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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)

Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries appeared on CNN’s State of the Union, where he emphasized that Republicans have repeatedly failed to lower costs for working families and Democrats will continue to push back against the Trump administration’s plans to unleash more ICE agents in our communities and the endless war of choice in the Middle East that is costing taxpayers billions of dollars.

DANA BASH: We just heard from the White House about President Trump’s plan to deploy ICE agents to airports tomorrow. I want to bring in House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries. Thank you for being here this morning, sir. What’s your response to what Tom Homan revealed here?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, good morning. Great to be with you. There are three things that have been true since Donald Trump and Republicans came back into power last January: life is more expensive, life is more chaotic and life is more extreme. The last thing that the American people need are for untrained ICE agents to be deployed at airports all across the country potentially to brutalize or in some instances kill them. We’ve already seen how ICE conducts itself. These are untrained individuals when it comes to doing the current job that they have for the most part, let alone deploying them in close exposure in highly-sensitive situations at airports across the country.

DANA BASH: But it seems like it’s happening. Tom Homan is in charge of it, and he’s working on a plan right now. Is there any chance that there could be some kind of deal done soon? I mean, obviously, what the President is trying to do is squeeze lawmakers to try to finally come up with a plan to fund DHS.

LEADER JEFFRIES: It’s unfortunate that Republicans have decided that they would rather force TSA agents to work without pay, inconvenience millions of Americans all across the country and now potentially expose them to untrained ICE agents and create chaos at airports throughout the land rather than get ICE agents under control. Our basic premise and value proposition from the very beginning has been simple. ICE should conduct itself like every other law enforcement agency in the country. But if Republicans are unwilling to get to an agreement in that regard, the one thing we can do immediately [is] to make sure that TSA agents are paid.And we know, Dana, there’s bipartisan support for that. Senator Ted Cruz and Senator John Kennedy have recently indicated that they would support moving in that direction. Let’s bring those bills to the floor in the House and the Senate tomorrow so we can get TSA agents paid.

DANA BASH: So, let me ask you about that because you are—the whole reason, as you just laid out, that DHS is not funded right now is because you’re trying to push the administration to enact some policy changes on how Border Patrol and ICE act when they are out looking for illegal immigrants. And now what you’re saying is that you’re okay with funding TSA, which has been, I think, the biggest point of leverage that you possibly had in order to get what you want on ICE because ICE already has its money. So what was the point of the shutdown if you’re okay with funding TSA?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, we never approach these things that are in front of us with respect to government funding in the context of leverage. Our approach is: what is the appropriate use of taxpayer dollars? And we believe that taxpayer dollars should be used to make life more affordable for the American people, not brutalize or kill them or violently target law-abiding immigrant families, which is what we know ICE agents have been doing. And so at this point in time, more than 30 days into the Trump-Republican Department of Homeland Security shutdown, I think the most appropriate course of action is to fund TSA, fund FEMA, fund the Coast Guard, fund our cybersecurity professionals so that, you know, Republicans stop holding the American people hostage and these hardworking civil servants because of the Republican unwillingness, at least to date, to get ICE under control. Listen, we believe that immigration enforcement in this country should be fair, just and humane. And Donald Trump promised that he was going to go after the worst of the worst, violent felons who are here illegally. That’s not what has been happening. They’re targeting American citizens and law-abiding immigrant families, and of course that needs to end. That is not an appropriate use of taxpayer dollars.

DANA BASH: I’m just trying to understand how, if you fund TSA and the other agencies that you just talked about, how you think that you will be able to put pressure then on the administration to make the changes to ICE that you’re asking for?

LEADER JEFFRIES: The American people are going to continue to put pressure on the administration because they know ICE is out of control, they need to be reined in, and our view is that they should not get another dime of taxpayer dollars until we have bold and dramatic and meaningful changes to ICE’s behavior so that they are compelled to behave like every other law enforcement agency in the country. That includes making sure that there are judicial warrants that are required before ICE agents can rip the American people out of their homes in the middle of the night. We need to protect sensitive locations like houses of worship and hospitals and schools and polling sites. We need independent investigations so that, if ICE agents break the law, they can be investigated and criminally prosecuted by state and local authorities. We need to make sure that they are trained properly, that there are excessive use of force policies that are put into place, that we have independent access to detention centers. These are all common sense, reasonable things that the American people are appropriately demanding, and we’re not going to back away from them.

DANA BASH: Meanwhile, with regard to the war in Iran, the Pentagon is talking about asking the White House to approve a request to ask Congress for over $200 billion to fund the Iran war. Now, this is two sources familiar with the matter that tell CNN this. Is there any world in which you would support any more money for the Pentagon for this war?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Listen, the Department of Defense, Donald Trump and Republicans haven’t even made the case for why we are in this reckless war of choice right now to the American people. They’ve got no vision, no plan, no exit strategy. They clearly didn’t anticipate some of the things that have happened, including the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. What you’re seeing right now aregas prices are through the roof, and that’s adding to an environment in America right now where life has already become too expensive for the American people because of failed policies by Donald Trump, including, but not limited to, the Trump tariffs which have increased costs on everyday Americans by thousands of dollars per year. We should not be spending billions of dollars per day at this point in time to drop bombs in the Middle East when Republicans are unwilling to spend a dime to actually extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits and make sure that Americans can go see a doctor when they need one. It’s a priority issue here.

DANA BASH: Is this something that if it comes up before the House, you will whip? Meaning, will you urge your fellow Democrats to vote no on any funding, or will you allow them to vote their conscience?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, we’ll have that leadership conversation when we actually have a piece of legislation that is in front of us, but I can tell you there is strong opposition right now to the notion that this war of choice that is reckless, that’s costing the American people now more than $30 billion, should continue. We need to move, which we plan on doing in short order, a War Powers resolution so we can bring this situation to a close.

DANA BASH: I want to ask you before I let you go about something the President just put on Truth Social this morning. He said, ‘Now with the death of Iran, the greatest enemy America has is the Radical Left, Highly Incompetent, Democratic Party.’ Your response?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Donald Trump should keep his reckless mouth shut before he gets somebody killed.

DANA BASH: Hakeem Jeffries, thank you so much for being here. Appreciate it.

Full interview can be watched here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Josh Harder (CA-10)

Bay Area will hold six matches of largest sporting event in the world, starting this June

Price gouging has slashed $21 tickets, driven prices as high as $4,000 across the World Cup tournament

WASHINGTON – Today, ahead of the FIFA World Cup games taking place in the Bay Area this summer, Rep. Josh Harder (CA-09) sounded the alarm on unacceptable ticket price gouging that is pricing local families out of the most-watched sporting event in the world. Harder is also demanding a return to the affordable pricing model originally promised in 2018. 

For the first time in more than 30 years, the U.S. will host the FIFA World Cup, which will bring international attention and business to the region. The Bay Area will host six matches starting in June, including a knockout match. But ticket prices have skyrocketed because FIFA has abruptly switched to a “dynamic” pricing model, slashing $21 tickets and driving prices as high as $4,000 across the tournament. 

“It’s outrageous that tens of thousands of fans in our community are being priced out of a once-in-a-lifetime event that our tax dollars are paying for,” said Rep. Harder. “If we’re going to be footing the bill, our families deserve prices they can afford. I’m calling for full transparency in the FIFA ticketing process and a return to the affordable pricing model originally promised during the bid selection process.”

In his letter to FIFA President Gianni Infantino, Harder demanded answers on:

• Plans to unlock unallocated tickets for local fans.
• Measures to stop prices from increasing as the tournament progresses.
• Timelines for returning to an affordable, static pricing model.
• Reforms to support fan festivals, a key alternative allowing local fans to enjoy the World Cup experience.

On top of paying millions to finance renovations for the games, local governments are required to provide free transportation, police escorts for dignitaries, and no-cost emergency services. Despite this, FIFA controls the tournament’s most lucrative revenue streams, which are projected to be nearly $11 billion this year.

Read the full letter here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Josh Harder (CA-10)

New “X-Labs” Initiative will bring startup research model to NIH for first time ever

VIDEO: NIH Director highlights need for high-risk, high-reward science 

WASHINGTON – This week, Rep. Josh Harder (CA-09) secured new support from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya for his bipartisan bill to bring an ambitious startup research model to the world’s top science agency. Director Bhattacharya appeared before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Wednesday for an oversight hearing and highlighted the need for high-risk, high reward investment reforms at NIH.

At the hearing, Harder drew attention to how the NIH has long been the engine for prosperity in the U.S., driving discoveries that have saved millions of lives and helping establish decades of American biomedical dominance, but also how that leadership has started to fade. Chinese institutions now publish more scientific research papers annually than the United States, and their share of highly-cited medical research has risen rapidly. 

Harder’s bipartisan Launching X-Labs for Breakthrough Science Act, led with Rep. Jay Obernolte (CA-23) addresses that challenge by bringing a proven model of high-risk, high-reward scientific exploration to NIH for the first time ever, across a four-part funding series:

1. Foundational Discovery (XL01) – Funding independent research organizations that produce new and major scientific discoveries.
2. Toolbuilding (XL02) – Research focused on identifying gaps in tools and infrastructure used in scientific discovery.
3. Biomedical Regranting (XL03) – Empowering scientific scouts to spot promising biomedical research.
4. New Institutions (XL04) – Seeding new institutions at the forefront of future scientific research.

Director Bhattacharya called the initiative “an innovative idea” that he would be “very interested to work together on” and highlighted the need for reforms to “[make] sure that the United States remains the forefront of biomedicine.” 

Read the full transcript below:

HARDER: “I think about trying to make sure that we are moving beyond some of the constraints of the typical NIH process to do things like use large, interdisciplinary teams, use ample funding to really curate datasets and computational resources that are greater than any one lab would be able to do, and give sustained funding over a really long time horizon. 

“I’ve worked on a bill that we’ve discussed on this topic called ‘Launching X-Labs for Breakthrough Science’ with Congressman Obernolte to do that, trying to give the NIH the ability to give long-term, large grants to interdisciplinary teams advancing transformational research. 

“I’d love to get your take on if you think there’s a role for that and what we can do to try to make sure we’re advancing priorities like this?”

DIRECTOR BHATTACHARYA: “Congressman Harder, I really enjoyed our time to talk about this because I think those kinds of innovative ideas in accelerating the NIH’s investments in early care researchers, in high-risk, high-reward science – it’s going to take a different way of doing things than how we normally do things. 

“I’d be delighted to work with you and your staff and others who are similarly minded. As I’ve said to folks, the opportunities are incredible. There are so many American scientists with great ideas, great training.

“I also agree with entirely your characterization of the Chinese challenge – the Chinese biomedical research capacities have grown tremendously in part because of American investments. 

“So working on making sure that the United States remains the forefront of biomedicine is going to take a lot of new thinking – I know you’re working on X-Labs, on early care researchers – I’m very interested to work together on all of those opportunities.”

Watch the full discussion here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09)

MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) will hold a press conference at his downtown Odell Horton Federal Building office on Monday morning to address President Trump’s visit to Memphis later in the day. 

What: Congressman Cohen to Hold a Press Conference

When: Monday, March 23, at 10 a.m.

Where: Suite 369, The Odell Horton Federal Building, 167 North Main Street, Memphis (38103)

Please RSVP to Congressman Cohen’s Communications Director at Bartholomew.Sullivan@mail.house.gov

# # #

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

Austin, Texas – In a wide-ranging conversation at SXSW with Vox’s Astead Herndon, Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi reflected on her decades of legislative leadership, her enduring faith in the American people and her outlook on the 2026 midterm elections. As she prepares to leave Congress at the end of this term, Pelosi emphasized her confidence that Democrats will reclaim the House and restore institutional balance in Washington.

Pelosi also addressed the stakes facing American democracy, criticizing Republican leadership for what she described as an abdication of Congressional responsibility under Donald Trump. She underscored that the path forward lies in mobilizing voters around kitchen-table issues while defending core democratic principles, including the rule of law and the separation of powers.

Watch the full conversation here.

Read coverage below:

Vox: Nancy Pelosi Tells Us How She Really Feels

[Astead Herndon 3/21/26]

Nancy Pelosi’s record of impact is undeniable. Over more than three decades in Congress, the San Francisco juggernaut is frequently cited among the effective legislative operators of her generation — the person who held together the votes for the Affordable Care Act, who twice ascended to the House speaker’s chair, and who built a fundraising machine that reshaped how her party competes.

Last week, at the SXSW conference in Austin, Texas, I spoke with Pelosi about that record. In front of a packed crowd of innovators at the Vox Media Podcast Stage, I asked Pelosi about key moments in her career, her unshakable faith in the American electorate, and the outlook for November’s midterm elections.

Pelosi is preparing to leave Congress at the end of this term, and it comes at a time of profound uncertainty for the Democratic Party. Republicans control the White House. Her party’s polling favorability has reached historic lows, and a once solid liberal majority seems to be fraying on lines of age, race, and class. There’s no consensus about what went wrong or who should lead next.

Regardless, Pelosi told me she has absolute confidence that Democrats will take back the House this year. And it’s hard to argue with such a legendary vote counter. Below is an excerpt of our conversation, edited for length and clarity. There’s much more in the full episode, so listen to Today, Explained wherever you get podcasts, including Apple Podcasts, Pandora, and Spotify.

You’ve been called the most effective speaker in history. I wanted to know, what is the skill or trait that you think made you so effective?

The thing about it is that when you’re a legislator, you have one, shall we say, dynamic at work. You have hearings, you have public comment, you do all those things, and so you have time to make a decision. When you become the speaker or the governor or the mayor or whatever — the executive position — you then have to act.

The reason you have to act is because if you don’t act immediately, people think, “Oh, she’s gonna think about it. And while she does, we’ll take this option away or that option away.” You just have to act. Then you get the reputation that it will work, and that’s that.

It is [also] really important when you go out to do these things to just make sure people trust your judgment — that you know what you’re talking about, you know how to get something done. And I have to give credit to the members who are so courageous to take strong votes, which will be mischaracterized by the other side no matter what you do.

The other thing is nothing really good happens unless you have outside mobilization. Inside maneuver, outside mobilization. And that is like President Lincoln said, “Public sentiment is everything. With it you can accomplish almost anything, without it practically nothing.” But for public sentiment to prevail, people have to know, you have to get out there and engage public sentiment.

Your story is built on faith in the American people and it seems as if that is kind of core. I wanted to kind of gut-check that. You’ve been set to retire in 2016 and 2024, and Americans elected a president that surprised you and many others and kind of forced you back into office.

There’s been some tough moments. I’m thinking about the horrible attack on your husband in 2022 or things like the January 6 riots where you were in the building. How are you retaining this kind of optimism in the American electorate when it doesn’t always seem as if that has been returned to you? I wanna ask about your trust in Americans.

Our founders were such geniuses. They were so remarkable in what they put together, a country that was more remarkable than anything that anybody had ever seen. They believed in the goodness of the American people. And that’s what gives me optimism. I do believe in the inherent goodness of the American people. If they know, in a public sense, if they know what all this means to them, they will make the right judgments.

There’s a lot of evidence of a backlash to Donald Trump as we speak, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that people would prefer Democrats as the other option. How are you so sure that Democrats take back the House and possibly win the Senate in November?

Not only are we gonna win, we’re gonna win substantially.

To win an election, you have to mobilize. You have to own the ground because we know: American people are good. We know that what we want to do is in their interest. They know what their interests are. We respect that.

And by the way, our whole democracy is at stake. Free and fair elections, independent judiciary, due process, rule of law, separation of power. We’re not a monarchy, we’re a democracy. But we save the democracy at the kitchen table. So what we’re talking about in terms of lowering costs, affordability of course, but in people’s terms, lowering cost of health care and groceries and education and whatever it is, it’s what they are telling us they are most voting on. [We need] message, mobilization, and money to get it done.

I think right now there’s a big question about trust in institutions, trust in elected officials. Considering just how much Congress has seemed to step back from its own authority, what do you think is the importance of these midterms? If you’re someone who’s kind of skeptical and says, “Okay, Democrats win the House, but Donald Trump’s gonna do whatever he wants to do.” What is Speaker Pelosi’s response to that?

Well, let me just say, first of all, that Congress hasn’t stepped back. The Republicans in Congress have abdicated — they have abolished the House of Representatives. They have just given the president free rein.

The Senate somewhat too, but they have a little different rules. In the Constitution, the House of Representatives is given very big power. Congress is Article One of the Constitution, but even within that, the House has the power of the purse, to declare war, issues like that that are fundamental to the Constitution. They’ve abdicated.

If Democrats take back the House, last time that you all had the House under a Donald Trump presidency, there were those two impeachments. Is that something you think, if Democrats take back the house this November, we should expect?

The only person responsible for the impeachment of Donald Trump — not once but twice — is Donald Trump. He gave us no choice. So I don’t think you go out and start with saying, “We’re gonna impeach.” Winning is about the people. It’s not about him. It’s about the people, meeting their kitchen-table needs so that they have confidence. And we have to restore that. And the best way to do that is to listen to the people.

You’ve said that Donald Trump is a “vile creature,” but you said that was a euphemism for what you really wanted to say. This is South by Southwest, I was gonna let you end on this note. Do you wanna tell us how you really feel?

If you’re president of the United States, you have a certain responsibility to live up to honoring the vision of our founders. The beauty of the Constitution, the exquisite beauty of the Constitution, is the separation of power. They didn’t want a monarch; they did everything in the Constitution to make sure we didn’t have one. So he’s smashed all of that.

In terms of one of my big issues coming to Congress — saving the planet — forget about that. [He has] his hand in the pocket of the fossil fuel industry. And so we’re taking so many steps away from clean air, clean water.

Be grateful for the sacrifice of our men and women in uniform who have fought for our freedom and other freedom in the world and not call them losers. When you’re at a cemetery for a deceased soldier, honor that.

And then, of course, the aspirations of our children. Forget about that, as far as he’s concerned.

But I didn’t come here to talk about him. He is what he is. We’re gonna win in November. You’re going to see a big change in how the separation of powers works. It’s about honoring the vision of our founders. It’s about ending corruption in this government, and that’s what I think of him.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Alma Adams (12th District of North Carolina)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (D-NC-12),Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14), and Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) reintroduced the Momnibus Act. A groundbreaking piece of legislation addressing every factor of maternal mortality, morbidity, and maternal death disparities in the United States.

The Momnibus Act is a transformational package of bills that addresses social determinants of health, expands the perinatal workforce, promotes maternal vaccinations, strengthens data collection for maternal health research, improves care for veterans and incarcerated moms, extends post-partum WIC access, expands access to maternal mental health care— pre- and post-partum, and protects moms from environmental factors that cause adverse pregnancy outcomes. 

“The Momnibus Act is the most comprehensive piece of legislation ever drafted to address the maternal health crisis.” said Congresswoman Adams, Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the Black Maternal Health Caucus. “The maternal mortality rate in the United States is worse today than it was 20 years ago. With all the advances of modern science, that speaks to a serious lack of investment in our research and health care systems that care for our moms. Not only that, the rate of mortality for Black women is disproportionately higher and that gap has not shrunk in decades. This is an unacceptable reality, and we must act urgently and boldly to address this crisis. The Momnibus is the solution. Congress must make the safety and health of our moms a priority and get this bill passed into law.”  

“80% of maternal deaths in America are preventable, and the Momnibus is designed to stop them. I’m proud to introduce this historic legislation with Representative Alma Adams and Senator Cory Booker to build on the progress we have made and secure the investments we need to end this crisis,” said Rep. Lauren Underwood, Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the Black Maternal Health Caucus. “This bill has the tools we need to make America a safer place to give birth, especially for the Black moms who are at the highest risk. The Momnibus will save moms’ lives, and Congress must act urgently to pass it.” 

“Access to high quality health care has always been a top priority for me, and it is unacceptable that the United States has the worst maternal health mortality rates among its peer countries, especially when so many of these deaths are preventable,” said Senator Booker. “I am proud to reintroduce this historic legislation, which will take meaningful steps to address the maternal health crisis and ultimately save lives. Through the Momnibus we are investing in better care, strengthening support for families, and confronting the racial disparities facing Black mothers, who are disproportionately more likely to experience serious health complications or die from pregnancy related causes. Congress must pass this legislation immediately to protect our nation’s mothers and end this crisis.”

A one-page summary of the Momnibus can be found here. A section by section breakdown of the bill is linked here.

A summary of each bill included in the Momnibus can be read below:

1. Social Determinants for Moms Act
2. Extending WIC for New Moms Act
3. Kira Johnson Act
4. Perinatal Workforce Act
5. Data to Save Moms Act
6. Moms Matter Act
7. Justice for Incarcerated Moms Act
8. Tech to Save Moms Act
9. IMPACT to Save Moms Act
10. Maternal Health for Veterans Act
11. Protecting Moms and Babies Against Climate Change Act
12. Maternal Vaccination Act
13. NIH Improve Act
14. Maternal Health Pandemic Response Act

Full text of the legislation can be found here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Alma Adams (12th District of North Carolina)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Today, Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (NC-12) served as a featured speaker Friday at the North Carolina Chapter of the American Association of Blacks in Energy’s 2026 Professional Development Conference, where she encouraged attendees to invest in knowledge, relationships, opportunity, and purpose as they build careers that can shape both the energy industry and the future of their communities.

Held at Duke Energy Plaza in Charlotte, the conference brought together energy professionals, emerging leaders, students, and community partners for a full day of professional development focused on skill-building, policy, confidence, leadership growth, and the future of artificial intelligence in the industry.

In remarks tied to the conference theme, “Building Your Personal Pipeline,” Congresswoman Adams reflected on her own journey from modest beginnings to the halls of Congress and challenged attendees to think beyond individual success.

“The most important pipeline is not the one that carries oil or natural gas,” Adams said. “The most important pipeline is the one that carries people like you — from where you are to where you are destined to be.”

Congresswoman Adams thanked the NC Chapter of AABE and its president, MoNiqueka Smith of Duke Energy, for convening a gathering centered on growth, access, and leadership. She praised the organization for creating space not only for professional advancement, but for deeper conversations about equity and influence in one of the nation’s most consequential industries.

“Our people need more than just a seat at the table in the energy sector,” Adams said. “We need, and deserve, a seat at the head of the table.”

Drawing from her personal story, Adams spoke about the values instilled by her mother, the transformative role of education, and the importance of HBCUs in opening doors for students from low-income and first-generation backgrounds. She connected that lived experience to her long record of public service, including her advocacy for HBCUs, maternal health, affordable housing, food access, and economic opportunity.

She also challenged attendees to see the energy sector in its full context — as a field deeply connected to national security, global economics, agriculture, technological innovation, and everyday life for working families.

During her remarks, Adams pointed to current disruptions in global energy markets as an example of how decisions made far beyond North Carolina can directly affect utility bills, food prices, transportation costs, and the livelihoods of families and farmers here at home. She urged energy professionals to recognize the full weight and reach of their work.

“If you work in energy, you are not just working in a sector,” Adams said. “You are working at the intersection of national security, economic justice, agricultural stability, and global diplomacy.”

Adams also addressed the growing role of artificial intelligence in the energy industry, emphasizing that Black professionals must not be left out of the rooms where emerging technologies are being designed, governed, and deployed.

“The question is no longer whether AI will transform the energy sector — it already has,” Adams said. “The question is whether Black professionals, whether our community, will be at the table designing those systems, training those models, creating those platforms, and setting those policies.”

Throughout the address, Adams urged attendees to treat civic engagement as an essential part of professional life, calling advocacy “the most underused tool in one’s professional toolkit.” She encouraged participants to stay informed, build relationships, mentor others, and bring their expertise into policy discussions at every level of government.

She closed with a direct challenge to those in the room: invest in themselves, invest in others, and invest in the future.

“Your personal pipeline should never stop with you,” Adams said. “It should extend forward to the people who are following behind you.”

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

Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA), Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), and Congressional Bike Caucus Co-Chair Mike Thompson (D-CA) led a group of House Democrats in demanding that the National Parks Service (NPS) immediately halt or block any plans to remove the two-way protected bike lane running from the Tidal Basin to Constitution Avenue, a vital commuter route for DC-area residents.

In a letter addressed to NPS Acting Director Jessica Bowron, Members noted that removing the bike lanes will limit transportation options and increase danger for cyclists, pedestrians, and cars alike. Members also stressed the need for immediate action with the National Cherry Blossom Festival and America 250 celebrations approaching, both of which are readily accessible through the bike lanes.

“The bike lanes are part of a broader safe cycling corridor along 15th Street. Those lanes are an essential travel route for commuters from Virginia, D.C., Maryland, and visitors across the country, who rely on them to access jobs, NPS sites along the National Mall, and the Capitol complex,” wrote the Members. “Allowing or actively working to remove these lanes will reverse a decade of improved bike access to those sites and intentionally cut off public access to their elected representatives and public lands.”

The letter is signed by Representatives Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Bill Foster (D-IL), Dave Min (D-CA), Scott Peters (D-CA), Mike Quigley (D-IL), Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Darren Soto (D-FL), and Rashida Tlaib (D-MI).

Full text of the letter follows below, and a signed copy is available here.

***

Dear Acting Director Bowron:

We write regarding reports that the National Park Service (NPS) will be participating in, facilitating, or allowing the removal of the two-way protected bike lane on NPS land from the Tidal Basin to Constitution Avenue. That removal cannot proceed.

NPS must immediately reverse course and stop the removal of the bike lane. Failing to do so would indicate that NPS is either refusing to responsibly administer its D.C. lands, or that it is unable to protect those lands against interference from other federal agencies. In either case, NPS must act to protect transportation access to our nation’s capital, recreation access ahead of the National Cherry Blossom Festival, and safety for all road users.

The bike lanes are part of a broader safe cycling corridor along 15th Street. Those lanes are an essential travel route for commuters from Virginia, D.C., Maryland, and visitors across the country, who rely on them to access jobs, NPS sites along the National Mall, and the Capitol complex. Allowing or actively working to remove these lanes will reverse a decade of improved bike access to those sites and intentionally cut off public access to their elected representatives and public lands.

Many of those commuters and visitors would continue to need access to this corridor. By removing the bike lanes, NPS would also force remaining bicyclists to share walkway space with pedestrians or roads with cars, creating danger for pedestrians, bikers, and cars alike. The D.C. Department of Transportation has found that the bike lane corridor reduced bike crashes by 69%, crashes causing injuries by 52%, and all crashes by 46%. Ahead of America 250, removing one of the safest and most convenient ways of accessing historical NPS sites along the National Mall will make the celebrations less accessible and more dangerous for all visitors.

According to posted signage, construction on the Ohio Drive portion could begin as early as today. It is imperative that NPS immediately take action to responsibly steward its own lands and stop the removal of this essential transportation corridor.

Sincerely,

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jimmy Gomez (CA-34)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — As U.S. military operations continue in Iran, Congressman Jimmy Gomez (CA-34) sharply questioned top intelligence officials, exposing glaring inconsistencies, evasions, and a troubling admission: the intelligence community cannot clearly support claims that Iran posed an imminent nuclear threat.

Rep. Gomez repeatedly asked Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard whether she still stands by her prior testimony that Iran was not building a nuclear weapon. She declined to give a clear yes-or-no answer. CIA Director John Ratcliffe similarly avoided confirming that earlier assessment.

Rep. Gomez also pointed to President Trump’s public dismissal of intelligence findings, noting that officials would not directly respond when asked whether the President should rely on their assessments.

Key Excerpts from Rep. Gomez’s Questioning:

Intelligence Officials Admit that Trump May Ignore Intelligence in War:
Gomez: “Yesterday, you said the only person who can determine what is an ‘imminent threat’ is the President of the United States. Do you stand by that statement?”

Gabbard: “Yes I do.”

Gomez: “Director Ratcliffe, do you agree with that assessment?”

Ratcliffe: “The President as Commander in Chief gets to make a decision about what’s an imminent threat.”

Gomez: “If the President can determine and ignore what you’re doing, why do you guys even have a job? Why do you even advise him?”

Gomez Questioning Exposes that Basis for Iran War Doesn’t Exist:
Gomez: “Director Gabbard, last year you testified that Iran was not building a nuclear weapon. Do you stand by that statement, yes or no?”

Gabbard: “Context matters—”

Gomez: “I reclaim my time. It’s an easy answer, you either stand by what you said last year or not.”

No clear evidence Iran posed an imminent threat:
Gomez: “Were they weeks away from achieving a nuclear weapon, yes or no?”

Gabbard: “This is a serious matter—”

Gomez: “Were they weeks away or not? The American people need to know if this was an imminent threat or not.”

DNI Gabbard Can’t Answer Who Poses Greater Threat: North Korea or Iran:
Gomez: “Director Gabbard, you said that North Korea has intercontinental ballistic missiles that can reach the [United States]. Yet, the Defense Department said that Iran was at least 10 years away from that capability. Which one is the more serious threat? North Korea or Iran?”

Gabbard: “These threats are taken within the context of the total body of intelligence reporting.”

Gomez: “That’s my point. It’s not just about having the capability of building a weapon, it’s if they can actually deliver that weapon, if they have the intention of doing that.”

Gomez: “We haven’t heard that they were weeks away. We haven’t heard that they were months away. That’s what we’re waiting for.”

Gomez: “Imminent to me means they’re mobilizing troops. They’re moving things into position, artillery. They’re getting ready to attack. But everything that we’ve heard is that this is not the case”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Joe Neguse (D-Co 2)

Washington, D.C. — Congressman Joe Neguse and Senator Michael Bennet issued the following statement after the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved the $6.2 billion Nexstar Media-Tegna merger. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr said the agency would “waive” federal law and the national broadcast ownership cap to give the combined entity coverage of at least 60% of households across the country. 

Currently, federal law, specifically mandated by Congress in 2004, restricts any single company from owning TV stations reaching more than 39% of U.S. households. Violating this rule gives greater power to corporate owners to control programming and the framing of local news coverage. 

“The FCC’s decision is baseless and blatantly political — and will have disastrous consequences for consumers across the country. For Colorado, it will likely result in even greater consolidation of local news coverage, further depriving Coloradans of access to a healthy and competitive news market. That is why we’ve opposed this merger every step of the way,” said Neguse and Bennet. 

“As the appropriations process begins for the next Fiscal Year, it is critical for the Congress to utilize every tool to rein in the lawlessness of this regulatory agency, among others. We intend to do so.” 

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