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

Congresswoman Renews Calls for Passage of John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and Supreme Court Reform, Including Expansion

WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) issued a statement condemning the Supreme Court’s harmful ruling in Louisiana v. Callais. Congresswoman Pressley is renewing her calls for passage of the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and major Supreme Court reforms, including court expansion.

“With this shameful ruling, the Supreme Court is once again complicit in Republicans’ assault on our democracy and Black political power. This decision will disenfranchise millions of people, further weaken the Voting Rights Act, and embolden racial discrimination in our elections,” said Congresswoman Pressley. “Congress must immediately pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and take action to restore the integrity and legitimacy of this far-right majority Supreme Court—including expanding the court, imposing term limits on Supreme Court justices, and passing a binding Supreme Court code of ethics. Every option should be on the table.”

Rep. Pressley has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to protecting and expanding the sacred right to vote for all people, including those who are currently and formerly incarcerated.

• In December 2023, Rep. Pressley and Senator Peter Welch (D-VT) unveiled the Inclusive Democracy Act, brand new, first-of-its-kind legislation that would end felony disenfranchisement in Federal elections and guarantee the right to vote for incarcerated citizens.
• In February 2022, Rep. Pressley, along with Whip Jim Clyburn and Congressman Mondaire Jones called on the Department of Justice to aggressively protect voting rights and fight against disenfranchisement, gerrymandering, voter purges, and other forms of voter suppression, vote dilution, and election subversion.
• Rep. Pressley has repeatedly urged the U.S. Senate to abolish the filibuster and pass the Freedom to Vote Act and John Lewis Voting Rights Act.
• In March 2021, Rep. Pressley led her colleagues in re-introducing an amendment to lower the federal election voting age from 18-years-old to 16-years-old.
• Rep. Pressley has called on the Massachusetts State Legislature to pass meaningful voting rights legislation that would boost voter turnout and expand access to the ballot box.
• As a Boston City Councilor, Rep. Pressley advocated for expanded access to the ballot box, supporting legislation requiring ballots be available in multiple languages, and filing a home rule petition to allow for early voting in Boston’s preliminary and general elections.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Hank Johnson (GA-04)

Today, Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts Ranking Member Johnson released the following statement:

WASHINGTON, D.C. –  “Today’s 6 to 3 MAGA Supreme Court decision in Louisiana v Callais hurtles the precept of democracy for all backwards, in the same way as the equally egregious 1896 Louisiana case of Plessy v. Ferguson, which legalized Jim Crow racism. Today’s throwback decision legalizes Jim Crow 2.0 and is a devastating blow to the voting rights of Black people, and to American democracy itself. In the words of the immortal John Lewis — ‘we must get out and vote like our lives depended on it.’ “

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman John Moolenaar (4th District of Michigan)

Headline: Moolenaar Explains What is Needed for a Federal Response to Historic Flooding in Michigan

This month, significant rainfall accompanied with rapid snowmelt led to historic flooding in communities across Michigan. In the last two weeks, Governor Gretchen Whitmer declared a state of emergency in 41 Michigan counties including 13 counties represented by Congressman John Moolenaar.  The flooding and severe storms, including a tornado in Carson City, have caused property damage, businesses shuttered, and families displaced. Moolenaar released the following statement on the federal response to this tragedy: 

“The historic flooding across our state warrants a significant response. My team and I have been in constant communication with local officials regarding the impact of the flooding. I applaud the dedication of the first responders, and local governments who kept their communities safe during this situation, and are now planning long-term clean up processes,” Moolenaar said.  

He continued, “The state and local communities are doing everything they can to follow the process to receive a disaster declaration from FEMA to bring additional federal resources to their community. This process has caused some confusion among residents experiencing property loss because of the storm. FEMA is not the first responder when disasters like this occur. First, a governor must formally request for FEMA to make a disaster declaration before the agency can be deployed to a state. That has not happened just yet. Currently, federal agencies like the Army Corps of Engineers, the Coast Guard and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission are on the ground in our state to assist with this process. Meanwhile, the Michigan State Police is collecting reports from residents, property owners, and businesses on the damage caused by the recent weather events. These reports will help the Governor make her request and ensure it reaches the federal government’s threshold for FEMA assistance.”

“This is a time of crisis and need for families across our district, and it is vital that the process is understood and followed to receive federal disaster resources. I encourage every Michigan family and business owner who has been impacted to submit their report to MSP immediately so the damages can be accurately assessed. I will continue to work with local and state officials and support their efforts to ensure our communities can rebuild,” He concluded.  

Residents impacted by the flooding or storms can submit their damages to the Michigan State Police here.  

A state of emergency was declared in Barry, Clare, Eaton, Gratiot, Lake, Manistee, Mecosta, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oceana, Osceola, and Wexford counties.  

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

Washington, D.C. — Today, Colorado Congressman Joe Neguse and Senator Michael Bennet pressed the Departments of Agriculture and Interior for answers regarding their agencies’ efforts to ensure the federal government is prepared to respond in the face of record-high temperatures, drought conditions, and heightened wildfire risk.  

According to experts, 2026 has been the worst year for Colorado’s snowpack in recorded history. Communities across the state and the nation are also already in the throes of a historic wildfire season. As of late April, more than 22,000 fires have burned nearly 2 million acres this year alone—more than two and a half times the 10-year average (2016–2025).

These conditions, coupled with staff vacancies across the Department of the Interior (DOI), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and U.S. Forest Service (USFS) due to President Donald Trump’s mass terminations and reductions in force, have created extremely dangerous circumstances.  

“We write today regarding the dire wildfire and drought conditions currently facing the Western United States. […] As we approach the summer months, we write to express our deep concerns about these conditions and respectfully implore your agencies to take immediate actions to better prepare for unprecedented wildfire risks,” wrote the Colorado lawmakers.  

“The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) are integral partners, along with state, local, and tribal governments, in mitigating, monitoring, and responding to wildfires. In light of the increased risk of wildfire and resulting resource needs this year, rapid, responsive coordination between federal, state, local, and tribal partners will be critically important.” 

Neguse and Bennet called on the administration officials to get serious about advancing a comprehensive federal approach to addressing the wildfire crisis, urging them to take immediate action to increase preparedness and cooperation with state and local agencies to tackle the problem.

The Colorado lawmakers closed by imploring the agencies to provide a status update on a series of actions, including current staffing levels and the impacts the planned reorganization of the USDA and DOI could have on wildfire preparedness and response.  

The letter concluded: “We urge you to take immediate steps to maximize early detection of wildland fires and reduce any delays to ensure that federal resources are prepared to respond efficiently.” 

Read the full letter HERE and below: 

 

April 29, 2026

 

 The Honorable Doug Burgum 

Secretary

U.S. Department of the Interior

Washington, D.C. 20242

 

The Honorable Brooke Rollins

Secretary

U.S. Department of Agriculture

Washington, D.C. 20250

 

Dear Secretary Burgum and Secretary Rollins,

We write today regarding the dire wildfire and drought conditions currently facing the Western United States. As you know, record-high temperatures and drought conditions have resulted in historic snowpack deficits across the Western United States. As we approach the summer months, we write to express our deep concerns about these conditions and respectfully implore your agencies to take immediate actions to better prepare for unprecedented wildfire risks. 

Every major river basin in the West experienced one of the warmest winters on record in 2025- 2026, in addition to nearly every basin experiencing record low snowpack, or snow water equivalent, levels. The Colorado River Basin, for example, reported record-low snow water equivalent, and the majority of the Western United States is currently under 50 percent of the median snowpack for this point in the year. More than 60% of the United States is currently experiencing drought conditions.

These record-low levels of snowpack and moisture, coupled with high winter temperatures, have significantly increased wildfire risk throughout the West as temperatures continue to rise heading into the summer months, threatening to overwhelm federal, state, local, and tribal firefighting resources. We have already seen fires burning throughout the winter months, as more than 22,000 fires have burned 1.8 million acres in 2026 – a 20-year high for this point in the year. As snowpack worsens and the number of high-severity wildfires increases, these conditions will require continued partnership and quick action from all levels of government.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) are integral partners, along with state, local, and tribal governments, in mitigating, monitoring, and responding to wildfires. In light of the increased risk of wildfire and resulting resource needs this year, rapid, responsive coordination between federal, state, local, and tribal partners will be critically important. We urge you to take immediate steps to maximize early detection of wildland fires and reduce any delays to ensure that federal resources are prepared to respond efficiently. 

Therefore, we request that you take the following actions and provide our offices with a briefing on their status by May 29, 2026:

1. Take steps to convene additional cooperative preparedness efforts with local, state, and tribal governments and across all federal agencies to increase preparedness and rapid response capabilities. Quick, collaborative coordination across all levels of government will be critical to addressing and responding to wildfires, particularly during this heightened risk.
2. Work to pre-position assets and resources across the West in areas of highest risk before a fire breaks out, using qualified and capable state and local agencies to strengthen response capacity. This includes partnering with willing local fire departments to participate in severity assignments throughout the duration of the spring, summer, and fire season, including engine, crew, and overhead supports. Early partnerships with local and state fire departments will strengthen response capabilities in the areas of highest risk– decreasing costs, improving efficiency, and utilizing local knowledge of terrain, vegetation, and geography.
3. Continue with planning and implementation of wildfire mitigation projects—including the use of hazardous fuels reduction, actions to increase defensible space, and in areas that contribute to Potential Operational Delineation (POD) management strategies and adjacent to private lands—to the extent possible. This includes providing flexibility for pre-positioned federal fire crews to address wildfire mitigation needs where practical.
4. Extend the duration of exclusive-use federal contracts for wildfire resources this year so that they are available throughout the season. This includes beginning aviation contracts earlier in the spring and extending them throughout the entirety of this high-risk period, to ensure that needed resources are available early and late into the year as needed.
5. Provide an update on the planned reorganization of the USDA and DOI, and how this reorganization will impact wildfire preparedness and response capabilities for 2026.
6. Publicly release DOI and USFS staffing levels for 2026, including the number of federal wildland firefighters that have been hired and the number of Red-Card-holding staff that will be available to assist with wildfire suppression and response efforts.
7. Suspend existing hiring freezes and promotion prohibitions for all open positions in areas that are experiencing Moderate to Exceptional Drought (D1-D4), per the U.S. Drought Monitor.

We thank you for your attention to this urgent need across the Western United States and your swift actions to increase and accelerate wildfire preparedness well in advance of the summer months. 

Sincerely, 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mike Thompson Representing the 5th District of CALIFORNIA

Washington – Today, Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA) and Rep. Greg Steube’s (R-FL) Doug LaMalfa Federal Disaster Tax Relief Certainty Act (H.R. 5366) passed the U.S. House of Representatives by a voice vote. This bill extends Thompson and Steube’s landmark 2024 law providing tax relief for individuals impacted by federally declared disasters. The bill will permit victims to claim disaster-related personal casualty losses without having to itemize deductions through January 1, 2027.

“Californians are all too familiar with the devastation caused by wildfires. In the wake of losing their homes and livelihoods, it is wrong to tax survivors on settlement money that is meant to help them rebuild their lives. Survivors can’t afford to wait around for retroactive relief,” said Rep. Thompson. “Our late colleague Doug LaMalfa knew this well. I was proud to work with him to pass tax relief for fire victims in our communities in 2024, and I am proud we passed this bill now to honor his work and to extend our tax relief so more victims can be compensated.”

“Floridians are far too familiar with the devastation and costly aftermath that natural disasters bring to their homes and communities,” said Rep. Steube. “They should not be forced to face additional hardship and uncertainty by navigating a confusing and burdensome tax code after surviving such events. This bill ensures that disaster victims across the country can focus on rebuilding their lives while receiving the relief they deserve. Congressman LaMalfa spent years leading on this issue, and naming this legislation in his honor is a meaningful way to carry that important work forward.”

BACKGROUND

Rep. Thompson serves as the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Tax for the Ways and Means Committee. He introduced the original legislation with Rep. Doug LaMalfa in the House of Representatives to provide tax relief to PG&E fire victims in the 117th Congress and worked with Senator Padilla and Rep. LaMalfa to advance the legislation.

In 2024, Rep. Thompson and Rep. Steube led a bipartisan group of 218 Members of Congress to successfully advance a discharge petition which forced House Speaker Mike Johnson to bring the Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2023 to the House floor for a vote. The historic advancement of Rep. Thompson and Rep. Steube’s petition marked only the third time a House discharge petition had succeeded in the 21st Century. The bill passed the Senate by unanimous consent and was signed into law by President Biden in December of 2024.

H.R. 5366, originally introduced as the Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2025 and later renamed in honor of Congressman Doug LaMalfa, builds upon Rep. Thompson’s landmark law by codifying and extending disaster tax relief provisions through January 1, 2027. The bill allows individuals to deduct disaster-related losses more easily, including for those who do not itemize, and ensures wildfire relief payments are not treated as taxable income. Read the full bill text here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Don Bacon (2nd District of Nebraska)

Bacon, Nunn, Moore Introduce Bipartisan Package to Keep Foster Siblings Together

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representatives Don Bacon (NE-02), Zach Nunn (IA-03), and Gwen Moore (WI-04), Co-Chairs of the Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth, today introduced the Protecting Sibling Relationships in Foster Care Act and a resolution recognizing April as National Foster Sibling Connections Month, a bipartisan package to help keep foster siblings together.

The Protecting Sibling Relationships in Foster Care Act would authorize $10 million in federal appropriations over a five-year period and direct the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish a competitive pilot grant program supporting specialized foster care models designed for large sibling groups, siblings with wide age ranges, or those with complex needs. Eligible state, tribal, local, faith-based, and nonprofit entities could receive one of up to five grants to develop or expand models that increase the likelihood that siblings are placed together and remain together while in care. Grantees would collect and report placement data and outcomes to inform federal and state child welfare practice.

The bipartisan resolution recognizes April as National Foster Sibling Connections Month and highlights the importance of sibling bonds for youth in foster care. By calling on federal, state, tribal, and local agencies to prioritize joint placements and improve data collection, the resolution seeks to reduce trauma and ensure emotional stability for youth both during and after their time in care.

“Keeping siblings together in the foster care system significantly increases their chance of having positive life outcomes,” said Rep. Bacon, Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth Co-Chair. “As a foster-to-adoptive parent of a sibling group, this bipartisan foster care package helps address the unique challenges faced by families caring for sibling groups with large numbers, wide age ranges, and complex needs. We have a responsibility to support children in foster care with stable, loving homes that keep families connected.”

“When brothers and sisters enter foster care, staying together can be the difference between stability and a traumatic disruption in a young life. Kelly and I experienced this personally, adopting two daughters, two siblings, who had each other as they made a very difficult transition,” said Rep. Nunn, Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth Co-Chair. “I’ve worked with families navigating this system — and the biggest barrier to keeping siblings together isn’t willingness, it’s capacity. This bill funds the foster care models that can actually keep siblings together, and our resolution makes clear that Congress sees this as a priority.”

“The sibling bond is so important, and the foster care system must work to maintain it. But when siblings become separated in the foster care system, it can create more distress and pain for children and families,” said Rep. Moore, Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth Co-Chair. “Our bipartisan legislation would help develop better tools to successfully keep siblings together, especially in complex situations. I am proud to join my fellow Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth (CCFY) co-chairs in introducing this bipartisan legislation.”

Background

The federal foster care system strives to place siblings together whenever possible, yet many children in care are separated from one or more of their brothers or sisters due to logistical challenges, varying ages, behavioral health needs, or limited placement capacity. Strong sibling relationships are widely recognized as a critical source of emotional support and stability for children navigating the trauma of family separation, but current federal law’s “reasonable efforts” requirement does not ensure specialized infrastructure or funding to support placement of large sibling groups, siblings with wide age ranges, or those with complex needs.

According to the Government Accountability Office (GAO), states face significant barriers to placing siblings together, particularly when sibling groups are large, span wide age ranges, or require specialized care. Some reports estimate that as many as 75% of foster children are placed apart from one or more of their siblings.

This foster care package aims to help address those gaps by supporting foster care models better equipped to serve sibling groups.

The full text of the Protecting Sibling Relationships in Foster Care Act is available here, and the resolution recognizing April as National Foster Sibling Connections Month is available here.

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

Washington, D.C. — Today, Colorado Congressman Joe Neguse and Senator Michael Bennet introduced legislation that would allow Congress to override a Presidential denial of federal disaster relief funding and create a new fast-track process to ensure states like Colorado are not left without support.  

Earlier this year, President Trump denied Colorado’s request for disaster assistance for the Lee and Elk Fires in August 2025 and the Southwest Colorado flooding in October 2025. This despite both events meeting the statutory andpractical criteria for a Major Disaster Declaration as well as FEMA’s fiscal threshold to warrant federal aid.

“When natural disasters strike—from wildfires to flash floods—the Federal government must rise to the occasion and assist our communities,” said Congressman Neguse. “Natural disasters don’t discriminate based on state or political affiliation—and neither should the Federal government. That’s why I’m proud to join Senator Bennet in introducing legislation that continues the fight to ensure all Americans are provided with the critical resources necessary to recover after tragedy strikes.”

“Disasters don’t care about state lines or politics, and neither should our President’s response,” said Senator Bennet. “Following the Lee and Elk Fires andthe flooding in Southwest Colorado last year, every single member of the Colorado delegation was united: our communities needed federal assistance. The President outright rejected our calls for federal support. As natural disasters increase, Congress must be able to push past political retribution and help our cities and counties meet the challenge posed by these events.”

The bill is also championed by Colorado Senator John Hickenlooper andRepresentatives Raja Krishnamoorthi and Brittney Pettersen. 

“The president is putting politics over Americans in crisis. We have to fight for a way forward,” said Senator Hickenlooper. “Disaster relief should never be tied to politics. Your zip code and your vote should not decide whether you can rebuild.”

“President Trump has repeatedly denied disaster aid requests, including ones affecting families in Illinois, leaving communities struggling to rebuild after severe storms and flooding,” said Congressman Krishnamoorthi. “Disaster relief should never depend on politics or arbitrary decisions. Our legislation empowers Congress to step in and help deliver the support states need when federal assistance is blocked. Families rebuilding after disasters deserve certainty that their government will stand with them when it matters most.”

“As wildfires become a year-round threat, Colorado communities cannot afford a federal government that turns its back on them when disaster strikes,” said Congresswoman Pettersen. “Trump denied disaster relief to Colorado multiple times all because we refused to bend the knee. The Disaster Declaration Transparency Act would change that because every community—red or blue—should have the tools needed to recover and rebuild more resilient to future threats. I’m proud to help lead this legislation and will keep fighting to make sure Colorado is never left behind again when disaster strikes.”

Specifically, this bill amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief andEmergency Assistance Act to give Congress a fast and clear way to respond when a president denies a governor’s request for a major disaster declaration. If a president rejects a request in certain cases, such as when FEMA recommends approval or when past decisions support approval, the president must notify Congress within 24 hours and provide a written explanation. After that, members of Congress can introduce a simple joint resolution within a set number of days that directs the president to approve the disaster declaration. The bill also sets up fast-track procedures in both the House and Senate to ensure a timely vote.   

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative James E (Jim) Clyburn (6th District of South Carolina)

WASHINGTON, DC — Congressman James E. Clyburn (SC-06) released the following statement on the Supreme Court’s ruling on Louisiana v. Callais:

“Today’s Supreme Court decision in Louisiana v. Callais is a giant step backward in our “pursuit of a more perfect Union,” as this activist court continues to dismantle the 1965 Voting Rights Act, one decision at a time.

“This decision threatens to send our country deeper into the thicket of never-ending redistricting fights, with repeated aggressive map redraws, protracted legal battles, and relentless partisan tugs-of-war, all of which are destined to result in more regressive Court decisions.

“This Court seems hellbent on redeeming the post-Reconstruction America that neutered the 1875 Civil Rights Act and other legislative and judicial actions that drastically limited Black participation and achievement, and eliminated African American political representation in multiple Southern states.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Adriano Espaillat (NY-13)

WASHINGTON — Today, House Appropriations Committee Republicans released their 2027 Legislative Branch funding bill, which weakens government oversight and aids and abets President Trump in continuing to steal money promised to the middle class, working class, and vulnerable Americans.  

For 2027, the bill includes a total of $5.4 billion, a decrease of $125 million or 2 percent, below 2026. This total excludes the Senate items. The legislation:

 

• Opens the door to more corruption within the Trump administration by weakening government oversight, slashing funding for the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office (GAO) and eliminating over 1,000 jobs critical to eliminating waste and abuse of taxpayer dollars.
• Allows President Trump to continue to steal money promised to the American taxpayer by weakening checks on the unlawful withholding of funds.
• Does nothing to allow Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients to work in the Legislative Branch.

 

“Investing in our legislative branch is investing in the foundation of our democracy. Unfortunately, this funding bill makes a devastating cut to the Government Accountability Office, a vital information-gathering agency that Members rely on and guardian of taxpayer dollars,” Legislative Branch Appropriations Subcommittee Ranking Member Adriano Espaillat (D-NY-13) said. “This bill also does nothing to reaffirm Congress’ power of the purse in the wake of continued executive overreach. I hope that through the markup process, we can put together a bill that adequately responds to the needs of the legislative branch agencies that keep Congress, and democracy, afloat.”

 

“With their bill to fund the Legislative Branch, House Republicans have once again chosen to allow President Trump to steal money promised to communities across the country,” Appropriations Committee Chair Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03) said. “The Government Accountability Office (GAO) is one of our most valuable tools to improve efficiency and effectiveness across the government. It is astonishing that, for all the talk about finding and rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse, that House Republicans would cut resources for the watchdog that is tasked with precisely that role. Their bill would eliminate over 1,000 GAO jobs and prevent it from fully protecting Congress’s power of the purse. Their bill also does nothing to allow Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients to work in the Legislative Branch despite bipartisan efforts to change this restrictive policy. Republicans need to reconsider their strategy and join Democrats to support the work the American people elected us to do.”

 

A summary of House Republicans’ 2027 Legislative Branch funding bill is here. The full text of the bill is here.

 

In keeping with longstanding practice whereby each chamber of Congress determines its own housekeeping requirements and the other concurs without intervention, the bill does not include funds for the Senate or Senate office buildings.

 

The subcommittee markup will be webcast live and linked from the House Committee on Appropriations website.

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Representative Espaillat is the first Dominican American to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives and his congressional district includes Harlem, East Harlem, West Harlem, Hamilton Heights, Washington Heights, Inwood, Marble Hill and the north-west Bronx. First elected to Congress in 2016, Representative Espaillat is serving his fifth term in Congress. Representative Espaillat currently serves as a member of the influential U.S. House Committee on Appropriations responsible for funding the federal government’s vital activities and serves as Ranking Member of the Legislative Branch Subcommittee of the committee during the 119th Congress. He is Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC), and serves as a Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus. To find out more about Rep. Espaillat, visit online at https://espaillat.house.gov/.

Media inquiries: Candace Person at Candace.Person@mail.house.gov 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Adriano Espaillat (NY-13)

WASHINGTON, DC — On Thursday, April 2, Congressman Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, and Congressman Rob Menendez (NJ-08) will visit the Delaney Hall Detention Facility in Newark, New Jersey, to conduct congressional oversight and assess the welfare and due process of Pastor Yeison Cortes Vazquez.

The visit comes as Pastor Cortes Vazquez remains in ICE custody despite having no criminal record and deep ties to his faith community. His bond hearing is scheduled for later in the day.

The Members will be joined by faith leaders, underscoring the moral urgency of the situation and concerns from national advocates regarding the detention of a minister during a sacred period. 

WHO: Representative Adriano Espaillat, Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) 
Representative Rob Menendez (NJ-08) 
Rev. Dr. Gabriel Salguero
Rev. Dan Mendez
Rev. Enid Almanza
Local & National Advocates

WHAT: Oversight & Wellness Visit/ Press Conference at Delaney Hall Detention

WHEN: Thursday, April 2nd at 10:00 a.m. EDT 

WHERE: Delaney Hall Detention Facility
451 Doremus Avenue
Newark, NJ 07105

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Representative Espaillat is the first Dominican American to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives and his congressional district includes Harlem, East Harlem, West Harlem, Hamilton Heights, Washington Heights, Inwood, Marble Hill and the north-west Bronx. First elected to Congress in 2016, Representative Espaillat is serving his fifth term in Congress. Representative Espaillat currently serves as a member of the influential U.S. House Committee on Appropriations responsible for funding the federal government’s vital activities and serves as Ranking Member of the Legislative Branch Subcommittee of the committee during the 119th Congress. He is Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC), and serves as a Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus. To find out more about Rep. Espaillat, visit online at https://espaillat.house.gov/.

Media inquiries: Candace Person at Candace.Person@mail.house.gov