Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Carol Miller (R-WV)
Washington, D.C. – On Friday, Congresswoman Carol Miller (R-WV) joined Coupang, a Seattle-based Fortune 150 U.S. technology company and retailer at J.Q. Dickinson Salt-Works for a visit highlighting the collaboration between the two companies. Through its international retail, logistics and fulfillment operations, Coupang is helping J.Q. Dickinson Salt-Works export American-made products, which have the potential to reach millions of international Coupang customers in South Korea and Taiwan.
“It was wonderful to be at J.Q. Dickinson Salt-Works, a family-owned West Virginia business with deep roots in our state. While staying grounded in tradition, they’re finding new ways to grow and reach customers beyond West Virginia so consumers around the world can experience a piece of ‘Almost Heaven.’ This kind of growth is increasingly possible because companies like Coupang are helping American businesses reach customers well beyond their home markets by handling the complexities of selling internationally that can otherwise stop small and mid-sized businesses from exporting at all.
Recent legislation introduced in Korea would disproportionately affect American companies like Coupang and subject them to potential office raids, fines, and the disclosing of private information due to Korea’s Online Platform Regulation Act (Platform Competition Promotion Act). As a Member of the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade, ensuring our American tech companies like Coupang have the protection and support they need to thrive is a major priority of mine. This Congress, I introduced legislation that would ensure a level playing field for American companies like Coupang operating in overseas markets, protecting West Virginia businesses like J.Q. Dickinson Salt-Works as they export from the Mountain State to the world,” said Congresswoman Carol Miller.
“Coupang is proud to work alongside leaders like Congresswoman Miller to help West Virginia businesses like J.Q. Dickinson Salt-Works reach millions of new global customers and drive American economic growth. Just last year, Coupang facilitated more than $5 billion in global sales for thousands of U.S. businesses, and we’re excited to see that impact reach West Virginia’s 1st District,” said Coupang Chief Global Affairs Officer Robert Porter.
J.Q. Dickinson Salt-Works is a family-owned West Virginia business with deep roots in the state, originally founded in the early 1800s. Nancy Bruns, a seventh-generation descendant of the original Dickinson family, reopened and revived the business in 2013. J.Q. Dickinson Salt-Works operates today on the same land in Malden, West Virginia, reviving a long tradition of salt production in the Kanawha Valley – once the largest salt producing region in the United States. J.Q. Dickinson Salt-Works uses traditional, environmentally responsible methods, harvesting brine from an ancient underground salt source and relying on solar evaporation to produce salt rather than traditional industrial mining. The company is actively invested in the West Virginia community, supporting nearly a dozen local jobs, sourcing locally where possible, and demonstrating how heritage manufacturing and modern exports can work together to sustain rural economies.
Coupang serves millions of customers across all 50 states and more than 190 countries and regions globally. The company also helps thousands of U.S. brands from all 50 states sell and export their goods internationally, including small, family-owned businesses along with larger companies and well-known brands. In 2025 alone, Coupang facilitated more than $5 billion in sales of U.S. goods and services internationally, supporting American exports and economic growth. Coupang invests heavily in AI and technology innovation that make exporting easier and more accessible for U.S. businesses. This includes investing billions in advanced logistics, automation and data systems.
Photos and video footage of the event can be foundhere.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (25th District of FLORIDA)
MIAMI, FL– Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart (FL-26) has announced Bryan Santizo, a sophomore from Hialeah, Florida’s iMater Charter Middle and High School, as the winner of this year’s 2026 Congressional Art Competition for Florida’s 26th Congressional District.
Bryan’s artwork, titled “Horse,” was selected from among 139 entries submitted by students from 21 participating schools. His piece will be displayed for one year at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.
Student: Bryant Santizo, 10th Grade, iMater Charter Middle and High School
Art Teacher: Jen Medina
Medium: Acrylic paint on canvas
Description: “Horse”
Additionally, honorable mentions were awarded to the following three students, whose artworks will be displayed in our offices in Washington, D.C., Miami, and Naples:
Sara Rodriguez, 12th grade, Academy for Innovative Education Charter School (Miami Springs), “Before the World Grew Bigger” – Medium: Acrylic paint
Neeley Camejo, 11th grade, Hialeah Gardens Senior High School (Hialeah Gardens) “The Vision of Two Worlds” – Medium: Alcohol markers, Prismacolor pencils, acrylic markers and paint, pens, watercolors, and chalk
Chapin Lee, 10th grade, Lely High School (Naples) “Cannon EOS R1” – Medium: Watercolor
Background
Each spring, a nationwide high school arts competition is sponsored by the Members of the U.S. House of Representatives. The Artistic Discovery Contest is an opportunity to recognize and encourage the artistic talent in the nation, including in Florida’s 26th Congressional District.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Bryan Steil (Wisconsin-1)
Racine, WI – Today, Congressman Bryan Steil (WI-01) announced Isabella Rotizza as the winner of the 2026 Congressional Art Competition for Wisconsin’s First Congressional District.
WINNER:Beauty Doesn’t Have to Have Color by Isabella Rotizza
Isabella Rotizza and her piece,Beauty Doesn’t Have to Have Color, is the winner of the 2026 Congressional Art Competition. Isabella is a 10th grade student at Westosha Central High School in Salem Lakes, where she is taught by Ms. Carina Rook.
“Congratulations, Isabella, on winning the 2026 Congressional Art Competition! The First Congressional District is home to so many talented young artists and each year I am impressed by the creativity and skill demonstrated in our community.Beauty Doesn’t Have to Have Color captures the talent of Wisconsin’s next generation and the impact art teachers have on students across our state,” said Steil. “I look forward to seeing Isabella’s work displayed in the U.S. Capitol.”
NOTE: The Congressional Art Competition is an annual competition open to high school students from across the United States. Each Congressional office selects one winner to display in the tunnel connecting the Cannon House Office Building to the U.S. Capitol traveled daily by members of Congress, staff, and visitors to Washington, D.C.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Haley Stevens (MI-11)
Washington, D.C. – In case you missed it, last week Michigan Congresswoman Haley Stevens introduced the Release Your Taxes Act. After leading by example and releasing her own 2025 tax returns, Rep. Stevens is now calling on her fellow Members of Congress and congressional candidates to do the same. This legislation is designed to force federal lawmakers to meet the public’s demand for transparency and ensure that those in power are held to the same financial standards as hard-working Michiganders. By mandating total disclosure, Rep. Stevens is working to eliminate financial secrecy in Washington and prove that public service is about serving the people, not getting rich in office.
Here’s what Michiganders are seeing about Rep. Haley Stevens pushing to make sure Congress puts constituents first not personal profit:
Michigan Advance:Haley Stevens introduces bill calling on all members of Congress to release their tax returns
By: Ben Solis
Stevens’ “Release Your Taxes Act” would require all congressional lawmakers in both chambers — as well as candidates for Congress — to disclose their tax returns each year.
“There are already too many millionaires in Congress,” Stevens said in a statement. “Americans agree, and they deserve to know who they are voting for each election.”
Members and candidates who do not comply with disclosure requirements will have their names listed on the public database until they comply, or for six years after the date on which the individual is no longer a member or a candidate.
“I’m not a millionaire, and at a time when Michiganders are sick and tired of politicians running for office to get rich, we owe the public the transparency they deserve,” Stevens added. “This bill would make every Member of Congress and candidate to do the same.”
Washington Post: Early Brief – What We’re Watching
By: Matthew Choi & Dan Merica
Rep. Haley Stevens…is introducing a bill today that would require all members of and candidates for Congress to disclose their tax returns in a publicly searchable database. Those who did not would be named and shamed on the database for up to six years.
“Trust has really broken down,” Stevens told us. “Trust in our government institutions and government officials — a president who would never release his tax returns.”
“I recently took the step and released my tax returns, in part because of the cost-increasing measures that have just whacked Michiganders, and because I’m not a millionaire,” Stevens told us.
WLNS: Stevens introduces bill requiring members of Congress to publicly release tax returns
By Brad LaPlante
U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Birmingham, introduced legislation Thursday that would require all members of Congress and congressional candidates to publicly disclose their federal tax returns each year.
Stevens says it’s a challenge to a culture of financial secrecy in Washington.
The bill comes days after Stevens voluntarily released her tax return ahead of Tax Day. Her return showed an adjusted gross income of $169,970, a standard deduction of $22,272, and a total tax liability of $28,249. The return showed that she earned no income outside her congressional salary.
“I’m not a millionaire, and at a time when Michiganders are sick and tired of politicians running for office to get rich, we owe the public the transparency they deserve,” Stevens said, announcing the legislation.
Earlier this year, Stevens also introduced a bill that would prohibit members of Congress from trading individual stocks, though several other efforts to rein in stock trading by Congress are underway.
“It became apparent to me, that as we run for office and serve in federal office, we do financial disclosures. But why not just release tax returns and actually just show your standing?”
“I, unlike many people, maybe some in our White House, I haven’t been using my position in elected office to get rich. Actually, far from it. And so voters in these times of high distrust. What they feel as though is corruption, and in some cases, it obviously is.”
“You know, I’ve also written legislation to ban stock trading, not only for elected officials, but also their spouses and their children, and extend that over to the president and vice president and candidates for those offices. Why not take the step of seeing tax returns come forward?”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Pete Aguilar (31 CD Ca)
The 20 projects help tackle pressing issues like affordable housing, public safety, job training and healthcare
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Pete Aguilar (CA-33) announced 20 Community Project Funding requests for the Inland Empire totaling $49,739,093 that were submitted to the House Committee on Appropriations, on which Rep. Aguilar serves. If approved, this funding would directly fund local efforts to create job training and research programs, strengthen water and flood infrastructure, improve public safety, reduce crime, increase affordable housing, upgrade roadways and transportation and expand healthcare services.
“One of my top priorities is delivering federal resources to help Inland Empire families thrive,” said Rep. Pete Aguilar. “That’s why I requested nearly $50 million to improve our region’s safety, healthcare and affordable housing options. I am proud to advocate for these initiatives on behalf of San Bernardino County residents and I will continue working tirelessly to lower costs and make life better for the people in our community.”
In February 2026, Rep. Aguilar began accepting applications for Community Project Funding for up to 20 projects for Fiscal Year (FY) 2027. Projects are restricted to a limited number of federal funding streams, and only state and local governments and eligible non-profit entities are permitted to receive funding.
The following Inland Empire projects are included in Rep. Aguilar’s FY 2027 requests:
Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS)
Project Name: Loma Linda University Community-Based Interdisciplinary Education, Research and Service-Learning CenterProject Requestor: Loma Linda University Requested Amount: $1,250,000 Summary: The funding will develop a Community-Based Center for Interdisciplinary Education, Research, and Service Learning, providing students with state-of-the-art simulation, community research and service-learning experiences to help meet community healthcare needs.
Project Name: San Bernardino Mobile Command PostProject Requestor: City of San BernardinoRequested Amount: $1,950,000Summary: The funding will support the purchase of a modern, technologically-advanced mobile command post to reduce crime and improve the city’s safety and emergency response.
Project Name: AI-Enhanced Geospatial and Architectural Modeling Lab for Community Hazard ResilienceProject Requestor: University of Redlands Requested Amount: $1,248,600 Summary: This funding will create a Community Resilience Digital Modeling Lab to train city planners and emergency responders to better prepare for and respond to natural disasters using Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Virtual Reality (VR) technology.
Project Name: City of Redlands Body-Worn Camera Modernization and Replacement InitiativeProject Requestor: Redlands Police Department Requested Amount: $2,835,863 Summary: This funding will enhance the Redlands Police Department’s body-worn camera and drone programs and create a system to manage digital evidence and share data with justice partners, strengthening efficiency, transparency and public trust.
Project Name: Young Visionaries Youth Leadership Academy’s Youth Justice Resilience and Reentry InitiativeProject Requestor: Young Visionaries Youth Leadership AcademyRequested Amount: $1,000,000 Summary: The funding will provide supportive services to incarcerated and formerly-incarcerated youth aimed at improving public safety, treating trauma and reducing recidivism rates for gang involvement, substance abuse and other crimes.
Project Name: Colton Police Department Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) and Records Management System (RMS) ProjectProject Requestor: Colton Police Department Requested Amount: $700,000 Summary: This funding will create a Computer‑Aided Dispatch and Records Management System to strengthen community safety and emergency response by streamlining call handling, improving police response and providing real-time situational updates.
Project Name: Health Workforce Training Center: AI-Powered Language Proficiency ProgramProject Requestor: California University of Science and Medicine Requested Amount: $1,000,000 Summary: This funding will establish an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered Health Workforce Training Center to provide scalable clinical communication and language proficiency training for healthcare workers across the Inland Empire.
Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies
Project Name: City of Rialto’s City Well 3A Arsenic Treatment Facility ProjectProject Requestor: City of Rialto Requested Amount: $4,110,208 Summary: This funding will support the construction of an arsenic treatment facility to restore a critical local drinking water supply for Rialto residents and meet federal drinking water standards.
Project Name: Mill Creek Groundwater Recharge Facility Overflow Upgrades ProjectProject Requestor: San Bernardino Valley Water Conservation District Requested Amount: $2,720,000 Summary: This project will increase groundwater storage of the San Bernardino Basin to improve local water sustainability, support economic stability and growth and enhance public access and safety at the Mill Creek Groundwater Recharge Facility.
Project Name: Wastewater Lift Station SCADA Modernization and Improvement ProjectProject Requestor: City of San Bernardino Municipal Water Department Requested Amount: $1,700,000 Summary: This funding will upgrade critical wastewater infrastructure and address technology vulnerabilities by integrating SBMWD’s Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system, helping to prevent costly environmental or public health issues.
Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS)
Project Name: Expansion of Dental Access ProjectProject Requestor: SAC Health Requested Amount: $6,000,000 Summary: This funding will support the purchase of dental equipment and expand dental services at SAC Health’s Brier Campus, strengthening the Inland Empire’s healthcare infrastructure and improving access to oral health services for underserved communities.
Project Name: Bloomington Community Health Campus Improvement ProjectProject Requestor: Community Health Systems, Inc. Requested Amount: $2,625,225 Summary: This funding will renovate and expand the Bloomington Family Wellness Center to provide behavioral health and substance use disorder services, enhancing community access to quality healthcare and reducing emergency room visits.
Homeland Security
Project Name: Rialto Channel Improvements ProjectProject Requestor: San Bernardino County Requested Amount: $5,000,000 Summary: This funding will improve the Rialto Channel’s stormwater capacity and reduce flood risk in Downtown Rialto, protecting homes, businesses, public facilities, and transportation corridors from damage during major storms.
Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (THUD)
Project Name: Arrowhead Grove 132 Units of Affordable Housing Redevelopment ProjectProject Requestor: Housing Authority of the County of San Bernardino Requested Amount: $4,000,000 Summary: This funding will renovate and build 132 new affordable and workforce rental housing units in one of San Bernardino’s most chronically impoverished neighborhoods.
Project Name: Renovation for Workforce Development and Business Incubator ProjectProject Requestor: City of Rancho Cucamonga Requested Amount: $4,000,000Summary: This funding will transform the historic d’Ellena Winery into a training center for hospitality jobs, creating career pathways for in-demand hospitality, food and beverage and event management jobs.
Project Name: Commerce Way – De Berry Street Gateway Connector ProjectProject Requestor: City of Grand Terrace Requested Amount: $4,500,000Summary: This funding will build a road connecting Commerce Way to De Berry Street and linking to Taylor Street, enhancing roadway safety and improving access to Interstate 215, local businesses and nearby housing developments.
Project Name: San Bernardino International Airport City Creek Bypass Channel Drainage Improvements ProjectProject Requestor: San Bernardino International Airport Authority Requested Amount: $2,469,997 Summary: This funding will construct a new channel design between Victoria Avenue and the Twin Creek channel to permanently reduce flood risks, improve public safety and protect critical infrastructure and downstream communities.
Project Name: SBVC Legacy Village – Phase 1 Student & Workforce Housing Infrastructure ProjectProject Requestor: San Bernardino Community College District Requested Amount: $1,200,000 Summary: This funding will help build Legacy Village, a student success and workforce preparation hub with 500 housing units, improving housing stability and education access in the Inland Empire.
Project Name: San Bernardino Street Lighting and Public Safety Improvement ProjectProject Requestor: City of San Bernardino Requested Amount: $2,000,000 Summary: This funding will replace about 3,000 wired LED streetlights with off-grid streetlights across the city, improving safety and reducing costs by eliminating the need for emergency repairs.
Project Name: Metrolink’s San Bernardino Line Operational Reliability and Safety Improvements Metrolink ProjectProject Requestor: Southern California Regional Rail Authority Requested Amount: $679,200 Summary: This funding will upgrade technology along the Metrolink San Bernardino Line to improve system safety and reliability and provide riders traveling to and from San Bernardino with real-time service information.
In compliance with House Rules and Committee on Appropriations requirements, Rep. Aguilar certified that he, his spouse, and his immediate family have no financial interest in any of the projects he requested. More on the Community Project Funding process can be found here.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Earl L Buddy Carter (GA-01)
Headline: Carter successfully fights to extend red snapper season
WASHINGTON, DC – Rep. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA) released the following statement on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries issuance of four exempted fishing permits (EFPs) to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, and North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries.
According to the Congressional Sportsmen Foundation, red snapper populations are the healthiest in history, rendering the current burdensome and overreaching federal policy severely restricting recreational fishing unnecessary. Georgia’s recreational fishing industry has long struggled under federal fisheries data that limit access and impose heavy-handed restrictions, often set by bureaucrats far removed from our coastal communities. State management is a common-sense approach that allows tailored conservation and fishing policies to fit local needs.
Georgia’s red snapper season will now be from July 1st to August 31st.
“As Co-Chair of the South Atlantic Red Snapper Task Force, I’m proud to have tirelessly advocated for this win and am thrilled to bring home a proper red snapper fishing season to Georgia’s outdoorsmen and women,” said Rep. Carter. “Representing over 100 miles of pristine coastline, I grew up understanding that Georgia’s anglers are the experts best equipped to set conservation and fishing policies that protect fish stocks and our way of life, not Washington bureaucrats. I applaud President Trump and his use of common-sense governing, protecting anglers’ right to reasonably harvest and properly manage our resources.”
“Friday’s announcement is a significant and long-overdue victory for Florida’s anglers,” said Rep. John H. Rutherford (R-FL). “For too long, overly restrictive federal management and flawed data has limited access to a healthy and abundant fishery. This expanded recreational red snapper season reflects a data-driven approach that recognizes both the strength of the red snapper population and its importance to Florida’s economy and our way of life. As a co-chair of the South Atlantic Red Snapper Task Force, I look forward to continuing to work with Governor DeSantis and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission to fight for recreational anglers in Northeast Florida and Make Fishing Great Again.”
“As a co-chair of the South Atlantic Red Snapper Task Force, I applaud the decision by President Trump and his administration to approve all South Atlantic state permits for the 2026 Red Snapper season. This marks a major step forward for North Carolina’s fishermen and coastal businesses,” said Rep. David Rouzer (R-NC). “For years, rigid federal rules have meant one- or two-day red snapper seasons in the South Atlantic even as they are plentiful in our waters. That makes no sense for our coastal economy or for conservation. Following the decision, we can use up-to-date, local data to protect the red snapper population while allowing anglers in the South Atlantic more predictable and responsible fishing opportunities.”
“This announcement marks a huge, long-overdue win for South Carolina’s fishermen and coastal communities,” said Rep. Russell Fry (R-SC). “I appreciate President Trump for putting commonsense back into red snapper management after years of federal mismanagement that sidelined our fishermen and hurt our coast. As Co-Chair of the South Atlantic Red Snapper Task Force, I’ve been fighting for state-led management, better data, more access, and longer seasons, and now we’re finally seeing results. This is a major step forward for every coastal community in South Carolina.”
“This is an exciting time for Georgia anglers and a major step forward. For years, access to red snapper has been extremely limited. This EFP gives anglers a real opportunity—two full months, to enjoy red snapper fishing. However, this opportunity comes with a responsibility, if anglers want longer, more reliable seasons, we need better data—and that comes directly from them. Reporting through an electronic app is how anglers can help shape the future of red snapper fishing. While we acknowledge the anticipation, the rollout of the Georgia Red Snapper Project will come in phases. Look for a detailed website to go live May 15th. Georgia DNR encourages all offshore anglers planning to harvest Red Snapper in 2026 to stay tuned,” said Doug Haymans, Director of GADNR’s Coastal Resources Division.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (1st District of Maine)
Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee that oversees the Kennedy Center, released the following statement after the Center reportedly fired staff who are members of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) union:
The Kennedy Center’s decision to fire 24 people—in clear violation of their union contracts—is totally outrageous, alarmingly shortsighted, and needlessly cruel to these dedicated employees and their families.
Sadly, these firings are part and parcel of a broader pattern of incompetence and poor decision-making exhibited by the Center’s leadership since Trump installed himself as Chairman more than a year ago. From illegally trying to rename the Center after himself, to driving away countless artists and performers and audience members—resulting in needing to close down the facility for two years—Trump has done profound damage to this iconic institution and weakened the Center’s ability to fulfill its public mission. Using that closure as a pretense to fire dozens of workers is truly reprehensible.
I strongly urge the Center’s leadership to rethink this rash decision, honor their contractual commitments, and do right by these workers and their families.
I stand in solidarity with the 24 people whose livelihoods have just been upended and will do everything in my power to ensure they’re treated with the dignity and fairness they deserve.
Pingree, who is co-chair of the bipartisan Congressional Arts Caucus, has led the charge in Congress to save the Kennedy Center from Trump after he took it over last year. Pingree demanded answers and transparency from Richard Grenell, a Trump ally who was installed as President of the Kennedy Center, about how the $256 million requested, and later approved in the “One Big Beautiful Bill”, would be spent.
In December, Pingree led more than 70 Members of Congress in calling on President Trump to reverse the illegal renaming effort and remove his name from the building.
As Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, Pingree successfully removed language from the 2026 Appropriations bill that would have renamed the Opera House after Melania Trump.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Gregory W Meeks (5th District of New York)
Washington, DC — Representatives Gregory W. Meeks, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee; Adam Smith, Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee; and Jim Himes, Ranking Member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, today issued a joint statement on the 60-day mark of Trump’s war in Iran. Under the War Powers Resolution, the president must begin withdrawing U.S. forces if Congress has not authorized hostilities within 60 days.
“Despite the administration’s spurious claims, the ceasefire does not pause or terminate the War Powers clock. Hostilities have not ceased; both sides are enforcing naval blockades through military force. From Day One, this has been an unauthorized war of choice based on a demonstrably false premise of an imminent Iranian threat and as of today, 60 days in, there is still no congressional authorization for President Trump’s war.
“This war of choice has achieved none of the administration’s stated objectives: ending Iran’s nuclear ambitions, removing its highly enriched uranium, or regime change. Instead, Iran now has greater leverage, a younger and more hardline Ayatollah, and, far from delivering a better deal, this administration cannot even reopen the Strait of Hormuz that was open before this war began.
“By all measures, Trump’s handling of this war has been a failure: it has cost American taxpayers tens of billions of dollars while driving up the costs of gas and groceries. Republicans who hid behind the 60-day clock to avoid voting on this war have run out of excuses. Congress must vote to end it.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)
Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Committee on House Administration Ranking Member Joe Morelle released a statement announcing a redistricting initiative, the New York Democracy Project.
“House Republicans have failed and the American people know it,” said House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries. “That is why GOP extremists have concluded the only way to win in November is to rig the national congressional map, beginning with Texas. Democrats fought back. We have thwarted Donald Trump’s desperate scheme through Prop 50 in California, a referendum in Virginia, regaining a seat in Utah, pushing the extremists back in Ohio and stopping Republicans in Indiana, New Hampshire, Kansas and Nebraska.”
Leader Jeffries added: “While far-right extremists on the Supreme Court have twice recklessly cleared the path for partisan gerrymandering, Democrats refuse to unilaterally disarm. Today, I have asked Ranking Member Morelle, the former Majority Leader in the New York State Assembly, to travel to Albany to meet with State leaders tomorrow on redrawing New York’s congressional districts for the balance of the decade in response to the Callais decision and the recent action in Florida.”
“This is just the beginning. Across the nation, we will sue, we will redraw and we will win. House Democrats will not allow a MAGA majority to be built on rigged maps and the dilution of Black voting strength. Ultimately, this will end poorly for Republican extremists. It’s the American people who get to decide who wins the majority in Congress, not Donald Trump.”
“The Supreme Court’s Voting Rights Act ruling is the latest civil rights and democratic disaster,” said Ranking Member Joe Morelle. “As Donald Trump and his Republican allies intensify extreme partisan redistricting efforts, I am proud to be entrusted by Leader Jeffries to work with partners in New York to explore every option to protect voters in 2026, 2028, and beyond. We will not allow these efforts to silence communities or undermine fair representation. We will fight, we will win, and we will protect the voters’ voice.”
BACKGROUND
The Supreme Court’s decision in Louisiana v. Callais represents a further escalation in the Court’s narrowing of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and arrives as Republican-led states move aggressively to redraw congressional maps ahead of the 2026 elections. In states including Louisiana and Florida, recent and ongoing map-drawing efforts have underscored how these legal shifts are being used to advance partisan advantage, including through the reduction or reconfiguration of majority-Black districts. These developments, aligned with broader Republican redistricting strategies and backed by allies of President Trump, have raised significant concerns about the erosion of fair representation just as the 2026 cycle begins to take shape.
In response, Leader Hakeem Jeffries is working with partners across the nation to assess all lawful options to protect voters and ensure that representation remains responsive to communities rather than engineered political outcomes.
As a part of the Leader’s efforts, Ranking Member Joe Morelle will meet with Governor Kathy Hochul, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Deputy Majority Leader Michael Gianaris to discuss a cohesive state response. Ranking Member Morelle will encourage New York leaders to consider:
A legal and constitutional review of New York’s strongest tools to protect voting rights.
A 2027 state constitutional change, potentially in line with Sen. Gianaris’ proposed bill, if determined to be the strongest path.
State-level safeguards against voter suppression and discriminatory election rules.
Strong protections for election workers, local election officials and election infrastructure.
Public education and rapid response to misinformation and voter intimidation.
Coordination with national democracy, civil rights and legal organizations on additional safeguards.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)
Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries appeared on MS NOW’s PoliticsNation, where he emphasized that Democrats will continue to fight back against Republican attempts to decimate Black and Latino representation in Congress as part of their effort to rig the 2026 elections.
REV. AL SHARPTON: We start off with the Democratic Leader of the House of Representatives, the Honorable Hakeem Jeffries. Leader Jeffries, thank you for coming on and starting this special session of PoliticsNation. Let’s start with context tonight. With this week’s Supreme Court ruling, what changed for Black and minority voters in states with histories of voter discrimination, like of course, Louisiana?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, great to be with you, Rev. It was a very unfortunate decision, to say the least, in terms of this Supreme Court conservative right-wing majority detonating the Voting Rights Act, which is going to make it more difficult, particularly in states in the Deep South, for African American communities to elect the candidate of their choice. The notion that this Supreme Court majority concluded that we don’t have to worry about racial discrimination any longer and that partisan gerrymandering is of more important value than making sure that we actually protect communities from racial gerrymandering is extreme. And so we’re going to work hard to do what we have to do, one, to make sure we take back control of the House along with the Senate and then to aggressively move toward dismantling the right-wing attack on our democracy, beginning with passing the John Robert Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.
REV. AL SHARPTON: Now, several House seats held by Democrats were already in danger due to recent gerrymanders at Trump’s demand. Congressmembers Don Davis in North Carolina and Vicente Gonzalez in Texas have been listed among the most vulnerable because of new, more Republican-tilted maps. And just since the Court’s decision this week, Louisiana has suspended its House primaries to give Republicans the time to redraw a new map. In Florida, Republicans just passed a new map that creates up to four more GOP seats. And the Governors of both Tennessee and Alabama have called special legislative sessions next week to fast-track redistricting. Leader Jeffries, what’s being done to ensure that Black and Latino representation, specifically in the form of Confederacy, doesn’t just disappear because of this rule?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, first of all, important to note that every single one of the seats that Republicans have targeted to date before the Callais decision have been seats held by Black or Latino representatives in Congress. The five seats in Texas that were targeted were held by three Latinos, Vicente Gonzalez, Henry Cuellar and Greg Casar, and two African Americans, Marc Veasey and Al Green. Then, of course, they’ve targeted one seat in Missouri, the seat currently held by Reverend Congressman Emanuel Cleaver—we’re going to make sure he’s reelected. They’ve also targeted, in North Carolina, as you indicated, the seat held by Don Davis, another African American. We’re going to make sure that he is reelected as well. And then, in Florida, a handful of the seats that they’re targeting are currently represented by an African American in South Florida and a Latino in Central Florida. And so, they’re not even trying to hide the fact that, in addition to trying to rig the midterm elections, they want to decimate Black and Latino representation in Congress. We’re going to battle them politically. And we’re also going to make sure, as we’ve done in places like California and Utah and most recently in Virginia, that we push back aggressively so that republicans can’t create a numerical advantage for themselves in order to artificially hold on to power in the aftermath of the midterm elections.
REV. AL SHARPTON: Now, for months, you pressed blue states to respond to Republicans’ redistricting push. California, of course, responded to the opening shot from Texas last year. Virginia responded last month. And this week, you said Democrats will now be prepared to respond in states even like New York, where Governor Kathy Hochul says she’ll now push ahead with redistricting. You added Illinois, Maryland and Colorado will be in play as well. November is very close, Leader Jeffries. Are you confident what’s happening can be counted in time for your Caucus to retake the House?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, we’re going to take back control of the House. And understand, Rev., as you know, we’re only three seats short. That’s a historically close margin. When we took the House back in 2018, we were 24 seats short. And of course, in that cycle, we were able to flip a total of 40 seats. This time around, we only have to net three, which is why Republicans are panicking right now because they failed the American people on the economy, on healthcare, on this reckless and costly war of choice. And Democrats have been making clear to the American people we are the party that’s going to focus on driving down the high cost of living, fixing our broken healthcare system and cleaning up corruption wherever it’s found in the Congress, in this Supreme Court and certainly as it relates to this administration. Now, a large part of the battle that needs to be fought is going to be post-2026 because this Supreme Court decision, as wrong-headed and awful as it is, came late in the cycle. And so, the Republicans are limited in the damage that they can do effective 2026. However, we’ve got to make sure that we’re prepared to push back aggressively as we approach 2028, which is why, as you’ve indicated, we’re ready to go in New York, in New Jersey perhaps, in Colorado, certainly in places like Illinois and Maryland and in Washington State. Those are going to be the opportunities that we will have to once again ensure that we stop the MAGA power grab and push back against their efforts to rig the midterm elections this time around, which we’ve done, and push back against any efforts into the future, which we’ll have to do in connection with 2028.
REV. AL SHARPTON: And I might add that they’re underestimating that many of our Black representatives are in districts where many whites have voted for them. We’re not dealing with a constituency that whites have not supported the best candidate Black or white. We’re talking about where they’ve tried to eliminate the possibility of Black representation. But, I must bring this up—
LEADER JEFFRIES: Absolutely. Right, right. Go ahead, Rev., sorry.
REV. AL SHARPTON: Last night—I have to bring this up—last night, the President posted a year-old image of you holding a baseball bat, writing on his Truth Social platform, quote, ‘Low IQ Democrat Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries is nothing but a thug and he is a danger to our country.’ End of quote. Now, that follows these comments from Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis on Thursday, where he uses what seems like a very specific cadence to mock you in the midst of this redistricting fight. Take a listen.
RECORDING OF RON DESANTIS: We gonna do maximum warfare against Republicans. Florida Republicans, you F around, you gonna find out, all this stuff. And you know, what I said was, listen, and he’s like, oh, if you do the redistricting, we’re gonna take out all your Members, we’re going to do all this stuff. And what I’ve said was go ahead, make my day.
REV. AL SHARPTON: Leader Jeffries, what message are these, in my opinion, openly racist attacks sending, coming from the very same GOP leaders attacking every aspect of Black representation right now?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, their responses certainly speak for themselves in terms of the moral depravity of it all. And listen, they fail. Ron DeSantis is a failed Governor, failed presidential candidate. He’s a disaster. The cost of living is skyrocketing out of control in Florida. Nobody can get homeowners insurance. And gasoline, because of Trump’s war, is through the roof. And so, you know, these people have decided that they want to launch ad hominem attacks now. Of course, Donald Trump probably doesn’t even know what that means. But the reality of it is they cannot distract from the fact that they’ve just failed. And the American people, I’m confident, are going to make a decision not based on personal attacks against me or other Members of Congress. They’re going to make a decisions based on who actually is ready to do the job to make their life better. And as far as I’m concerned, the voters will have the last laugh in November and then we’re going to get to work. And we certainly are going to hold these extremists accountable. And, you know, Ron DeSantis sounded like a fool. He’s embarrassing himself, Rev. I mean, that’s not a Brooklyn accent. I don’t know what kind of accent that was, but at the end of the day, we’ll keep the pressure on them. They’re just big mad because they never thought we would forcefully respond to their efforts to rig the midterm elections by gerrymandering maps all across the country. We responded forcefully, immediately, strongly and, as a result, they now found themselves down, not up, as it relates to a redistricting battle that they once thought was going to net them ten, twelve or fifteen seats. We’ve completely wiped that off the map.
REV. AL SHARPTON: All right, many thanks for kicking us off in this special PoliticsNation tonight. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, thank you again.