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Hoyer Statement on the Passing of Former Congressman Barney Frank

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steny H Hoyer (MD-05)

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) released the following statement today regarding the passing of former Congressman Barney Frank (MA-04):

“I am deeply saddened by the new of Barney Frank’s death. I talked to him a little over a week ago. He was, as always, upbeat and full of ideas about how Democrats ought to move forward. I join in extending my condolences to his beloved Jim and to their extended family, including his sister Ann, who has also been an extraordinary public servant and fighter for equality and justice. 

“Barney and I came to the Congress in the same year and have been close friends for over four decades. When he became the first openly gay Member of Congress to come out of the closet voluntarily, he did so with pride in who he was and in what his action represented for millions of LGBTQ people across the country. Barney will long be remembered for that act of courage and for always being true to himself, his principles, his country, and his constituents and what he believed in throughout his life in public service.

“As a legislator, he worked hard to ensure that the benefits of our nation’s prosperity would be felt by those who were the most disadvantaged. When our financial system neared collapse in 2008, Barney was one of the chief architects of the reforms that placed critical guardrails on Wall Street. It was because of his intellect, deep knowledge, and political fortitude that Congress was able to enact sweeping legislation to strengthen and protect our financial system and hold it accountable to the American people. Across a range of issues, and on behalf of those in Massachusetts and the entire country, Barney was a tireless champion.

“May Barney’s memory be a blessing to all whose lives were made better and richer and freer because of his courage, steadfastness, and tireless service to this country.”

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Norton Releases Statement Ahead of Markup of Anti-Home Rule Bill to Prohibit D.C. from Enacting Congestion Pricing

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (District of Columbia)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) released her remarks ahead of today’s Oversight & Government Reform (OGR) Committee markup of a bill introduced by Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA) that would amend the Home Rule Act to permanently prohibit the District from enacting congestion pricing, or any charge to enter or pass through D.C.

“Today’s markup is the fifth time this Congress that Republicans have wasted this Committee’s time on paternalistic, anti-home rule bills designed to interfere with D.C. traffic policies, a petty fixation Rep. Perry spends much of his time on, to the detriment of his constituents in Pennsylvania,” Norton said. “Rep. Perry has repeatedly used standalone bills, amendments, and riders to block or repeal D.C.’s traffic safety laws, yet not a single one has been enacted. This bill is a particularly vexing one to waste the Committee’s time on, considering that no congestion charge exists in D.C. and no bills or regulations are pending to impose one.

“More importantly, this bill was introduced by a member who wasn’t elected by D.C. residents and who D.C. residents cannot hold accountable by voting out of office. D.C. residents have all the obligations of American citizenship, including paying federal taxes, serving on juries and registering with the Selective Service, yet Congress denies them full local self-government and voting representation in Congress.  The only solution to this undemocratic treatment is to grant D.C. statehood.”

Norton’s remarks follow, as prepared for delivery. 

Statement of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton

Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

Markup of H.R. 8801, DC ROADS Act

May 20, 2026

I strongly oppose this undemocratic and paternalistic bill, which is intended to prohibit congestion pricing in the District of Columbia. Specifically, this bill would prohibit D.C. from imposing any charge to enter or pass through D.C.  No such charge exists in D.C., and no bills or regulations are pending in D.C. to impose any.

Today’s markup is the fifth this Congress of a bill that would interfere with D.C. traffic policies.  Over the last five years, the sponsor of this bill has tried to repeal or block four D.C. traffic policies through standalone bills, amendments and riders.  None have been enacted. 

The 700,000 D.C. residents, the majority of whom are Black and Brown, are capable and worthy of governing themselves.  If D.C. residents do not like how members of the D.C. Council vote, residents can vote them out of office.  That is democracy.  If D.C. residents do not like how members of Congress vote on local D.C. matters, residents cannot vote them out of office.  That is the antithesis of democracy.

I ask unanimous consent to enter into the record a letter opposing this bill from D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson.

The substance of this bill should be irrelevant, since there is never justification for Congress to legislate on local D.C. matters, but I will discuss it.

Congestion pricing is based on the economic theory of externalities and is used in New York City and several cities outside the United States.  Earlier this year, on the one-year anniversary of congestion pricing in New York City, the governor of New York said “The results are in and it is clear that in just one year, congestion pricing has been an unprecedented success in New York.  By every measure, this program has met or exceeded expectations: traffic and gridlock are down substantially, people are moving faster, air quality is improved, streets are safer and our economy is stronger.  New Yorkers are benefitting from congestion pricing every day…. And there are even more benefits to come: $15 billion in transit upgrades with major projects already underway, improving the commutes of millions of New Yorkers.”

D.C. residents have all the obligations of American citizenship, including paying federal taxes, serving on juries and registering with the Selective Service, yet Congress denies them full local self-government and voting representation in Congress.  The only solution to this undemocratic treatment is to grant D.C. statehood. 

Congress has the authority to admit D.C. as a state. The D.C. statehood bill, H.R. 51, would reduce the size of the federal district from 68 square miles to two square miles, consisting of the White House, the Capitol, the Supreme Court and the National Mall.  The residential and commercial areas of D.C. would be a new state. 

I urge members to vote NO on H.R. 8801.  Free D.C.

I ask unanimous consent to enter into the record a letter opposing this bill from the Sierra Club and 19 other groups.

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Natural Resources Democrats Grill Interior Secretary Burgum

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

May 13, 2026

Washington, D.C. – Today, Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum testified in front of the House Natural Resources Committee in an attempt to defend Trump’s abysmal track record and the rampant corruption raging throughout his department. Natural Resources Democrats grilled him about this administration’s track record and their plans to permanently destroy our special places. Secretary Burgum dodged questions on everything from high gas prices and ceding renewable energy dominance to China to funneling taxpayer money into Trump’s vanity projects.

Ranking Member Huffman delivered the following opening remarks:

“Since you were last here, things have unfortunately gotten worse for the department and a lot worse for the American people. President Trump is gutting funding and personnel in the agencies that manage our public lands, ordering what’s left of the beleaguered national park service staff to whitewash history, shutting down projects that are ready to bring cheap, reliable, clean energy to millions of families who are struggling with skyrocketing utility bills and bullying the offshore wind industry into abandoning billions in investments that would bring even more affordable energy online.

“Mr. Secretary, at every turn, you’ve helped all this happen. You have treated the public lands and waters that you’ve been entrusted with like assets on a corporate balance sheet so that billionaires, foreign companies, and political donors can profit. You’ve enabled a culture of corruption where people in your agency are making decisions that line their own pockets and enrich their families and friends. Under your leadership, the Department of the Interior has been a billionaire’s dream, but a nightmare for the public and a betrayal of our obligations to future generations. Families across the country right now can’t even afford essentials like gas, health care, and groceries. But instead of trying to make their lives better, Trump has been obsessed with a raft of vanity projects, and you’ve been one of the principal enablers.

“Oil and gas prices are soaring. As America pulled back from global leadership on clean energy technology, China stepped right in to fill the void. And while your administration promotes oil, gas, and coal – the fuels of the 20th century – the rest of the world is looking to the future and rushing to buy EVs, batteries, solar panels, and wind turbines from China and others. Trump’s policies have been terrible for our competition with China, terrible for working families trying to pay their bills.

“This is the most nakedly corrupt administration in American history. My oath of office requires me to be very candid about that.

“My colleagues and I have been working around the clock to keep up with this steady churn of scandal created by Trump and your Interior Department. But, Mr. Secretary, you and your agency have stonewalled us at every turn.

“What are you hiding? And for whose benefit? Mr. Secretary, we expect truthful answers to our questions. The American people deserve that.”

Committee Democrats grilled the Secretary over the administration’s efforts to sell out Americans, our environment, and our public lands while catering to billionaire polluters and corporations:

Cost of Living and Gas Prices

  • RANKING MEMBER HUFFMAN: “Would you agree that most Americans are struggling right now to afford basic necessities of life because of rising costs?”
  • SECRETARY BURGUM: “Uh, yeah.”
  • HUFFMAN: “I think most of us understand there’s a struggle out there because of this administration’s economic and energy policies. And while you are slashing just about every other part of the Department of the Interior’s budget, including for national parks, you have spent a lot of the department’s time, resources, and taxpayer dollars to serve Donald Trump’s vanity. Mr. Secretary, while you’re funneling billions into these vanity projects, gas is up by an average of $1.40 a gallon from last year. In March, President Trump posted this message. He said the United States is the largest oil producer in the world by far. So, “when oil prices go up, we make a lot of money.” Who’s the “we”?”
  • BURGUM: “Well, it could be states, the federal government, the American people.”
  • HUFFMAN: “So, this is good for American families that they’re paying $1.40 a gallon for gas.”
  • BURGUM: “I’m thrilled that they’re paying, I’m thrilled that they’re paying about a buck less than they were during the Biden administration. I mean, that’s exciting.”
  • HUFFMAN: “Again, there’s a real disconnect here. Americans are not celebrating this spike in gas prices that you seem to think is just great. The “we” that’s making a lot more money are – let’s be honest about it – it’s the Big Oil billionaires.”

Ceding Renewable Energy Dominance to China

  • REP. DAVE MIN: “Do you agree that China is also trying to achieve total energy dominance?”
  • BURGUM: “Uh, okay.”
  • MIN: “Do you know how much new energy China put online last year? They put on 434gw annually. 80% of the new energy that they put online last year was renewable. 80%. Meanwhile, the United States, under your, quote, total energy dominance strategy of rejecting renewable energy, put up 53gw of new energy last year, less than 10% of what China put up. Now, your clear bias against renewable energy in the face of all evidence is harming our national security, harming our ability to have energy independence, and putting us further and further behind the Chinese. And the cancellation of Total Energies’ offshore wind leases last year is a case study on your department’s economically illiterate and unlawful energy strategy.”

Solar Permitting

  • REP. SUSIE LEE: “Since for the past year, in my home state, there have been zero permits issued on solar. And with respect to following the law, the fact of the matter is a judge actually struck down the July 15th memo last month. So regardless of whether or not you agree with the court order, I guess my question is what’s the immediate impact that that’s having? Are you just not going to abide by the court order? Are you appealing it?”
  • BURGUM: “Yeah, absolutely.”

Affordable, Renewable Energy

  • BURGUM: “Can you explain why the states that pursued the policies you’re describing have the highest power prices in the country?”
  • REP. SETH MAGAZINER: “Does North Dakota have one of the highest power prices in the country? You have one of the highest percentage of renewables. “
  • BURGUM: “False!”
  • MAGAZINER: “The data doesn’t lie.”
  • BURGUM: “The data is lying.”

White House Ballroom Spending:

  • REP. MAXINE DEXTER: “Mr. Secretary, your budget cuts the national park service by $1 billion, a 32% cut. If you put this $1 billion towards our national parks instead of Trump’s ballroom, you could avoid that cut that would benefit every single American. Mr. Secretary, at any time, did you object to this level of spending for the ballroom? Our budgets are values documents, Mr. Secretary. You said this in your opening comments that your priorities and your values are where you’re spending money. And you are refusing to stand up to our president, who is investing in vanity projects instead of our federal lands and our national parks.”

D.C. Reflecting Pool

  • REP. JOE NEGUSE: “My understanding of the federal procurement rules is that a no-bid contract is reserved for situations where, quote, any delay would cause serious injury to the government. Your proposition is what? That there’d be serious injury to the government if this company didn’t get the $13 million contract to do this particular project right now?”
  • SECRETARY BURGUM: “Well, I think we do have a sense of urgency. I mean, we got handed a record amount of deferred maintenance. We had 19 fountains across the city that didn’t work.”
  • NEGUSE: “That’s the serious injury to the government?? Who picked this company? Because President Trump, a few months ago in a New York Times article, said, I have a guy who’s unbelievable at doing swimming pools.”

Park Maintenance

  • REP. EMILY RANDALL: “You’re proposing that the vast majority of funding for park construction be spent in D.C. at the direction of President Trump, not in our communities. This is wrong. It’s misguided. Secretary Burgum, which do you think should be the higher priority: Fixing a bridge that is a safety hazard for hikers, or changing the bottom of the reflecting pool?”
  • BURGUM: “Well, my answer would be both.”

Great Lakes Economy

  • REP. DEBBIE DINGELL: “You often talk about running government like a business. The Great Lakes fishery supports a $7 billion economy. The Great Lakes science center costs $15 million annually. I don’t consider that a waste when it’s protecting the drinking water of 30 million people and a $7 billion economy. The ROI is nearly 500 to 1. Do you believe it’s good business to jeopardize the $7 billion economy and the region’s source of clean drinking water, just to save that 15 million?”

Freedom 250

  • HUFFMAN: “I want to just ask if you directed anyone at the National Park Service or anyone else at Interior to form the Freedom 250 LLC. Did that come from you?”
  • BURGUM: “No. I’m not aware of the final decision maker on Freedom 250.”
  • HUFFMAN: “Would you get that information to us, please? I mean, I think that’s significant.”
  • BURGUM: Sure.

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management—Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement Merger

  • REP. LUZ RIVAS: “The merger of these two essential bureaus actually means less staff and less resources. Budgets will be slashed by 95 million and staff cut a staff or a staff cut of 224 employees. This means an inability for the country to enforce safety and environmental protections. You’re also increasing offshore oil drilling. All of this being done just to ensure that Trump’s polluting donors have another large check.”

Park Passes

  • REP. SARAH ELFRETH: “Interior now has a policy where you’re invalidating park passes that have a sticker covering the president’s face. This policy is now invalidating people’s ability to access their public lands. I would just suggest that we rethink that policy for the purposes of ensuring people can access their public lands that they’ve helped pay for.”

Tribal Nations and Sacred Lands

  • REP. MELANIE STANSBURY: “And though you just said that you’re prioritizing tribal self-government, your budget cuts self-governance compacts by $83 million, your budget makes over $1 billion in cuts to core tribal programs to BIA and BIE, it makes over 744 million cuts to BIA alone. It cuts tribal colleges by 150 million. It reduces school construction in tribal communities by 85%. And when you compare that with the other cuts in the president’s budget and HUD and other programs, it eviscerates tribal housing programs, law enforcement, sanitation and water projects, irrigation projects, basic infrastructure, roads, economic development, and zeroes out basic education and cultural programs.”
  • REP. ADELITA GRIJALVA: “Because while as an administration you claim to respect tribal sovereignty and tribal heritage while sacred Indigenous sites are being destroyed under federal oversight, many are concerned with the Quitobaquito Spring as possibly being next on the destruction list for Trump’s secondary border wall as it gets closer. So, will you commit that U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Park Service avoid Quitobaquito Springs and minimize impact by not using groundwater within five miles, and monitor those water levels closely as the border wall is being built.”
  • BURGUM: “Well, I.., that’s a very specific thing that I won’t jump ahead and commit to.”

Some of Trump and Burgum’s planned cuts:

  • The National Park Service loses nearly a third of its budget. That is the agency running Yosemite, the Smokies, Acadia, Yellowstone, and 400 other sites. Less funding means fewer rangers, slower emergency response, closed bathrooms and visitor centers, trails that stop getting maintained, and longer waits to get in.
  • The Fish and Wildlife Service is cut by about 20%. This is the agency behind the recovery of the bald eagle and the humpback whale, the protection of salmon runs and endangered species like the Florida manatee, and the national wildlife refuge system.
  • The Bureau of Land Management loses about a third of its funding. BLM oversees 245 million acres of public lands, mostly across the West. These are the places where recreation actually happens: hunting, camping, climbing, off-roading, photography. Trump is cutting the funds needed to keep these places safe and open.
  • The Bureau of Indian Affairs is cut by nearly 30%. BIA funds tribal schools, public safety in Indian Country, and the federal government’s treaty obligations.
  • Renewable energy funding is zeroed out. At the same time, the budget ramps up oil, gas, and mining development on public lands and offshore. Trump and Burgum are killing clean, affordable energy to prop up Big Oil billionaires.

Democrats have launched oversight investigations into:

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Himes, DeLauro, Ocasio-Cortez, Torres, and Latimer Urge Amtrak to Prioritize Penn Station Access and Reimburse MTA for Delay Costs Washington, D.C. – Yesterday, Representatives Jim Himes (CT-04), Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Ritchie Torres (NY-15), and George Latimer (NY-16) sent a letter to Roger Harris, President of Amtrak, urging the agency to take every action needed to ensure that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Metro-North Railroad can begin delivering service to constituents in the Bronx, Westchester, and Connecticut as soon as possible.

Source: United States House of Representatives – CONGRESSMAN JIM HIMES (4th District of Connecticut)

Himes, DeLauro, Ocasio-Cortez, Torres, and Latimer Urge Amtrak to Prioritize Penn Station Access and Reimburse MTA for Delay Costs | Press Releases | Congressman Jim Himes

 

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Rep. Panetta Joins Bay Area Delegation Calling for Federal Investments in Local Trails for Cyclists and Pedestrians

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

Washington, D.C. – United States Representative Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) joined Rep. Sam Liccardo (CA-16) and a coalition of Bay Area Members of Congress in urging the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to prioritize and strengthen federal funding for active transportation infrastructure for walking and cycling.

In addition to Reps. Panetta and Liccardo, the letter was also signed by Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (CA-11) and Reps. Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), John Garamendi (CA-08), Jared Huffman (CA-02), Ro Khanna (CA-17), Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), Kevin Mullin (CA-15), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), and Mike Thompson (CA-04).

“The Bay Area’s transportation network increasingly relies on non-motorized options like the San Francisco Bay Trail, which connects communities, parks, schools, and transit across more than 350 miles in nine counties and is planned to expand to 500 miles,” wrote the Members.

The delegation called for robust support for the Surface Transportation Block Grant Program, the Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside, and the Active Transportation Infrastructure Investment Program, which help communities build safer pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, trails, and connections to transit.

Currently, insufficient funding threatens access to green and active modes of transportation. The Members urged Committee leaders to increase dedicated funding to make active transportation infrastructure a priority in this year’s surface transportation reauthorization bill.

“Programs and funding dedicated to active transportation routes will help expand safe, reliable access to jobs, schools, and essential services,” continued the Members.

“These federal funding programs are critical to complete the Bay Trail and other trail networks around the region,” said Save The Bay Executive Director David Lewis. “We need to invest in healthy transportation options that connect more communities with nature, jobs, and critical services.”  

Full text of the letter is available here and below:

Dear Chairman Graves and Ranking Member Larsen:

As Members of the San Francisco Bay Area, we write to urge you to prioritize and strengthen programs that support active transportation infrastructure, including the Surface Transportation Block Grant Program, its Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside, and the Active Transportation Infrastructure Investment Program, in the next surface transportation reauthorization bill.

The Bay Area’s transportation network increasingly relies on non-motorized options like the San Francisco Bay Trail, which connects communities, parks, schools, and transit across more than 350 miles in nine counties and is planned to expand to 500 miles. The Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside, which directs a portion of the Surface Transportation Block Grant program funding to smaller-scale local projects, has proven critical to improving our pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, safer routes to transit, and trails. Throughout California, our local communities leverage federal resources with substantial state investments through the Active Transportation Program (ATP) under Caltrans.

The Bay Area has long led on active transportation investment, and the ATP has played a central role in that success. Our region includes one of four communities in the nation that participated in the Non-Motorized Pilot Program established under SAFETEA-LU in 2005, demonstrating the impact and cost-effectiveness of targeted investments to close infrastructure gaps. This success highlights the value of expanding the Active Transportation Infrastructure Investment Program (ATIIP), created through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which provides a mechanism for states and regions throughout the country to build on the success of the non-motorized pilots. ATIIP provides a mechanism to scale these successes nationwide, yet current funding levels are insufficient—applications exceed available funds by a factor of 40. We urge you to increase dedicated Trust Fund funding for ATIIP.

Programs and funding dedicated to transportation alternatives will help expand safe, reliable access to jobs, schools, and essential services. We respectfully urge the Committee to make investments in transportation alternatives a priority in this year’s surface transportation reauthorization bill.

Thank you for your attention to our concerns, and for your partnership in boosting the mobility and recreational opportunity for millions of Americans.

Sincerely,

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House Passes Reps. Chu’s Bipartisan Legislation to Improve Access to Postsecondary Education for Foster Youth

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Judy Chu (CA2-27)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the House of Representatives passed by voice vote H.R. 7431, the Fostering the Future Act, which includes the text of the bipartisan Foster Youth Postsecondary Education Access and Success Act introduced by Reps. Judy Chu (CA-28) and Rep. Nathaniel Moran (TX-01). 

The Foster Youth Postsecondary Education Access and Success Act would improve access to postsecondary education for older and transition-age foster youth by strengthening and modernizing the Education and Training Voucher (ETV) program under the John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood (“Chafee program”). 

The ETV program provides support for foster youth pursuing a college degree, and Rep. Chu’s bill would increase the maximum value of the voucher from $5,000 to $12,000 – the first increase since the program was created 25 years ago. The bill would also improve state outreach so more youth are aware of ETV, make applications more accessible, and help foster youth keep their vouchers for the duration of their education by providing a grace period for those who may be temporarily struggling with their academic progress. 

“The ETV program is in need of some overdue updates to best serve our foster youth, and I am proud that we are one step closer to ensuring foster youth have the financial support that can make a meaningful difference in pursuing their education,” said Rep. Chu. “My bipartisan bill recognizes that when we address the barriers faced by our foster and transition-age youth, we can empower them to achieve their full potential.”

Click HERE to read the bill text. 

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Krishnamoorthi Warns Trump-Xi Taiwan Arms Discussions Threaten Decades of Bipartisan U.S. Support for Taiwan’s Security

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

WASHINGTON — Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), a member of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party and sponsor of the bipartisan Six Assurances to Taiwan Act, issued the following statement after President Trump said he discussed U.S. arms sales to Taiwan “in great detail” with Chinese President Xi Jinping during their recent summit:

“For more than four decades, presidents of both parties have upheld a clear bipartisan principle: the United States does not consult Beijing on arms sales to Taiwan. President Trump said he discussed Taiwan arms sales ‘in great detail’ with President Xi, marking a troubling break from that longstanding bipartisan framework and risking the deterrence and stability it has helped preserve in the Taiwan Strait. That is precisely why I introduced the bipartisan Six Assurances to Taiwan Act, which would codify our long-standing policy that decisions regarding Taiwan’s security should not be shaped through consultation with the Chinese government. At a moment of growing aggression and coercion from the Chinese Communist Party, America must project clarity and resolve, stand firmly with democratic partners, and negotiate from a position of strength. Taiwan’s security should never become a bargaining chip in negotiations with Beijing.”

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Pappas’s Bipartisan Legislation to Cut Red Tape on Trucking Apprenticeship Programs for Veterans

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

Today legislation introduced by Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01), Ranking Member of the Economic Opportunity Subcommittee of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, and Congresswoman Jen Kiggans (VA-02), the Veterans’ Transition to Trucking Act, passed the House with overwhelming bipartisan support. The bipartisan legislation would cut red tape for veteran truckers by allowing VA to streamline the approval of certain apprenticeship programs.

“It’s unacceptable that veterans are losing employment opportunities due to unnecessary and redundant bureaucratic hurdles. Cutting red tape so trucking companies can employ veterans is a commonsense step that will increase opportunities for veterans and help address the driver shortage,” said Congressman Pappas. “I’m thrilled to see our bipartisan legislation pass which will ease the pathway for veterans embarking on new careers as truck drivers. I urge the Senate to swiftly pass this legislation and send it to the President’s desk.”

Currently, interstate trucking companies must obtain approval from every state in which they operate for veterans to use their VA education benefits for apprenticeship programs at that company. VA has reported that some trucking companies are opting out of offering apprenticeships to veterans due to the bureaucratic hurdles of obtaining approval from more than 20 State Approving Agencies (SAAs). This legislation would help address this problem by allowing interstate commercial carriers to obtain a single VA approval for all their apprenticeship programs, simplifying program administration for motor carriers, and enabling them to accommodate more veterans as truck drivers.

This bipartisan legislation is endorsed by the American Trucking Association and Disabled American Veterans (DAV).

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Crow Advances Vision for a Working Class Foreign Policy at Foreign Policy for America Summit

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jason Crow (CO-06)

WASHINGTON — Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO), a former paratrooper and Army Ranger who serves on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and House Armed Services Committee, spoke at Foreign Policy for America’s Leadership Summit.

On a panel titled “A Foreign Policy that Delivers for the Working Class,” Crow discussed how the country’s foreign policy is broken and historically left working class Americans behind. At the event, he outlined his vision for a foreign policy that is rooted in working class values and representative of all Americans, not just the elite.

“We’re a nation at great risk right now. We know that. Our democracy and institutions and norms are on the ropes. I believe there is a path through this, and on the other side of it, with the right leadership, our nation can have a democratic enlightenment that puts our nation in a better position than it was in before,” Congressman Crow said at the event.

Crow was joined on the panel by International Director of the AFL-CIO Cathy Feingold and former Deputy Undersecretary for International Labor Affairs Thea Lee. The panel was moderated by Staff Writer at Foreign Policy Rachel Oswald.

Congressman Crow continues to lay out his affirmative vision for Colorado and the country, including with a recent speech on the Future of American Foreign Policy. He is looking to build a future that brings Americans together, protects our democracy, and ensures leaders are accountable to working class Americans—his vision for New American Patriotism.

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Carbajal Questions Trump Administration on Iran War During Committee Hearing

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

During today’s House Armed Services Committee hearing, U.S. Representative Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24) questioned Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs Daniel Zimmerman and Admiral Brad Cooper, the Commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), about the cost of the ongoing war in Iran, the blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, and the current status of U.S. humanitarian aid efforts in Gaza.

The hearing, entitled “U.S. Military Posture and National Security Challenges in the Greater Middle East and Africa”, examines Defense Department policies, programs, and activities in the Greater Middle East and Africa in preparation for negotiations on the 2027 defense budget. 

Download a video clip of Rep. Carbajal’s questions here. See the full hearing here. 

A rough transcript is available below:

Rep. Carbajal 
 Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you to the witnesses for being here today. You know, it’s interesting to hear that during Biden and Obama, there were challenges, gas prices were high, and that was terrible back then, but now it’s okay. Now it’s okay. Talking about partisanship, I think it’s important to understand what’s being said. I want to start by expressing my condolences to the families of the 13 service members who lost their lives in this war, and of the two service members who passed away during the training exercises earlier this month in Africa. Admiral Cooper, I also want to thank you and all the men and women serving under you for your service to our nation during this difficult time and a misguided war. We are quickly approaching three months of deeply unpopular war, a war that still has no clear objectives and end in sight. A war that is costing billions of taxpayer dollars, a war that is driving up the cost of living for every American, especially at the pump. This war was not authorized or budgeted, which means the Department will be asking Congress for a supplemental funding package on top of the proposed $1.5 trillion defense budget for fiscal year 2027. Secretary Zimmerman, we know the cost of oil has gone up globally, with some estimates over 55%. How much has this increase in oil cost CENTCOM directly over the duration of Operation Epic Fury, and now into Operation Project Freedom?

Secretary Zimmerman 
 Congressman, I would be happy to take that question back and get you as accurate an answer as I can.

Rep. Carbajal 
 Is there any percentage in the increase of cost? Anything?

Secretary Zimmerman 
 I think I’ll have to get back to you on that.

Rep. Carbajal 
 I don’t think that anyone is questioning that Iran’s military capabilities have been severely degraded over the course of this campaign. Yet, despite the intense bombing campaign and the apparent eradication of Iran’s navy, they are still able to blockade the Strait of Hormuz and hold targets around the region at risk. Admiral Cooper, do we possess the military capability to open the Strait of Hormuz against a military that has been severely weakened?

Admiral Cooper 
 Congressman, I wouldn’t want to talk about any specific capability, but broadly speaking, we have – we are well postured to execute military operations across virtually any contingent.

Rep. Carbajal 
 But the Strait of Hormuz is still closed.

Admiral Cooper 
 Congressman, the Strait of Hormuz, in the last couple of weeks, has had multiple instances of ships passing through, including U.S. destroyers, U.S. flagships, and just last night…

Rep. Carbajal 
 Secretary Zimmerman, earlier this month, there were reports that the Civil-Military Coordination Center, or the CMCC, was set to be shut down. The administration denied these reports. Can you confirm whether the CMCC is actually closed or there is a plan that it will be absorbed into another entity?

Secretary Zimmerman 
 Congressman, my understanding is no final decision has been made along those lines, and the thing I would like to say is that first of all, as has been said before, no one does more to protect civilians in a wartime scenario, in a conflict scenario, than the United States. And we are moving, if I may borrow a phrase, actually from, from the Admiral, we are moving from compliance to culture. The principles that are inherent in protecting civilians are now baked into our processes in a way that hadn’t been before.

Rep. Carbajal 
 Let me, let me continue. How much is the CMCC currently overseeing the distribution of humanitarian aid into Gaza? What are the current obstacles to aid delivery, and how would the closing of the CMCC affect aid delivery?

Secretary Zimmerman 
 Can I defer to you on that? Let me defer to Admiral Cooper on that.

Admiral Cooper 
 So, the CMCC plays an indispensable role in both stabilization and the coordination of the delivery of humanitarian assistance. Since its inception, more than 70 countries and international organizations are in the CMCC.

Rep. Carbajal 
 Admiral, what are they doing right now?

Admiral Cooper 
 They are helping to coordinate the delivery of humanitarian assistance and keep the ceasefire in effect, which has been successful for the last seven months.

Rep. Carbajal 
 How much aid has been delivered in the last six months?

Admiral Cooper 
 I can come back with the exact number, but back in December, the IPC, who is the oversight organization for aid, said that famine is no longer a threat in Gaza. I think it’s a reflection of U.S. service members’ absolute commitment to this mission, which has gone extremely well.

Rep. Carbajal 
 Thank you. Mr. Chair, I yield back.