MIL USHOR-2b Engine

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

Will sign on to a discharge petition to force a vote to fund most Department of Homeland Security programs, including TSA airport checkpoints

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett (USVI)

For Immediate Release                             Contact: Tionee Scotland
March 16, 2026                                                    202-808-6129

PRESS RELEASE

CONGRESSWOMAN PLASKETT RESPONDS TO ST. JOHN EXTENDED POWER OUTAGE

St. John, USVI — Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett (D-VI) today issued the following statement in response to the extended power outage affecting the island of St. John, which has now exceeded 40 hours:

“We want the people of St. John to know we feel the weight of what you are enduring. More than 40 hours without power is not an inconvenience; it is a crisis,” said Congresswoman Plaskett. “I know what it means to be at home when the lights go out: the isolation, the uncertainty, the fear for elderly neighbors and young children, the medications and food spoiling in refrigerators, the businesses that cannot open, the medical equipment that cannot run. This is an urgent crisis, demanding our full attention.”

The Congresswoman extends her deep gratitude to the line crews and technical workers who have been working around the clock since the outage began: “I want to offer my heartfelt thanks to the WAPA lineworkers and technicians who have not stopped working since this outage began. These men and women are out through the night and into the day, doing everything within their power to restore electricity to our fellow Virgin Islanders on St. John. Their dedication and professionalism in the face of a deeply challenging situation deserves to be recognized.”

Reports have emerged suggesting that the outage may have resulted from deliberate tampering with WAPA’s electrical infrastructure.

“If it is determined that someone intentionally tampered and caused the outage, it is my hope that the appropriate authorities will hold those responsible to the fullest extent of the law. An attack on our electrical infrastructure is an attack on our people. It should not go unaddressed.”

The Congresswoman also acknowledged the community support efforts underway in response to the outage. Love City Strong case managers have been actively reaching out to individuals on their high-risk list. The majority of residents Love City Strong has connected with have confirmed contingency plans are in place. Residents who feel they may need additional support are encouraged to self-identify by contacting the Love City Strong office at 340-714-7744 or via email at info@lovecitystrongvi.org, where staff will assess their situation and provide a vulnerability rating. Those identified as high-risk will be proactively contacted during future emergencies.

The Congresswoman also acknowledged ongoing discussions about battery storage and alternative energy solutions for St. John: “I am aware of the battery storage and alternative energy initiatives that have been planned and discussed for St. John. I remain a strong advocate for moving those projects forward with speed and seriousness. Realistically, a battery system would not have been able to carry an entire island through a 40-plus-hour outage of this magnitude, but it would have provided meaningful, critical relief in the earliest hours.

“The United States Virgin Islands deserves a resilient, modern, and reliable electrical grid. Our people deserve energy security. I will continue to fight for our people, and work with every available partner to bring the investment and infrastructure to our territory that our people have long been promised and have always deserved. We will get there. When we do, the strength of our community that we see now, in the way neighbors are looking out for one another across St. John will be the foundation we build upon.”

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

Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries held a press conference, where he emphasized that Donald Trump and House Republicans are spending billions in taxpayer dollars on a war of choice in the Middle East, while doing nothing to make the lives of the American people more affordable. 

LEADER JEFFRIES: This is a very challenging moment for the United States of America as we deal with a President, Donald Trump, and Republicans whose policies have done nothing but damage the quality of life of the American people. It was Republicans who, in their One Big Ugly Bill, enacted the largest cut to Medicaid in American history. Hospitals, nursing homes and community-based health centers are closing throughout America because of Republican policies, and, at the same period of time, these extremists refuse to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits, causing health insurance premiums to skyrocket for more than 20 million working class Americans. Republicans have done great damage to the American people, made life more expensive for everyday Americans on healthcare, on gas prices, on housing costs, on child care, on groceries. They’ve made life more expensive for the American people, and it’s affirmatively being done by toxic and extreme Republican policies.

And to make matters worse, at the same period of time, they’ve now gotten us into a reckless war of choice against Iran and are spending billions of dollars to drop bombs in the Middle East, but can’t find a dime to make life more affordable for the American people. There’s a better way. And Democrats are committed to fighting hard to relentlessly focus on driving down the high cost of living, fixing our broken healthcare system, making sure that immigration enforcement in this country is fair, just and humane and at the same time, ensuring that our taxpayer dollars aren’t spent on another endless war in the Middle East, but are spent to lower the high cost of living, to make sure that every single American in this country can live an affordable life, a comfortable life and live the good life.

Full press conference can be watched here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Marc Veasey (33rd District of Texas)

Headline: Congressman Veasey Demands Answers on the Death of an Afghan U.S. Ally in Dallas ICE Center

This death occurred a week after Rep Veasey conducted a congressional oversight visit to the Dallas ICE Processing Center

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO-02)

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO) released the following statement after the Gateway Partnership Act, legislation she also sponsored last Congress and co-led with Congressman Wesley Bell this year, passed the House:

“The Gateway Arch National Park is the pride of our St. Louis region, and it is vital that we protect its national and historic significance.  The Gateway Partnership Act will allow the non-profit Gateway Arch Park Foundation to work with the National Park Service to host events at the park, at no cost to the taxpayer, generating new income that will help support the long-term stability of the Arch Foundation and bring new visitors to our iconic national monument that celebrates America’s westward expansion. I thank my colleagues for their strong support, and I look forward to the Senate taking swift action on this bill.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jerrold Nadler (10th District of New York)

Today, the House of Representatives passed the Holocaust Expropriated Art Recovery (HEAR) Act of 2025 unanimously. Representative Jerrold Nadler (NY-12) the lead House Democratic sponsor of the legislation released the following statement:

“More than 100,000 works of art that were looted by the Nazis from Jewish families during the Holocaust remain unrecovered. We must confront this unacceptable and repugnant reality, which continues to allow entities and individuals to profit off the Jewish people’s pain.

“I was proud to lead efforts to pass the original HEAR Act in 2016 that fought back and began to bring justice to victim’s families, and I am honored to continue the fight as the lead House Democratic sponsor of the updated legislation that passed the House unanimously today.

“Today the House of Representatives affirmed that in the United States, every victim and family member with a credible claim deserves to have their day in court, with their case heard on the merits alone. Justice must no longer be denied due to procedural technicalities and legislative sunset provisions.

“While we cannot reverse the horrors of the Holocaust, we can ensure that in an American courtroom, the truth of a family’s legacy carries more weight than a legal loophole.”

Upon House passage, this bipartisan bill now heads to the President’s desk.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ken Calvert (CA-42)

Today, the House of Representatives approved H.R. 831, the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program Amendment Act. The bill was introduced by Rep. Calvert to support Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program (LCR MSCP) activities. The bill would establish an interest-bearing account at the Department of the Treasury to hold the funds contributed by the states of Arizona, California, and Nevada for the LCR MSCP.

“I’m grateful for my House colleagues’ support in passing the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program Amendment Act,” said Rep. Calvert. “Providing additional resources for the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program at no cost to taxpayers will support one of our most important natural resources in the Southwest,” said Rep. Calvert. “This bipartisan bill is a common-sense step that allows excess funds in the LCR MSCP to earn interest and maintain their effectiveness.”

“Representative Calvert’s legislation supports collaboration among federal, state and local partners to conserve wildlife and sustain water reliability in the Colorado River basin,” said Natural Resources Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman (AK-4). “I applaud his leadership on this issue and look forward to working with him to see this bill across the finish line.”

Background:

The Lower Colorado River provides critical water and power supplies across the Southwest. The LCR MSCP was authorized by Congress in 2009 and is supported by agencies within the federal government, as well as State, Tribal, and local water, power, and wildlife agencies. Within the geographic scope of the LCR MSCP from Lake Mead to the Mexican border, the program will establish over 8,000 acres of native riparian and aquatic habitat. It includes additional science-based research and management efforts focused on expanding knowledge of the local wildlife and the quality of the habitat restoration efforts. The program has already achieved success in stocking thousands of native fish and increasing the number of breeding migratory birds within 5,000 acres of new riparian habitat.

The LCR MSCP has a budget of $626 million for its 50-year term. The funding is shared among the program participants on the basis of 50% Federal, 25% California, and 12.5% each from Arizona and Nevada. Through the LCR MSCP agreements, the Lower Basin States committed to make quarterly payments to cover the program costs based on the initial budget estimates established in 2005. For Fiscal Year 2024, the program budget calls for funding of $38.8 million, with the State participants paying $19.4 million. Over time, the pace of funding has exceeded the work expenditures, and Reclamation has accumulated over $60 million in contributed funds for future costs. However, the accounts in which the Bureau of Reclamation holds the contributed funds do not earn interest or any investment return. There are multiple examples of funds established by congressional action in the U.S. Treasury that are directed to be invested or to earn interest. This legislation simply allows the LCR MSCP to also earn interest.

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

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28), Chair Emerita of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), introduced a resolution commemorating five-years since the Atlanta spa shootings with Reps. Grace Meng (NY-06), Lucy McBath (GA-06), and Nikema Williams (GA-05).

On March 16, 2021, a gunman senselessly murdered eight people, including six Asian women, and injured a ninth person at two spas and a massage parlor in Atlanta, Georgia. These shootings occurred amid an alarming surge in anti-Asian hate crimes and incidents nationwide fueled by the use of anti-Asian rhetoric that scapegoated Asian Americans for the COVID-19 pandemic.

Three days after the shooting, as Chair of CAPAC, Rep. Chu introduced a resolution condemning this violent attack, recognizing the lives of the victims and their families, and reaffirming the House of Representative’s commitment to combating hate, bigotry, and violence against Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities.

“Five years after the Atlanta spa shootings, we remember the eight lives taken, six of them Asian women, in a heinous act of anti-Asian hate,” said Congressmember. Judy Chu, CAPAC Chair Emerita. “Their families and communities continue to carry this profound loss. Their memory reminds us of the painful surge in anti-Asian hate that scarred our nation during the pandemic and the responsibility we all share to confront it. While progress has been made, our work is far from finished. On this anniversary, we recommit ourselves to standing with AANHPI communities, rejecting xenophobia in all its forms, and building a country where no one lives in fear because of who they are.”

“It is hard to believe that five years have passed since the horrific Atlanta spa shootings that took eight lives, six of whom were Asian women. For many in the Asian American community, it was our worst nightmare realized and the inevitable result of racist slurs like ‘kung flu’ that painted a target on our backs. While my COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act that passed into law marked real progress in addressing anti-Asian hate, more must be done to protect our communities,” said Rep. Grace Meng, CAPAC Chair. “As CAPAC Chair, I will never stop fighting against anti-Asian hate and for a future where every American can live with safety and dignity. Our caucus extends our deepest condolences to the victims’ families and loved ones as we mark this solemn anniversary. May the memories of those we lost forever be a blessing.”

“Five years after the Atlanta spa shootings, our city still carries the grief of the eight lives stolen in an act of anti-Asian hate,” said Rep. Lucy McBath. “That tragedy shook our community and left lasting pain for the families, loved ones, and neighbors who continue to mourn. As someone who has dedicated my work in Congress to preventing gun violence, I know remembrance must also be matched with action to protect people from the hatred and violence which devastates communities across America. We must reject the hateful and harmful rhetoric that continues to fuel division and put lives at risk. On this anniversary, we honor the memories of those we lost and recommit ourselves to our responsibility to champion solutions that will prevent violence and save lives.”

“Five years after the violent Atlanta spa shootings, we remember the eight lives stolen, the families still grieving, and the communities still carrying deep scars. Remembrance must also move us to action. The work to protect Asian American communities and confront anti-Asian hate is as urgent as it was five years ago. Part of the promise of America is freedom from fear or violence because of who you are, and we will keep fighting until that promise is realized. We honor the lives lost by standing shoulder to shoulder with Asian American communities in the ongoing fight for safety for all,” said Congresswoman Nikema Williams. 

In the five years since this horrific tragedy, Asian American communities have continued to grapple with the grief, trauma, and long-term mental health impacts of anti-Asian hate. The resolution not only marks the five-year remembrance of the Atlanta spa shootings, but also recognizes how anti-Asian hate has evolved—from misplaced blame and vitriol during the COVID-19 pandemic to enduring suspicions of dual loyalty, reflected in discriminatory policies such as alien land laws and initiatives like the so-called China Initiative that have targeted Asian communities.

The latest federal hate crime statistics show that anti-Asian hate crimes are nearly three times higher than pre-pandemic levels, and that anti-Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander hate crimes are at the highest number ever recorded since the Federal Bureau of Investigation began disaggregating this category in 2013. In a 2025 survey, 63 percent of Asian Americans reported feeling unsafe in day-to-day spaces, and 63 percent feared they will be victims of discrimination in the next five years.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Pete Aguilar (31 CD Ca)

Since Trump’s war with Iran began, gas prices in San Bernardino County have soared to over $5.50 per gallon

SAN BERNARDINO, CA – Rep. Pete Aguilar (CA-33) visited the La Bufadora Baja Grill food truck, a local, family-owned restaurant chain that has been impacted by the skyrocketing price of gas caused by Trump’s war in Iran. La Bufadora Baja Grill relies on their food trucks to serve customers throughout the Inland Empire. The higher cost of gas in San Bernardino County and the rising cost of other goods, thanks to Trump’s war with Iran and his chaotic tariffs, have put financial pressure on La Bufadora Baja Grill. You can find photos from the visit above and here.
“From the gas pump to your favorite lunch spots, hardworking Americans are paying the price for Trump’s war in the Middle East,” said Rep. Pete Aguilar. “For local restaurants like La Bufadora that rely on their trucks to serve their customers, higher gas prices mean lower profits. Small businesses and working people can’t afford to pay the price for Trump’s war with Iran. It’s time for the President to end this reckless conflict overseas and focus on bringing down costs for people here at home.”
“La Bufadora Food Truck prides itself on bringing the authentic taste of La Bufadora Baja Grill anywhere it is welcomed,” said Ruben Fuentes Jr., Administrative Coordinator, La Bufadora Food Truck. “With rising costs of oil, gasoline, diesel, and produce, increasing our prices without risking customer loyalty is becoming more difficult than ever. Our business is strictly mobile, which is the only major difference from our brick and mortar locations around Southern California. Therefore, maintaining costs similar to those of the restaurants will not continue to be feasible if costs keep increasing. A heavy-duty, diesel-powered truck tows the food truck, and two premium-fuel generators provide power. Gasoline and diesel expenses alone have increased by more than $500 compared to last year. All our produce is delivered from our parent corporation’s factory, and naturally, those delivery costs have also increased. If this negative trend continues, we will have no choice but to increase our prices. As a family-owned and operated business, we risk our livelihood by making these decisions.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (15th District of Texas)