our grid strains and electric bills increase, it’s essential to strengthen the Water Power Technologies Office that brings these technologies to scale. I hope this legislation moves to the full house for a vote soon.”

Video of Bonamici’s remarks at the markup can be found here.

The Water Power Research and Development Reauthorization Act would:

  1. Reauthorize DOE’s Water Power Technologies Office research, development, demonstration, and commercialization programs for hydropower, pumped storage, and marine energy
  2. Strengthen grid reliability and resilience by advancing technologies that provide long-duration energy storage, ancillary services, and flexible generation
  3. Improve environmental performance of water power systems through research on fisheries, water quality, sediment movement, and cumulative impacts
  4. Support domestic manufacturing, advanced materials, and additive manufacturing for water power components and supply chains
  5. Expand marine energy research for resilient coastal and riverside communities, microgrids, desalination, disaster recovery, and critical infrastructure
  6. Sustain and expand National Marine Energy Centers as regional hubs for testing, demonstration, and workforce development
  7. Promote collaboration among national laboratories, universities, industry, Tribes, and federal agencies
  8. Authorize $300 million annually through FY2030 to support hydropower and marine energy innovation nationwide

Companion legislation, S. 3684, is led in the Senate by Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

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Reps. Castor & Buchanan Reintroduce Bill to Expand Hospital at Home, Lower Health Care Costs

Source: United States House of Representatives – Reprepsentative Kathy Castor (FL14)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Representatives Kathy Castor (FL-14) and Vern Buchanan (FL-16) reintroduced the bipartisan At Home Observation and Medical Evaluation (HOME) Services Act to expand access to innovative health care models for Medicare patients under observation status. Hospital-at-home is helping hospitals deliver high-quality care to patients in the comfort of their own homes while easing pressure on crowded facilities and improving patient experiences.

The At HOME Services Act would direct the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to establish a two-year pilot program that allows hospitals to provide hospital-level care at home for eligible patients while maintaining rigorous safety and quality standards. The legislation is designed to improve care coordination, reduce unnecessary hospital stays and give providers more flexibility to meet patients where they are.

“Tampa Bay hospitals have been leading the way in delivering innovative, high-quality care that saves time and money, and puts patients first,” said Rep. Castor. “The bipartisan At HOME Services Act will help expand safe, cost-effective hospital-at-home care so more neighbors can receive treatment comfortably at home while freeing up hospital capacity for patients with more urgent and intensive needs. This approach will lower costs, improve patient experiences and strengthen care for families across our community. I’m grateful to our local health care providers for continuing to lead with innovation and to Congressman Buchanan for partnering with me on this bipartisan effort.”

“This commonsense legislation builds upon the incredible success individuals have seen in hospital-at-home programs and is a much-needed solution to the healthcare challenges facing our country,” said Congressman Buchanan. “The At HOME Services Act is an important step in ensuring patients receive the level of care they need and deserve in the comfort of their own homes.”

“Rapid advancements in technology are creating new opportunities to expand access to high-quality health care, and hospital-at-home care is a proven model that should be advanced and supported. Leveraging sophisticated, around-the-clock remote monitoring alongside in-home visits from clinical professionals enables patients to safely receive hospital-level care where they are most comfortable—at home. We are incredibly grateful to Representatives Kathy Castor and Vern Buchanan for sponsoring legislation that allows health care providers to build upon the success of hospital-at-home models by supporting more patients, such as those who may not need to be admitted to a hospital inpatient bed but still require hospital observation status that can be supported in their home,” said Mary Mayhew, President & CEO of the Florida Hospital Association.

“The extension of the Hospital-at-Home waiver gives health systems the stability needed to truly innovate,” said BayCare President and CEO Stephanie Conners. “With a five-year runway now in place, it’s time to build on that foundation and expand the patient population eligible for hospital-at-home care. Doing so allows us to better meet patients where they are, improve comfort and outcomes, and ensure hospital resources are available for the sickest patients. We appreciate the bipartisan leadership of Rep. Castor and Rep. Buchanan in advancing solutions that strengthen community-based care.”

“Tampa General Hospital has been operating a CMS-approved Hospital at Home program since 2022 and has seen firsthand the remarkable evidence via enhanced patient experiences and improved patient outcomes. This is a true model of innovation that integrates remote patient monitoring, telehealth visits, and in-person comprehensive care by trained medical providers,” said Tampa General Hospital CEO John Couris.

“We thank Representatives Castor and Buchanan for reintroducing the At Home Observation and Medical Evaluation Services Act and advancing care models that meet patients where they are. By strengthening and scaling Hospital at Home, this legislation supports Moffitt’s investments in virtual care and remote monitoring and helps eligible cancer patients receive high-quality, patient-centered care with fewer disruptions to daily life,” said Philippe E. Spiess, MD, Chief of Clinical Innovation, and Cristina Naso, Senior Director, Virtual Care and Ambulatory Operations Center.

Westwood High School Sophomore Earns Top Spot at Carter’s 2026 Congressional Art Competition

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative John R Carter (R-TX-31)

Representative John Carter (TX-31) announced Yiran Wu, a sophomore at Westwood High School, as the winner of the 2026 TX-31 Congressional Art Competition for her piece titled “From Legacy to a New Tomorrow.” Yiran’s artwork will hang in the United States Capitol for one year, where it will be seen by millions of visitors.

Representative John Carter (TX-31) announced Yiran Wu, a sophomore at Westwood High School, as the winner of the 2026 TX-31 Congressional Art Competition for her piece titled “From Legacy to a New Tomorrow.” Yiran’s artwork will hang in the United States Capitol for one year, where it will be seen by millions of visitors.

During the award ceremony held at Texas State University-Round Rock, Yiran was presented with a flag flown over the U.S. Capitol in her honor, a TX-31 challenge coin, and a trip to Washington, D.C., to attend a winners’ reception at the Capitol.

“This year’s theme was celebrating the 250th birthday of the United States, and I’m blown away with all of the patriotic artwork that was submitted for this year’s contest,” said Representative Carter. “Yiran’s artwork captures the American spirit perfectly, and I’m proud it will represent Texas’ 31st District in the U.S. Capitol. It’s always special to see a piece from home displayed in those halls. Congratulations to Yiran, and I look forward to welcoming her to Washington this summer.”

2026 Congressional Art Competition Winner:


Representative Carter with Yiran Wu from Westwood High School in Round Rock ISD.

“From Legacy to a New Tomorrow” by Yiran Wu

MATSUI STATEMENT ON THE PASSING OF FORMER CONGRESSMAN BARNEY FRANK

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-07) issued the following statement on the passing of former Congressman Barney Frank, who represented Massachusetts’s 4th congressional district from 1981 to 2013 . 

“I’m heartbroken by the passing of my dear friend and former colleague Barney Frank,” said Congresswoman Matsui. “Barney was one of a kind. He had a brilliant mind, an unmatched sense of humor, and never lost sight of the people whose lives could be made better through public service. His legacy is not only in the laws he helped write, but in the barriers he broke. At a time when too many LGBTQ+ Americans were forced to hide who they were, Barney lived openly and courageously. He challenged stigma simply by refusing to shrink himself, and he helped open doors for generations of LGBTQ+ leaders to serve without hiding who they are.”

“I will miss his friendship, his candor, and his wisdom,” Matsui continued. “My heart is with Jim, Barney’s loved ones, and all who were changed by his remarkable life.”

Beyer Hails Passage Of Major Housing Legislation

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Don Beyer (D-VA)

Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA), who serves as Senior House Democrat on Congress’ Joint Economic Committee and as a member of the House Committee on Ways and Means, today hailed the U.S. House’s passage of landmark housing legislation. The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act passed the House with an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote of 396-13. The bill, which now returns to the Senate, would improve federal housing programs, remove unnecessary barriers to development, and expand financing options to spur home construction and make housing more affordable.

“This bill is a big win for everyone who wants to make housing more affordable,” said Rep. Beyer, a leader on housing policy in the House Ways and Means Committee. “Amid the national affordability crisis, Congress should be doing everything possible to lower prices and address kitchen table issues for American families. Housing costs in particular are high on the list of the most important challenges affecting my Northern Virginia constituents, and I’m thrilled to see this bill advance. The strong bipartisan vote should help ensure that this version of the bill passes in the Senate and gets signed into law.”

Beyer is a major proponent of policies to make housing more affordable on the House Ways and Means Committee, as a long time lead cosponsor of the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act, portions of which were enacted last year. He previously secured federal funding for significant local affordable housing projects in Northern Virginia.