MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Gregory W Meeks (5th District of New York)

Washington, D.C. – Representative Gregory W. Meeks, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, today issued a statement on Trump’s withdrawal from 66 international organizations, including 31 United Nations entities. 

“President Trump’s withdrawal from these vital international organizations is a continuation of his assault on the multilateral, rules-based system the U.S. helped build and from which we have benefitted. This unilateral exit empowers our adversaries and robs the United States of its voice within these institutions, limiting our ability to ensure they align with U.S. interests.

“Far from advancing our priorities, this withdrawal will only undermine U.S. national security and prosperity. Many of the organizations affected support the livelihoods of everyday Americans and U.S. companies, including UN bodies helping to ensure a clean and safe environment, fair global labor and trade standards, and investments in the future of renewable energy. 

“This decision also endangers American lives by undermining organizations that combat threats from foreign terrorists and our global adversaries. Furthermore, it will cede our influence to foreign competitors and diminish our leadership in designing the rules that govern the global digital economy, raising costs for U.S. businesses. 

“This is yet another example of how Donald Trump’s version of America first is, in practice, America alone.” 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Gregory W Meeks (5th District of New York)

Washington, D.C. – Representative Gregory W. Meeks, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, invited Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Deputy Secretary Chris Landau to participate in a special meeting Meeks and Committee Democrats will host on Wednesday, January 14th.

Despite repeated requests from Ranking Member Meeks, Chairman Brian Mast has refused to hold public hearings on the administration’s actions in the Caribbean and Venezuela policy. The hearing will be an opportunity for Rubio and Landau to inform the American public on the administration’s actions. 

A PDF of the letter can be found here. 

“I am writing to request your participation at special meeting on Venezuela held by Democratic Members on the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Wednesday, January 14th, 8:30 AM EST, in Rayburn House Office Building Room 2168. As Members of Congress, we have a constitutional duty to conduct oversight of the Executive Branch. The recent, unauthorized military operations in Venezuela raise serious questions into the Administration’s objectives in Venezuela, which have run counter to what has been communicated to Member of Congress at briefings late last year.

“For the past three months, we have struggled to understand the Administration’s justifications for a military buildup and use of military force in the Caribbean and Venezuela. First, we were told it was the drugs, then it was regime change, then it was oil. The American people deserve straight answers from the Administration to understand why military action was taken without Congressional authorization, why the lives of service members were put at risk, and why millions of their tax dollars were spent on a military operation that did nothing to advance a democratic transition and left those running Maduro’s regime intact, with no plan for what comes next. Democratic Members of this Committee and our fellow Americans deserve transparency and justification from this administration before jumping into another forever war. We look forward to your attendance on Wednesday, January 14th.”

###

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, Gabe Amo, Vice Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Robert Garcia, Ranking Member of the House Oversight Committee, sent a letter demanding the Acting Inspectors General of the Departments of Commerce and State immediately investigate potential conflicts of interest and ethics violations by Special Envoy Steve Witkoff. 

Evidence suggests that Mr. Witkoff is enriching himself and his family by making cryptocurrency deals with foreign financial backers while jet-setting between sensitive international negotiations supposedly on behalf of the American people. An investigation is needed to ensure that his conflicts of interest do not compromise our national security.  

The Members write: 

“Transparency and accountability in foreign financial relationships are essential to restoring public trust and ensuring that U.S. policy and business practices remain free from undue influence.

“We urge you to investigate the potential conflicts of interest and ethics violations of Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff. Public reporting has suggested that Mr. Witkoff used his role to financially benefit himself and his family, including through his continued connections to World Liberty Financial.

“In September 2024, Mr. Witkoff co-founded the cryptocurrency company World Liberty Financial (WLF) alongside his two sons, President Donald Trump, Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump, and Barron Trump. On November 12, 2024, President Trump announced that Mr. Witkoff would serve as his Special Envoy to the Middle East. Questions quickly arose about the potential conflict of interest between Mr. Witkoff’s new role and he and his family’s personal financial interests in WLF.

“After President Trump took office in January 2025, Mr Witkoff claimed that he was stepping away from his role in WLF. In March of 2025, he stated that he was in the process of divesting from WLF and transferring his holdings to his sons. However Mr. Witkoff’s financial disclosure from August shows that he still has a financial interest in WLF.

“The growing ties between WLF and the very countries Mr. Witkoff negotiates with as Special Envoy is particularly alarming.

“Therefore, we respectfully request that you investigate the potential conflicts of interest and violations of ethics laws by Mr. Witkoff in connection with his personal and familial financial interest in WLF.”

The full text of the letter can be found here.

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

Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries held a press conference with Democratic Whip Katherine Clark and Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar, where he emphasized that Democrats successfully passed an extension of the ACA tax credits and that Senate Republicans must work with Democrats to protect the healthcare of the American people.

LEADER JEFFRIES: The People’s House has just delivered a decisive victory for the American people by extending the Affordable Care Act tax credits to prevent tens of millions of Americans from experiencing dramatically-increased health insurance premiums. The Senate said it was impossible to do. But where I’m from, difficult takes a day, impossible takes a week. And in this first full week of the new year, House Democrats, every single one of us, joined by 17 Republicans, have partnered in a bipartisan way to protect the healthcare of the American people. 

House Democrats said from the very beginning that we would pour every ounce of heart, soul, spirit and strength that we have to stand up for the healthcare of the American people and to address the affordability crisis that exists in the United States of America. I’m thankful for the resolve of the House Democratic Caucus and our partnership with Senate Democrats, who made clear for months beginning in September that our commitment was to fix our broken healthcare system and address the Republican healthcare crisis, beginning with the extension of the Affordable Care Act tax credits. I’m thankful for the leadership of Katherine Clark and Pete Aguilar and Richie Neal and Frank Pallone, and every single House Democrat, including Lauren Underwood, who’s been a steadfast leader and supporter of the Affordable Care Act tax credits, which are all about protecting the healthcare of working class Americans, middle class Americans and everyday Americans. And that’s what House Democrats will always be about.

I’m thankful for the leadership of Senator Chuck Schumer and every single Senate Democrat who, in December, supported legislation for a straightforward three-year extension of the Affordable Care Act tax credits. And we know that that legislation has a majority of support in the United States Senate right now. Every single Senate Democrat and at least four Senate Republicans. John Thune needs to bring the bill up for a vote immediately and stop playing procedural games that are jeopardizing the health and safety and well-being of the American people.

Full press conference can be watched here.

###

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Dwight Evans (2nd District of Pennsylvania)

House Democrats forced vote; Philly congressman says ‘sense of urgency’ needed from Senate & Trump

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

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 397-28 to pass H.R. 6938, the Commerce, Justice, Science; Energy and Water Development; and Interior and Environment Appropriations Act, 2026. Rep Judy Chu (CA-28) and Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02), who both co-Chair the bipartisan Congressional Planetary Science Caucus, released the following joint statement:

“As Co-Chairs of the Planetary Science Caucus, we were extremely alarmed by the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) proposal to dramatically cut federal funding in FY26 for space because we know these investments are essential to scientific research and discovery, to our national security, to growing our space economy and workforce, and to maintaining the United States’ standing as the global leader in space. That is why we have been working closely with our congressional colleagues of both parties to ensure a robust space budget. Thankfully, with today’s vote, the House has rejected many of the OMB’s cuts to space by advancing sustained funding for NASA, including for its Science Mission Directorate and Office of STEM Engagement, for our other science agencies like the National Science Foundation, and by maintaining many of the critical NASA missions the OMB had proposed to cancel. With today’s passage of this bill, Congress has averted disaster and put the United States back on track to maintaining our preeminence in space. 

While we were proud to vote for these investments, we are nonetheless disappointed that the bill supports the OMB’s plan to cancel the Mars Sample Return (MSR) mission to bring samples from the Mars surface back to Earth – samples which have already been collected by the Perseverance rover. This is our nation’s highest-priority planetary science mission according to the 2023 Planetary Sciences Decadal Survey and is critical to paving the way for eventual exploration of the planet. Our nation already lost hundreds of Mars experts at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory last year due to shortsighted budget cuts to MSR, and we cannot afford to lose more. However, we are encouraged that today’s bill provides funding for future Mars missions and we look forward to working with NASA, congressional colleagues, and all our partners to finally return these samples and maintain American expertise and leadership on the red planet.”

Rep. Judy Chu’s district includes Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), a NASA Center administered by the California Institute of Technology (Caltech).

###

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber (R, MN-08) announced that he is working with President Trump on a questionable scheme to use the Congressional Review Act to overturn the current federal ban on toxic sulfide ore mining within the headwaters of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA) Wilderness. In response, Congresswoman McCollum (D, MN-04) issued the following statement: 

“The Boundary Waters is a national treasure. As our country’s most visited wilderness area, the BWCA protects over one million acres of pristine forests and lakes with some of the cleanest freshwater in the world. The federal mineral withdrawal put in place under the Biden administration prevents toxic sulfide ore mining in the headwaters, and it was the result of years of comprehensive and scientifically-sound environmental analysis. The repeated efforts by the Trump administration and Congressman Stauber to overturn this withdrawal are anti-science and ignore the public input which overwhelmingly supported these protections.

“I will continue to fight against any efforts by the Trump Administration and Republicans in Congress to overturn protections for the headwaters of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.”
 

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

The legislation was passed by the House of Representatives with bipartisan support, will now head to the U.S. Senate for consideration

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

Headline: Moolenaar Votes Against COVID Credit Extension

Congressman John Moolenaar voted against legislation to extend pandemic-era enhanced premium tax credits. The original Affordable Care Act tax credits are permanently funded. These tax credits have existed since 2014 and were originally only available to people making 400% of the federal poverty level. The American Rescue Plan Act, enacted by Democrats in 2021, eliminated the income cap for two years creating the enhanced premium tax credits. The enhanced credits were further extended in 2022 by Democrats in the Inflation Reduction Act. The legislation that passed the House of Representatives today would continue the tax credits for the highest income earners. 

“Extending a COVID-era subsidy for those making more than 400 percent of the poverty level is wrong and will only increase health care costs. Families deserve a lower cost of care, but this failed policy is not the answer,” said Moolenaar. “I am focusing on real reforms that increase competition, improve transparency, and protect taxpayers.”  

On December 17, Moolenaar voted for the Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act. This legislation would reform the health care system to lower costs, expand choice, and increase transparency for Michigan families and seniors. 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Alma Adams (12th District of North Carolina)

WASHINGTON, DC—Today, Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (NC-12) released a statement following her vote to restore the bipartisan Affordable Care Act (ACA) enhanced premium tax credits. This follows Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries’s successful discharge petition to bring the tax credit bill to the House floor after Speaker Mike Johnson’s refusal to let the House vote on the extension in 2025.

“I was proud to vote to restore the ACA tax credits today and lower healthcare premium costs for the people of Charlotte-Mecklenburg,” said Congresswoman Adams. “Affordable, accessible healthcare is one of the biggest issues facing my constituents but Republican policies—including $1 trillion cuts to Medicaid and $500 billion cuts to Medicare—have only served to raise costs, kick people off their insurance, and eliminate healthcare services across North Carolina. America is suffering from a Republican healthcare crisis that Congress cannot ignore. We must see the ACA tax credit restoration signed into law so we can lower premium costs and finally make life more affordable for everyday Americans.”

88,000 NC-12 residents used the ACA tax credits to afford health insurance and without them, an estimated 157,000 North Carolinians are expected to lose coverage entirely. At the same time, due to Medicaid and Medicare cuts in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, at least five North Carolina rural hospitals are already at risk of closing, threatening healthcare access for thousands of residents. The increase in uninsured patients due to the expiration of these tax credits will only worsen the financial burden on hospitals and emergency rooms that are struggling to stay open.