Castro, Keating Demand Answers on Any U.S. Involvement in Ecuadorian Boat Strikes

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

June 13, 2026

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, and Congressman Bill Keating (MA-09), senior member of both the House Armed Services and House Foreign Affairs Committees, sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin, and Admiral Kevin Lundy demanding answers on any U.S. involvement in Ecuadorian boat strikes this year that have resulted in eight missing persons.

The lawmakers highlighted the testimony of Ecuadorean survivors, writing, “According to the testimony of survivors, their attorneys, and their relatives, personnel operating from a blue U.S.-flagged patrol ship are alleged to have boarded and detained crew from two vessels, the Negra Francisca Duarte II on March 17 and the Don Maca on March 26, following what they described as attacks by uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs).”

Following the disappearance of eight missing crew members, the lawmakers underscored the lack of U.S. response to the United Nations Committee on Enforced Disappearances, writing, “The Committee specifically noted the alleged involvement of U.S. forces and called upon Ecuador and the United States to cooperate under Articles 14 and 15 of the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance. The Committee set a response deadline of April 27, 2026. There is currently no public indication that the United States has responded to the United Nations Committee on Enforced Disappearances’ requests for information prior to or since the deadline.”

The lawmakers, exercising Congress’ oversight responsibility over U.S. operations abroad, are requesting key information, including information on the scope of U.S. involvement in the incidents with the Fiorella, Negra Francisca, Duarte II, or the Don Maca as well the current status and whereabouts of each individual crew members across the three vessels.

Read the full letter and investigation here.


Scalise: Republicans Deliver Results While Democrats Play Politics with National Security

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steve Scalise (1st District of Louisiana)

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Yesterday, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) appeared on The Scott Jennings Show and NewsNation’s Katie Pavlich Tonight to discuss how House Republicans are delivering results for the American people by lowering costs, strengthening national security, and advancing President Trump’s agenda. Leader Scalise also highlighted the importance of renewing FISA authorities to prevent terrorist attacks and keep Americans safe.

Click here or the image above to view Leader Scalise’s full interview with Scott Jennings. 
Highlights from Leader Scalise’s interview with Scott Jennings:On President Trump disarming Iran’s nuclear capabilities:“I was with the president two days ago in the Oval Office, and we were talking about Iran amongst a number of other issues. And, you know, look, the president wants to get this resolved. He’s talked about trying to get a peace agreement, but he also is aware, as we all know, that you’re dealing with people that are not rational. You’re dealing with people that are not honest in the Iranian leaders. And so this thing’s gone on over, over and over, back and forth. You’ve heard we’re close to deals, and then they struck down a helicopter and the president took some action. He was going to take more. And I think the Iranian leaders realize this is going to get worse for them if they keep playing this game. You do not want to test President Donald Trump. And so hopefully this means we’re getting closer to a resolution. We will surely see. But if the Iranian leaders had some sense, they would get an agreement to stop a pursuit of a nuclear weapon and to end fueling terror around the world.“That’s been objective number one. You know, you look at Operation Midnight Hammer and Operation Epic Fury, we’ve decimated a lot of their nuclear capabilities. There is still enriched uranium out there. That’s been a concern… I don’t think you have any of those neighbors that want to see Iran with a nuclear weapon, especially when they chant ‘Death to America.’ You know, it seems like we’re target number one. So the President’s taking action to keep America safe. I hope this comes to a conclusion.”On Democrats jeopardizing Americans’ safety by stonewalling FISA:“Well, it’s really unfortunate where we are, and I think it shows you how dangerous and radical the Democrat Party is that 95% of their members today voted against America’s national security. Think about that, Scott. Just because they hate Donald Trump, they are willing to put American lives at risk. This is a program, FISA, which everybody acknowledges has been used time and again to stop terrorist attacks on our homeland, to stop those attacks. And yet they’re willing to shut that program down, just like you saw them shut the entire Department of Homeland Security down months ago. This is a radical Democrat Party, sure, not your father’s Democrat Party. So, you know, we’re gonna keep working. We have a bill over in the Senate that would renew the program, but Democrats in the Senate are blocking that to this day. At some point, I hope the American people speak out. If you’re represented by a Democrat senator, please call them and say, stop putting our lives at risk. Get over your differences with Donald Trump. And you can still have those other differences, but don’t risk American safety by shutting this program down.”

Click here or the image above to view Leader Scalise’s full interview with Katie Pavlich. 
Highlights from Leader Scalise’s interview with Katie Pavlich:On the impact and meaning of the Congressional Baseball Game:“Well, it’s always special just to, you know, the camaraderie, being able to play in a big league ballpark. This place is gonna be packed with raucous fans on both sides, more on our side, I think. But it’s also, look, we love competing, we want to beat these guys, but we’re raising over $3 million for local youth charities too, and that’s special.”On the Republican agenda:“We secured our border working with President Trump. It was critical, frankly, the biggest issue in the ’24 election. And now we’ve got other problems where we want to keep working on reducing crime, producing more energy, getting, you know, keeping taxes low, getting rules and regulations to make common sense so that we can create more jobs. So a lot of things that we’re still working on.”On prioritizing affordability and cutting red tape:“I’d much rather be where we are than where the Democrats are, frankly, because we’re going to keep working on lowering costs, on getting the country back on track, on securing the border. We’ve got a great housing bill that we passed. Frankly, almost all Republicans and Democrats in the House passed that bill over the Senate. I hope the Senate gets that bill done because we’ve been working with President Trump on things like that. He wants to sign that bill that will lower housing costs and clean up a lot of the red tape. It’s hard to build housing in America because of a lot of the red tape. Let’s clean that up. Let’s make it easier to create jobs and grow opportunities for people in this country. We’re going to be focused on that between now and November.”

DeGette Demands Answers as Federal Agents Target Immigrant Children’s Legal Advocates

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Diana DeGette (First District of Colorado)

DENVER, CO – Today, Congresswoman Diana DeGette (CO-01) released the following statement after federal agents from ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations and Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General attempted to access the offices and client records of nonprofits providing legal services to vulnerable, unaccompanied immigrant children:

“Federal agents showed up unannounced at children’s legal aid organizations this week with no warrant and one clear purpose: intimidation.

“It is no coincidence this happened the same week that Trump and his GOP allies handed ICE and CBP an additional $70 billion payout. These nonprofit organizations help kids prepare for court, stay safe from trafficking, and navigate a system designed for adults. They are not threats. They are a lifeline, and their young clients are often under the direct care of HHS’s Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR).

“ORR has the responsibility for the care and placement of unaccompanied children in federal custody. Secretary Kennedy has a lot to answer for, and as the Ranking Member of the Health Subcommittee, I want answers immediately.”

Background:

Earlier this week, prior to today’s reporting, Ranking Member DeGette sent a letter to Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Brett Guthrie and Health Subcommittee Chair Morgan Griffith requesting a hearing with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Assistant Secretary for Administration for Children and Families Alex J. Adams and ORR Acting Director Angie Salazar.

HHS is statutorily required to provide services and care for these children under the Unaccompanied Children Program. However, reports show that ORR has taken actions over the past 17 months that jeopardize the well-being of unaccompanied children and undermine the program, including allegations of extended detention periods of 200+ days and increased cooperation with immigration enforcement agencies that harm placement and sponsor vetting.

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Fraud Week in the House

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bruce Westerman (AR-04)

A foundational pillar for a well-functioning democracy is the people’s trust in their system of government. This trust is found when our government acts with integrity, delivers proper use of services created to provide aid and assistance, and stewards taxpayer dollars appropriately, among many other things.

This week was Fraud Week in the House, and it was a great privilege to be able to work alongside my colleagues to ensure that we root out the waste, fraud, and abuse that take advantage of hardworking Americans, whose hard-earned money is unfortunately used to line the pockets of fraudsters.

We’ve all seen the reports that the federal government loses an estimated $233 billion to $521 billion to fraud every year – that’s about $1,000 to $3,000 that individual taxpayers are losing each year. With that much money at stake, something must change.

Two of the bills passed this week work to provide greater accountability and sturdier safeguards to address the fraud found in our federal government.

It was reported that the federal government made roughly $186 billion in improper payments in Fiscal Year 2025 alone.

The Stopping Fraudulent Payments Act works to ensure the processing of federal payments are made in the right amounts, and to the correct recipient, before the agency awards the funds or the payment is made.

The Fraud Prevention and Accountability Act addresses how fraudsters can abuse our systems during a national emergency by exploiting gaps between agencies, programs, and states. By creating more transparency and closing these gaps, we’re creating more safeguards to catch these bad actors early.

These bills are commonsense solutions. After all, you’d never dole out thousands of dollars to anyone or anything without knowing exactly what it was going toward. And when your taxpayer dollars are the ones being used, it’s our job as Members of Congress to make sure the same idea is applied on the federal level.

House Republicans are continuing to root out the waste, fraud, and abuse that has undermined the American people’s trust in the federal government. This week’s legislation was certainly a step in the right direction, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to continue delivering more wins so that your tax dollars don’t get taken advantage of.

The Importance of Diplomas and Community Development

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bruce Westerman (AR-04)

The success of higher education isn’t necessarily measured by the number of diplomas distributed, but by the lasting impacts of its graduates on society. Through stronger communities, greater economic opportunity, and excellent leadership, these scholars often yield a return on the investment made in their education in immeasurable dividends.

Here in the Fourth District, we are especially blessed with so many wonderful options for receiving an education after high school graduation. From the northern part of the district all the way down to the southernmost portion, I’m always pleased to visit with leaders from these colleges and universities to hear more about the deep, personal impact they are making on the lives of their students.

Through education programs that provide hands-on opportunities, like trade schools or vocational training, and a typical lecture hall experience, these schools are providing future generations of Arkansans with the tools they need to pour into their communities and become exceptional leaders.

Last week, I had the privilege of visiting Arkansas Tech and the University of Arkansas Hope-Texarkana. During these visits, the staff took great care to make sure my staff and I were able to hear and see how these higher education institutions are benefiting their local communities.

Coming back to Washington this week with these visits fresh in my mind, it was certainly easy to vote in support of legislation brought to the House Floor that works to benefit our schools and students alike.

The No Aid for Ghost Students Act of 2026 puts measures in place to ensure that student aid funding isn’t being drained by bad actors who take advantage of such a beneficial system through scams or fraud. It is crucial that schools verify student identity for applications that have been flagged as suspicious before disbursing the aid. And more awareness must be brought to the school’s attention if any suspicion of identity fraud is detected.

House Republicans continue to deliver on our promise of rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse so that our systems can work for the people they were intended to serve, rather than those who game the system.

Protecting and Serving our Communities

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bruce Westerman (AR-04)

It’s a great privilege to be able to travel from corner to corner of the Fourth District so frequently. These tours are always filled with meeting Arkansans who make our corner of the Natural State so unique. And meeting these folks always serves as a great reminder of what a privilege it is to serve these communities in Congress.

This week, I stopped by the Russellville Police Department to visit with Chief Ewing and get a first-hand look at the facilities they have while hearing more about the work they do on a daily basis. One thing was made very clear: the men and women who serve our communities in law enforcement – whether it’s sitting at a desk or patrolling the streets – care deeply about the area they serve.

With each handshake, conversation, and story told, I was grateful to visit with and thank the men and women who protect this portion of Pope County. Our law enforcement officers – and all first responders for that matter – selflessly and courageously work every day to defend and maintain law and order in our communities. Therefore, they deserve our full support.

These men and women sign up to run toward the danger when help is called. Many of our police officers, firefighters, and EMS workers are right there in the middle of someone’s absolute worst day, acting as an anchor. In that moment, they are a lifeline; their presence and service are invaluable.

But their commitment to our communities goes much farther than just maintaining law and order or responding to an emergency. They work to de-escalate situations that could become dangerous for individuals or those around them, support those struggling with mental health crises, and partner with local leaders to engage with students through mentorship programs.

It takes every one of our first responders to create a thriving, safe environment not only in our own neighborhoods, but in our communities. Every day, they put on their uniforms ready to protect and serve, and I consider it a great privilege to support these men and women in Congress. But far beyond casting a vote on the House Floor, I’m always eager to extend my thanks whenever I get the chance. I hope you’ll join me in doing the same.

CONGRESSWOMAN PLASKETT EXPRESSES CONDOLENCES ON PASSING OF FORMER US POSTAL SERVICE POSTMASTER IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS, LOUIS JACKSON

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

For Immediate Release                             Contact: Tionee Scotland
June 12, 2026                                                   202-808-6129

PRESS RELEASE

CONGRESSWOMAN PLASKETT EXPRESSES CONDOLENCES ON PASSING OF FORMER US POSTAL SERVICE POSTMASTER IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS, LOUIS JACKSON

U.S. Virgin Islands – Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett today expressed her condolences to the family, friends, and former colleagues of Louis A. Jackson, the former Virgin Islands Postmaster, who passed away recently.

“Louis Jackson embodied what public service looks like at its best — steady and rooted in community,” said Congresswoman Plaskett. Under his leadership, the post offices where he served were hubs of connection, information, and care, which reflected the man at its helm. His door would often swing open and he would talk and listen to the community. 

“Mr. Jackson’s service earned national recognition. He was a three-time recipient of the Benjamin Franklin Award — the highest public relations honor conferred by the U.S. Postal Service — receiving the award for the third consecutive year in 2005, one of only 28 postal leaders nationwide so honored that year. Under his leadership, the Frederiksted Post Office placed first in the Caribbean District in the National Play the Zone competition, a testament to the standard of excellence he set throughout his career.

“My prayers go out to his family and loved ones. May he rest in eternal peace.”

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Castro, Van Hollen Lead 40+ Lawmakers in Demanding Transparency on U.S. Enforcement of Laws Regarding Aid to Israel

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

June 12, 2026

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Intelligence Committee, and Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, led 42 lawmakers in demanding that the State Department comply with U.S. law to provide transparency on how much Israel is spending on settlement activity.

For over twenty years, U.S. law has required conditions on loan guarantees to Israel, limiting this assistance to within Israel’s pre-1967 borders, and reducing amounts made available for loan guarantees by the amount of Israel’s public expenditures on illegal settlements in the West Bank, which the State Department is required to report to the Congress.

The lawmakers wrote, “To enforce the prohibition of the use of the loan guarantees for settlement activity, the statute further provides that the amount of guarantees available ‘shall be reduced by an amount equal to the amount extended or is estimated to have extended by the Government of Israel during the previous year for activities which the President determines are inconsistent with the objectives of this section or understandings reached between the United States Government and the Government of Israel regarding the implementation of the loan program.’”

The lawmakers highlighted the State Department’s failure to comply with reporting requirements, noting, “The annual reports submitted by the Department of State under this provision have not, for at least a decade, provided the specific calculated figure the statute requires…The substitution of a categorical assertion for a specific figure has deprived Congress of information it is legally entitled to receive and rendered the deduction mechanism opaque for over a decade.”

The lawmakers also raised concerns about the Trump Administration’s possible extension of the loan guarantee program without making necessary reductions from settlements, writing, “If the administration is considering issuing new sovereign loan guarantees, including to Israel, it is essential that existing provisions in law, including the requirement to report on Israeli expenditures on settlements in the West Bank and the requirement to deduct those amounts from the loan guarantee authorities made available to Israel be followed.”

Members who signed the letter include: Joaquin Castro (D-TX), Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Becca Balint (D-VT), André Carson (D-IN), Greg Casar (D-TX), Sean Casten (D-IL), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Danny Davis (D-IL), Madeleine Dean (D-PA), Chris Deluzio (D-PA), Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA), Maxine Dexter (D-OR), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Veronica Escobar (D-TX), Jesús G. “Chuy” García (D-IL), Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ), Val Hoyle (D-OR), Jared Huffman (D-CA), Jonathan Jackson (D-IL), Sara Jacobs (D-CA), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Ro Khanna (D-CA), Stephen Lynch (D-MA), Seth Magaziner (D-RI), Betty McCollum (D-MN), James McGovern (D-MA), Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Kweisi Mfume (D-MD), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Delia Ramirez (D-IL), Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Deborah Ross (D-NC), Sen. Bernard Sanders (D-VT), Janice Schakowsky (D-IL), Lateefah Simon (D-CA), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Paul Tonko (D-NY), Derek Tran (D-CA), Nydia Velázquez (D-NY), Maxine Waters (D-CA), and Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ)

Read the full letter here.


Rep. Mike Levin and Colleagues Demand ICE Reverse New Restrictions on Oversight Visits to Detention Facilities

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Levin (CA-49)

June 12, 2026

In New Letter, Rep. Levin Leads 77 House Democrats in Fight Against ICE’s New Policies to Limit Interactions with Detainees

Washington, D.C.—Today, Rep. Mike Levin (CA-49) led 77 House colleagues in a letter to ICE’s Acting Director David Venturella demanding ICE reverse new policies that would restrict congressional oversight visits and interactions with detainees.

On May 11, Reps. Levin and Sara Jacobs (CA-51) made an unannounced oversight visit to the Otay Mesa Detention Center where they were handed ICE’s new internal policy memorandum, “Restoring Order and Integrity to Congressional Visits to Detention Facilities.” It outlines new policies that require members of Congress to give ICE two business days of advance notice to meet with detainees. It also requires members of Congress to have detainees’ signed consent to meet with them. These new requirements are designed to hinder members from conducting comprehensive oversight.

The letter raises serious concerns with the new restrictions on congressional oversight visits and demands that members of Congress have the option to speak with detainees without providing advance notice.

Read the letter here and below:

Dear Acting Director Venturella,

We write to express our concern with the changes outlined under the recent internal policy memorandum, “Restoring Order and Integrity to Congressional Visits to Detention Facilities,” which limits meetings between members of Congress and individuals in detention.

The memorandum outlines that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has “provided a historic level of access to its facilities,” with over 350 congressional visits coordinated since the beginning of the Trump Administration in January 2025. The need for historic levels of access to facilities is a direct product of historic levels of reports regarding the mistreatment of detainees, deaths in custody, inadequate conditions within facilities, and limited or inconsistent resources for detainees.

It is clear Congress must conduct constant oversight. The right to inspect these detention facilities without advance notice was recently reaffirmed in Neguse et al. v. U.S. Immigration

and Customs Enforcement et al. Yet, this Administration has enabled a revolving door of arbitrary policies, directives, and guidance on member access to facilities or on communication with detainees designed to hinder any productive oversight.

Requiring two business days of advance notice and valid proof of a detainee’s consent to the meeting raises serious concerns in three main ways.

  1. The new policy assumes that detainees have timely access not only to obtaining an ICE Form 60-001 or similar form, but also to returning it to the appropriate entity within two business days. We have witnessed firsthand how difficult it can be for detainees to access this form because it was unavailable at the law library or because facility staff did not know how to help detainees access the form.

  1. The new policy in effect severely reduces the ability for members of Congress to conduct unannounced oversight visits by requiring members to announce a visit if seeking to meet with a detainee(s). Again, this contradicts the recent court ruling affirming the right for members of Congress to conduct oversight visits without advance notice.

  1. The new policy limits the ability for members of Congress to speak broadly with detainees, particularly if members wanted to communicate with vulnerable communities such as elderly individuals or women. ICE’s previous policy allowed detainees to use a sign-up sheet to meet with representatives, allowing members of Congress to hear directly from individuals who were interested in sharing their experience.

The Trump Administration has shut down or dramatically reduced staffing at the Office of the Immigration Detention Ombudsman and the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL) – both critical components responsible for conducting independent and impartial investigations. For Fiscal Year 2027, the President requested additional cuts to funding the Department’s Office of the Inspector General. These actions, coupled with the constant changes to policies surrounding member access to facilities, reveal a clear attack on the levers that ensure government transparency at every level.

We call on you to reverse the new policy restricting access for members of Congress to speak with detainees and implement an updated policy that grants detainees the option to speak with members to share their experiences, particularly during unannounced visits.

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Read More (Rep. Steube and Sen. Tuberville Introduce Student Athlete Act of 2026)

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Greg Steube (FL-17)

June 12, 2026 | Press ReleasesWASHINGTON — U.S. Representative Greg Steube (R-Fla.) and Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) introduced the Student Athlete Act of 2026, legislation to establish uniform eligibility standards for college athletics and restore the educational mission of college sports.
“College athletics should be about earning a degree and competing on the field, not navigating a confusing patchwork of eligibility rules,” said Rep. Greg Steube. “The current system is unsustainable. High school athletes are losing opportunities to older transfers, and student-athletes are being encouraged to pursue short-term deals rather than focusing on their education. The Student Athlete Act puts the focus back where it belongs: in the classroom and in competition.”
“College athletics used to be about education, now it’s sadly all about making money,” said Sen. Tuberville. “We can’t be having 25-year-old ‘students’ who graduated three years ago still competing in the NCAA. With my bill, a student-athlete gets five years to get their education, compete, and then move on. We also have to make sure students are getting a good education, which won’t happen if they are transferring every year. I’m all for student-athletes making money, but we have to create some national guidelines as the current system is broken. I’m thankful for Rep. Steube’s support on this bill and look forward to getting it across the finish line in both the House and the Senate.”
The Student Athlete Act would establish a uniform eligibility standard providing student-athletes with five consecutive years of eligibility to compete in intercollegiate athletics and create guardrails around the transfer portal. Under the legislation, student-athletes would be permitted one transfer without penalty. Any subsequent transfer would require the athlete to sit out a season.
The legislation also protects scholarship commitments by requiring institutions to honor grant-in-aid agreements, establishes a uniform national framework for eligibility and transfer rules, and preempts conflicting state laws that have created a patchwork of standards across college athletics.
Background: College athletics has undergone significant changes in recent years as courts have repeatedly challenged NCAA eligibility rules and athletes have increasingly relied on waivers and litigation to extend their playing careers. As well, the transfer portal has transformed recruiting and roster management, with many athletes transferring multiple times during their collegiate careers.
These developments have created uncertainty for student-athletes, coaches, and institutions while reducing opportunities for incoming high school recruits. In response, the NCAA recently proposed a “5-for-5” eligibility framework that would allow student-athletes to compete for five seasons over five years and create greater consistency across college sports.
Read the bill text here.