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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II (5th District Missouri)

(Kansas City, MO) – Today, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II released the following statement after the Missouri Housing Development Commission announced additional investments in the Parade Park Homes redevelopment project.

“After securing $15 million in federal funding to support the redevelopment of Parade Park, I’m thrilled that the Missouri Housing Development Commission has approved a package of federal and state support, including $6,575,000 in Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC), $2,400,000 in HOME funds and $32 million in tax-exempt bond authority, demonstrating significant support for affordable housing.

“Whether at the federal, state, or local level, Missourians are demanding action to expand the supply of affordable housing so that we can lower costs for hardworking families. Parade Park is a perfect example of what we can accomplish when collaboration occurs between the public and private sector. 

“As the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Housing & Insurance, I will continue pushing bipartisan reforms like my HOME Reform Act to ensure more affordable housing projects like Parade Park can move forward in the months and years ahead.”

Since 2022, Congressman Cleaver has worked with HUD and local officials to stabilize Parade Park and chart a path to preserve affordable housing, ensuring the property was sold by HUD to the City of Kansas City for redevelopment last year. Following the City’s conveyance of the property to Twelfth Street Heritage Corporation, a non-profit, Rep. Cleaver has strongly advocated for additional investments to support redevelopment while ensuring it remains affordable to local and longtime residents. In January of this year, Rep. Cleaver announced $15,514,225 in federal grant funding through HUD’s Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly Program which supports the development, rehabilitation, and acquisition of housing for low-income elderly persons. 

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Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee’s Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Greenwood, Blue Springs, North Kansas City, Gladstone, and Claycomo. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee and Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II (5th District Missouri)

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO), Co-Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Tech Initiative, along with Representative LaMonica McIver (D-NJ), reintroduced the Workforce of the Future Act, legislation that would require a detailed study to grow our understanding of artificial intelligence (AI), its impact on the economy and workforce, and determine the skills necessary for workers to succeed. Additionally, the bill would provide workers, teachers, and students with the resources to develop integral skills required to participate in the workforce of the future. Companion legislation was introduced in the Senate by Sens. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), and Adam Schiff (D-CA).

“While there is much excitement about the potential of AI and the benefits it can bring to our communities, there is also much concern about the impacts it will have on American workers, their jobs, and their wages. It is critically important that we take steps today to prepare our nation and our workforce for the economic consequences that are rapidly approaching with the growing adoption of AI,” said Congressman Cleaver. “The Workforce of the Future Act will provide the investments necessary to ensure American workers are ready and able to capitalize on those opportunities and that nobody is left behind.” 

“Working people deserve innovation that expands opportunity—not eliminates it. Strengthening our understanding of how AI is impacting jobs in real time and investing directly in education makes sure Americans are not caught flat-footed as AI accelerates,” said Rep. McIver. “By prioritizing training that delivers economic gains to young people and underrepresented communities, the Workforce of the Future Act puts power back where it belongs: with the people who keep our economy running.”

“Artificial intelligence is increasingly disrupting our economy, contributing to layoffs and occupational changes,” said Senator Blunt Rochester. “Building off the work done by Senator Laphonza Butler in the last Congress, I’m proud to introduce the Workforce of the Future Act alongside Senators Hirono and Schiff and Representatives Cleaver and McIver. This bill allows us to remain proactive, protect workers who are most impacted by the technology, and supercharge the future of work by ensuring our future workforce has the skills they need to succeed. As Delaware’s former Secretary of Labor, I have spent my career ensuring people can access and maintain stable, good-paying jobs. I will maintain this commitment in the Senate as we race to confront the challenges of tomorrow.”

“AI is already transforming every corner of our economy in California and across the country. That’s why it’s critical the federal government do more to evaluate how AI will impact workers, while also investing in job training programs to prevent AI-related job displacement,” said Senator Schiff.  “I’m pleased to join Senators Blunt Rochester and Hirono as well as Representatives Cleaver and McIver on the Workforce of the Future Act. We must act now to gain a full understanding of the impact of AI on the workplace, so we can ensure access to good paying jobs for the American people even as technology changes how we work.”

“As advanced and emerging technologies—including AI—become rapidly integrated within society, it is imperative that we prepare our workforce for these changes,” said Senator Hirono. “Specifically, we must ensure advances enabled by AI are used to strengthen, not weaken, the workforce. I am proud to introduce the Workforce of the Future Act to better prepare and equip workers with the skills necessary to adapt to AI and a rapidly-changing work environment.”

Without proper guardrails, the impact AI could have on our economy is wide-ranging. According to studies from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), AI could replace nearly 12 percent of the workforce. Currently, many recent college grads report being unable to find work. This legislation addresses the most pressing concerns behind AI’s rapid advancement in our workforce while also providing resources to prepare individuals to succeed in advanced technology sectors.

The Workforce of the Future Act will:

• Require the Secretaries of Labor, Commerce, and Educationto jointly and efficiently prepare a report analyzing AI’s impact on the economy and workforce that must identify critical information, including what industries and jobs will be most impacted, how job quality will be impacted, necessary skills for workers, and recommendations for preparing the 21st century workforce.
• Authorize the Department of Education to award $160 million in grants to support expanding access to emerging and advanced technology education. Grants will help support foundational and innovative STEAM learning for students who need this knowledge to participate in the 21st century workforce.
  • Grants must leverage information and recommendations from the report and may be used for teacher training and recruiting, high-quality learning materials, reducing gaps in access for underrepresented groups, engaging industry, and providing necessary support for student success.
• Authorize the Department of Labor to award $90 million in grants to support workforce training for workers most impacted by AI.
  • Grants must leverage information and recommendations from the report and support the training of workers to prevent AI-related displacement and provide immediate support and training to workers who experience job loss in AI-impacted industries.

The Workforce of the Future Act is co-sponsored by Representatives Dan Goldman (D-NY), John Larson (D-CT), and Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC).

The Workforce of the Future Act is endorsed by the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), Anthropic, the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE), Microsoft, the National Association of Voice Actors (NAVA), OpenAI, the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).

Official text of the Workforce of the Future Act is available. 

 

Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee’s Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Greenwood, Blue Springs, North Kansas City, Gladstone, and Claycomo. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee and Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II (5th District Missouri)

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Representatives Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Housing & Insurance, Mike Flood (R-NE), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Housing & Insurance, Ranking Member Maxine Waters (D-CA), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Financial Services, and French Hill (R-AR), Chairman of the House Committee on Financial Services, unveiled the bipartisan Housing for the 21^st Century Act.

This bipartisan housing package will streamline housing development and affordability by updating outdated programs, removing regulatory roadblocks, and increasing local control.

“The cost of living remains the most urgent challenge facing Americans in every region of the country, and tackling that crisis begins with bipartisan, comprehensive housing reform,” said Ranking Member Cleaver. “Over the past year, Ranking Member Waters, Chairman Flood, Chairman Hill, and I have worked with Committee members on legislation that cuts unnecessary red tape, accelerates the development of affordable housing, and reduces costs for hardworking families. I’m proud of the bipartisan package we are introducing today and look forward to working with the House and Senate to advance critical housing legislation to the president’s desk.”

“As housing gets more expensive, the American Dream of homeownership is slipping away for working families,” said Chairman Flood. “This package is the product of bipartisan work in the Financial Services Committee to address some of the core issues driving up the cost of housing. I want to thank Chairman Hill, Ranking Member Waters and my counterpart on the Housing and Insurance Subcommittee Ranking Member Emanuel Cleaver for working together to produce this strong, bipartisan package. I look forward to working with my colleagues to advance this legislation through the committee, move it across the House floor, and ultimately to get these critical reforms enacted into law.”

“Today, I am pleased that our Committee is finally taking the lead on advancing meaningful housing legislation,” said Ranking Member Waters. “The Housing for the 21st Century Act reflects a shared recognition that our affordable housing crisis demands real solutions and coordinated effort. This is a historic moment for our Committee, and I commend Chairman Hill for his leadership and Subcommittee Chairman Flood and Ranking Member Cleaver for joining in this effort. Under previous Republican Committee Chairmen, housing has either been ignored or put on the table for dismantlement. Through our partnership on this legislation, we are showing that housing is truly a bipartisan issue and that we can all come together to bring down costs and expand access to housing for all Americans. I also appreciate the work of my Senate colleagues in passing the ROAD to Housing Act, some of which is included in the House bill. While I was disappointed ROAD was not included in the NDAA, there is clearly broad bipartisan support in both Chambers to advance housing legislation. Our legislation, the Housing for the 21st Century Act, builds on my lifelong efforts to create long-term affordability and opportunity in housing, and represents an important first step towards finally solving our housing crisis once and for all. I want to be clear, however, that today’s introduction is not a final product, as I know there are many more important, bipartisan ideas that I and other Members of the House will want to include as the bill advances. Nevertheless, when we pass the Housing for the 21st Century Act into law, we will move closer to a future where every family, no matter their income or ZIP code, has a safe, stable, and affordable place to call home. I look forward to moving this bill through the Committee process and to the House floor as quickly as possible. Millions of renters, homeowners, elderly, veterans and people experiencing homelessness are counting on us to act with urgency.”

“Our Committee is dedicated to finding new ways to foster a home building and buying environment where achieving the American Dream is in reach for our families across the nation,” said Chairman Hill. Our goal is to chart a path forward toward greater development capacity and a simplified regulatory framework. I’m proud to advance this package with Ranking Member Waters, Subcommittee Chair Flood, and Ranking Member Cleaver to tackle housing costs and access challenges for American homeowners and renters. We look forward to moving this bill through regular order and working with our Senate counterparts in the new year to get a bill signed into law that reflects ideas from both chambers and delivers real results for American families.”

The Housing for the 21^st Century Act includes multiple reforms introduced by Ranking Member Cleaver and various colleagues, such as:

• HOME Reform Act: Introduced by Ranking Member Cleaver and Chairman Flood, the legislation is the most significant reform to the HOME program since authorization in 1990 and would increase the supply of decent, safe, sanitary, and affordable housing.
• Rural Housing Service Program Improvements: The legislation includes sections of the Rural Housing Service Reform Act, introduced by Ranking Member Cleaver and Representative Zach Nunn (R-IA), representing the most significant Rural Housing Service reforms in decades. The included sections would allow for greater use of the Rural Housing Service Section 504 Home Repair Program, including expanding participation to include more low-income families, among other provisions.   
• Choice in Affordable Housing Act: Introduced by Ranking Member Cleaver and Representative Mike Lawler (R-NY), the Choice in Affordable Housing Act is a major reform the HUD’s Section 8 program that would streamline the program and increase the number of private landlords participating in the program.  
• Manufactured Housing Innovations: The legislation includes the Housing Supply Expansion Act of 2025, introduced by Rep. Cleaver and Rep. Rose (R-TN), which would update the federal definition of manufactured housing and allow for more efficient and cost-effective designs. Additionally, the housing package includes legislation introduce by Chairman Flood and Ranking Member Cleaver that would streamline energy efficiency and safety standards for manufactured housing.
• HUD Accountability Act: Introduced by Ranking Member Cleaver and Rep. Lawler, the HUD Accountability Act requires the Secretary of HUD to testify on an annual basis before Congress.

Official text of the Housing for the 21st Century Act is available here.

A one-pager for the Housing for the 21^st Century Act is available here.

A section-by-section of the Housing for the 21^st Century Act is available here.

 

Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee’s Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Greenwood, Blue Springs, North Kansas City, Gladstone, and Claycomo. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee and Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mark DeSaulnier Representing the 11th District of California

Walnut Creek, CA – Congressman Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10) announced today that he will host a virtual End of Year Town Hall on Monday, December 15^th at 6:00 p.m. PT to share a recap of his efforts in Congress on behalf of CA-10 this year, preview his legislative priorities for 2026, and take questions from constituents.

Virtual End of Year Town Hall 
Monday, December 15^th
6:00 p.m. PT
Hosted on Zoom 
Streamed to YouTube

To reserve your spot and receive a Zoom link or to request special accommodations, visit https://desaulnier.house.gov/town-hall-rsvp or call (925) 933-2660. 

This will be Congressman DeSaulnier’s 254^th town hall and mobile district office hour since coming to Congress in January 2015.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mark DeSaulnier Representing the 11th District of California

Walnut Creek, CA – Today, Congressman DeSaulnier (CA-10) announced that Rushil Baindla, Imran Mirza, Nikhil Kalburgi, and Riddhish Saravanan of Dublin are the winners of the 2025 Congressional App Challenge (CAC) for California’s 10^th Congressional District. 

Baindla, Mirza, Kalburgi, and Saravanan, all juniors at Emerald High School, created Synapse Match. Inspired by their teacher’s unexpected Parkinson’s diagnosis, the group designed this app to help in identifying early-stage symptoms of Parkinson’s disease and related conditions through artificial intelligence. The app uses existing patient data, an audio analysis tool, and motor assessment to predict the likelihood of Parkinson’s disease.

“I am truly impressed by the incredible talent demonstrated at this year’s app challenge,” said Congressman DeSaulnier. “We received a record number of submissions this year and I am amazed by the innovation and ingenuity shown by all of our participants. I appreciate that the Congressional App Challenge provides young people with an opportunity to build their skills and show their creativity. Congratulations to Rushil, Imran, Nikhil, and Riddhish!”

Second place was awarded to Adhyayan Veer Singh of San Ramon for his app Scholify, which helps to connect students with scholarship opportunities tailored to their interests, experience, and goals. Third place was awarded to Jayden Wong of Moraga. Jayden created CellLab, an interactive game designed to foster curiosity and excitement in biology education. 

This year’s winning apps were selected by a panel of judges from the STEM and education fields, all of whom live or work in California’s 10^th Congressional District.

The CAC is a public initiative to encourage young people to learn how to code in an effort to inspire creativity and encourage interest in STEM education. In the first seven years of the competition, the CAC has inspired over 40,000 students across all 50 states to code. 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Sanford D Bishop Jr (GA-02)

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) called on the U.S. House of Representatives to take up the Pharmacists Fight Back Act to rein in the abusive practices of Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs), the middlemen of drug pricing. The bipartisan legislation is led by Congressman Jake Auchincloss (MA-04) and Congresswoman Diana Harshberger (TN-01).

Congressman Bishop was joined by Congressman Buddy Carter (GA-01) as well as Nikki Bryant, owner of Adams Family Pharmacy in Preston, Georgia, in speaking at a press conference in support of the legislation.

They were joined by over 50 independent pharmacists and pharmacy owners from across America, including Texas, California, Alabama, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Tennessee, Ohio, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Georgia, North Carolina, New York, Michigan, Arkansas, and Virginia, all who have shared their stories about fighting to keep pharmacies from closing. On average, one independent pharmacy closes each day in the United States.

“The largest PBMs today exercise significant power over what drugs are available, at what price, and what pharmacies that patients can use to access their prescribed medications – all with very little accountability or transparency,” said Congressman Bishop during his remarks at the event.

Congressman Bishop added, “The bipartisan Pharmacists Fight Back Bills that we have introduced will provide fair and predictable reimbursement for pharmacies and fight drug pricing manipulation by providing market-based index pricing. These bills will prevent the PBMs from steering patients towards PBM-owned pharmacies, allowing patients to use the pharmacists of their choice and expanding access to prescription drug care. With the high cost of prescription drugs, it is important that when we can get savings, these are shared with patients and providers, not just pocketed by the middlemen. These bills do that by reforming PBM rebate practices. Finally, these bills have teeth, and they include robust enforcement mechanisms to ensure that the PBMs comply.”

WATCH: Bishop Calls on Congress to Move Legislation to Help Lower Prescription Drug Costs

WATCH: The Full Press Conference Announcing the Pharmacists Fight Back Act

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PHOTO: Congressman Bishop in front of the U.S. Capitol with Nikki Bryant of Preston, Georgia, and pharmacists from across the country to urge the U.S. House to take up prescription drug legislation, the Pharmacists Fight Back Act

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Sanford D Bishop Jr (GA-02)

WASHINGTON – Today, the Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) voted to pass the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26). The bill received bipartisan support and was approved by a vote of 312-112. The bill now heads to the U.S. Senate for consideration.

The bill provides critical investments in national defense, supports America’s service members, and enhances global security at the time of growing challenges around the world. 

“This year’s defense bill provides our service members with the tools, resources and respect they deserve, including a well-earned 3.8% pay increase,” said Congressman Bishop. “This bipartisan legislation responsibly strengthens our national security, supports our troops, and invests in the readiness and wellbeing of military families. It ensures the United States remains strong both at home and alongside our allies abroad.”

“I will continue to fight to ensure we take care of our military families as well as our servicemembers who protect our country across the world and here at home,” added Congressman Bishop, who also serves as the co-chair of the bipartisan Congressional Military Family Caucus.

The FY26 NDAA authorizes $890 billion for the Department of Defense and related national security programs, reflecting months of bipartisan work in the House and Senate Armed Services Committees. The bill includes the most significant overhaul of the defense acquisition system in a generation, major investments in science and technology, and key quality-of-life improvements for service members and Defense Department civilian employees. 

Georgia’s Second Congressional District is home to some of the nation’s most important military installations, including Fort Benning, Robins Air Force Base, and Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany. The 3.8% military pay increase will directly benefit thousands of service members and families across the Second Congressional District, strengthening local communities and bolstering military readiness.

The bill also supports improvements to housing, childcare, education, mental health services, and military health care, all vital to Georgia’s military families and the missions of the state’s military installations. This past August, Congressman Bishop hosted the 2025 Military Family Summit at the National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center next to Fort Benning in Columbus, Georgia. Many of these topics were addressed during the day-long symposium.

Earlier this year, Congressman Bishop co-led the introduction of legislation to improve military housing as well as promote family stability by helping make moves in the line of duty less frequent and more efficient by working with the Republican co-chair of the Congressional Military Family Caucus, Congresswoman Jen Kiggans of Virginia.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | CONTACT: Olivia Porcaro 202-225-6165

Washington, D.C. – Last night, Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04) voted in favor of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026. This legislation authorizes $900.6 billion for our nation’s national defense in order to build a ready, capable, lethal fighting force to deter our adversaries and protect our country. After voting in favor of the bill, Congressman Cole released the following statement: 

“Peace through strength. This is a concept that has long been the foundation of American foreign policy. Furthermore, during this time when we are constantly facing threats from state sponsors of terror, foreign terrorist organizations, and other adversaries, peace through strength is a strategy we must continue to apply,” said Congressman Cole.

“Last night, I cast my vote to do just that. The Fiscal Year 2026 NDAA will revitalize the defense industrial base and defense acquisition system to ensure our warfighters are equipped with the latest technology and investment vehicles, restore lethality and warrior ethos to our military, secure America’s borders, strengthen strategic deterrence, improve servicemember quality of life, build the overmatch we need to deter the Chinese, and more – all while saving the taxpayers nearly $20 billion through cuts to woke DEI policies at the Department of War,” said Congressman Cole.

“The United States House of Representatives has now made it crystal clear: our brave men and women in uniform are prepared and will not allow terrorists or our adversaries to win,” said Congressman Cole.

Oklahoma Wins in the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act:

• Prohibits the availability of funds for contract termination or production line shutdown for the E-7A Wedgetail aircraft.
• Prohibits E-3 retirement without a plan submitted to defense committees ensuring no capability gaps or until E-7s are procured.
• $9.3 million in design funds for Fort Sill’s Automated-Aided Instruction Building.
• $15 million for Bomber Agile Common Hangar at Tinker Air Force Base.
• $54 million for a Child Development Center at Tinker Air Force Base.
• $10 million for E-7 Squad Operations Center at Tinker Air Force Base.

Other Wins in the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act:

• Secures a 3.8 percent pay raise for our troops.
• Fully funds the Golden Dome, F-47, submarines, and warships.
• Revitalizes the defense industrial base by growing manufacturing jobs in America.
• Supports Department of Homeland Security border security efforts.
• Promotes energy independence and new nuclear power technology.
• Ends Left-wing ideology, wokeism, and DEI in the military and DoW.
• Advances efforts to revitalize American shipbuilding.
• Prepares our military for a potential conflict in the Indo-Pacific.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Suzanne Bonamici (1st District Oregon)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Reps. Melanie Stansbury (D-NM), Sharice Davids (D-KS), and Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) today announced the introduction of the Training Aspiring Leaders Emerging Now to Serve (TALENTS) Act, to codify and strengthen the Presidential Management Fellowship (PMF) Program—one of the federal government’s premier leadership development initiatives.

 

Since 1977, the PMF Program has served as a cornerstone of federal workforce development, placing a highly accomplished cohort of emerging leaders into government agencies each year. The program has been a vital pipeline to strengthen public service and elevate the next generation of civil service leaders. However, in February, President Trump terminated the program through executive order after more than four decades of existence.

 

“Without the Presidential Management Fellows Program, I likely would not have ended up in federal service,” said Congresswoman Stansbury. “The PMF Program has long served as a pipeline for the next generation of federal leaders, bringing highly qualified talent from across the country to serve our nation. I am proud to colead this legislation to restore and build upon this program at a time when we need America’s best and brightest to address the challenges we face.”

 

“Programs like the Presidential Management Fellows are how we bring the next generation of talented public servants into government,” said Rep. Davids (D-KS). “It also gives federal agencies a pool of highly qualified, pre-vetted candidates, saving them time and resources in hiring. Gutting this pipeline doesn’t make government work better for everyday Americans — it makes it weaker and harder to navigate. This bill keeps that pipeline intact so we can continue bringing top talent into public service, and I’m glad to support it.” 

 

“Creating more pathways for post-graduate students to enter into public service will benefit our country for generations to come,” said Rep. Bonamici (D-OR). “The late President Carter created the Presidential Management Fellowship Program more than four decades ago to encourage and support talented young professionals from all walks of life who want to pursue a career in public service. I enthusiastically join Congresswoman Stansbury and our Senate counterparts on this legislation to put the PMF program into law so these opportunities continue for future generations.”

 

The companion legislation is led in the Senate by Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ) and Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR).

 

“I’m a proud alumnus of the PMF program. I’ve seen the impact it can have on young people who just want to give back to their community,” said Senator Kim. “Creating these pathways to serve is bigger than politics, it helps ensure the next generation is working to build a better future for us all, and that’s why we need this program codified into the law. I’m grateful to see this effort now in the House thanks to Representatives Stansbury, Bonamici, and Davids so we can have a bicameral push to get this done.”

 

The legislation is endorsed by the Partnership for Public Service, The Volcker Alliance, and the Presidential Management Alumni Association (PMAA).

 

“For almost fifty years, the PMF was the government’s premier early-career on ramp program, launching the careers of thousands of our most decorated public servants,” said Sara Mogulescu, President, The Volcker Alliance. “Its cancellation earlier this year undermines our nation’s proud legacy of service and chokes off a key source of skilled professionals that agencies need to meet their commitments to Americans. The TALENTS Act is an important step toward restoring the PMF program and investing in the next generation of government leaders.” 

 

“Congresswoman Stansbury’s initiative restarts a professional development program for future public service leaders to prepare to address the nation’s daunting public management challenges that are headed our way. This forward looking legislation will effectively reestablish the American tradition to select future public service leaders based on merit and experience to a professional calling inspired by motivation to serve the nation’s citizens as the primary aspiration,” said Former NASA Administrator and Secretary of the Navy Sean O’Keefe. O’Keefe was a member of the 1978 inaugural class of the Presidential Management Intern Program, and has since retired from federal service after several public management experiences.  

 

“Our country faces significant challenges, and our federal government will need the talents of future federal leaders to solve them,” said The Partnership for Public Service. “The Partnership for Public Service applauds the introduction of the TALENTS Act and thanks Rep. Melanie Stansbury for championing a path to service for the next generation of federal workers.”

 

The PMF Program has long been a flagship leadership development initiative, placing a cohort of a few hundred individuals into government agencies each year following a competitive and rigorous selection process. At the end of their two-year fellowship, many Fellows go on to become high-ranking federal officials. The TALENTS Act would codify the regulations that structured the PMF Program for over four decades, prevent it from being eliminated by presidential executive orders, make targeted improvements to the program, and strengthen Congress’s role in supporting and protecting it.

 

The TALENTS Act would place the PMF Program into statute to prevent its elimination by executive action, reinforce congressional oversight, and implement targeted improvements to ensure the federal government continues to attract and retain top public service talent.

 

The bill text can be found here.

 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Suzanne Bonamici (1st District Oregon)

Washington, D.C. – Today the Democratic members of Oregon’s congressional delegation—Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden and Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Val Hoyle (OR-04), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), and Janelle Bynum (OR-05)— demanded urgent answers from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) about any plans to expand ICE’s footprint in Oregon.

“We write to request a full and detailed description of any plans to open or expand Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facilities in Oregon. Recent public job postings in the Portland and Newport areas suggest that planning is well underway to contract for a new or expanded detention facility, but no formal notice has been provided to local or state leaders, or to Oregon’s congressional delegation,” wrote the Oregon delegation to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons. “We strongly and unequivocally reject the need for any new detention capacity and urge you to honor the public’s right to be informed and review your plans before any contracts are signed or facilities are opened. Oregonians deserve far better from the Trump administration than this shabby track record of absolute secrecy and total disdain for their communities’ viewpoints.”

The lawmakers raised serious concerns about increased ICE detentions of U.S. citizens and non-citizens alike, regardless of criminal history, and illegally denying due process.

They emphasized, “The information we require is critical to support Congress’s responsibility to protect detainees’ bedrock human and legal rights. As witnessed in the disastrous setup of Florida’s Alligator Alcatraz in the Everglades, hastily assembled detention centers invite horrific abuse and fail to effectively support efforts to detain dangerous criminals who pose a genuine threat to community safety. One recent report from Amnesty International found that people detained in Alligator Alcatraz are living in inhumane and unsanitary conditions. These conditions include overflowing toilets, limited access to showers, exposure to insects without protection, lights on 24-hours-a-day, and lack of privacy – including cameras above the toilets.  This record of abuse demands deep skepticism and scrutiny of any plan to open detention facilities in Oregon.”

 

Full text of the letter can be found by clicking here and follows below:

Dear Secretary Noem and Acting Director Lyons,

We write to request a full and detailed description of any plans to open or expand Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facilities in Oregon. Recent public job postings in the Portland and Newport areas suggest that planning is well underway to contract for a new or expanded detention facility, but no formal notice has been provided to local or state leaders, or to Oregon’s congressional delegation. We strongly and unequivocally reject the need for any new detention capacity and urge you to honor the public’s right to be informed and review your plans before any contracts are signed or facilities are opened. Oregonians deserve far better from the Trump administration than this shabby track record of absolute secrecy and total disdain for their communities’ viewpoints. 

ICE has been increasingly using dragnet practices to detain groups of people with little attention to citizenship or criminal history. Despite near constant claims and reassurances that ICE is pursuing dangerous criminal noncitizens, a recent review of immigration detentions in Oregon from January through October 2025 shows that less than 10 percent of those arrested had been convicted of a violent crime.  In Oregon and nationally, the vast majority of people arrested have never been convicted of any crime whatsoever.  In addition to not prioritizing public threats, ICE has been detaining U.S. citizens in record numbers. One recent report found more than 170 detentions of U.S. citizens in the first nine months of 2025. 

The information we require is critical to support Congress’s responsibility to protect detainees’ bedrock human and legal rights. As witnessed in the disastrous setup of Florida’s Alligator Alcatraz in the Everglades, hastily assembled detention centers invite horrific abuse and fail to effectively support efforts to detain dangerous criminals who pose a genuine threat to community safety. One recent report from Amnesty International found that people detained in Alligator Alcatraz are living in inhumane and unsanitary conditions. These conditions include overflowing toilets, limited access to showers, exposure to insects without protection, lights on 24-hours-a-day, and lack of privacy – including cameras above the toilets.  This record of abuse demands deep skepticism and scrutiny of any plan to open detention facilities in Oregon.

Another significant concern requiring your attention is access to counsel. Oregonians in ICE detention are often moved from one location to another in a manner that effectively denies timely access to legal counsel. Recent legal filings from Oregon nonprofits show that current detention sites in Oregon do not have sufficient space for lawyers to physically meet with their clients. Denying due process to detained individuals in this fashion is a moral stain that demands immediate action, and must not be replicated in any new detention site under consideration.

We reiterate our steadfast opposition to any new or expanded ICE detention facilities in Oregon. Please submit a written response detailing any plans to open or expand Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facilities in Oregon as soon as possible, and not later than Friday December 19, 2025. 

 

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