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Reps. Kelly, Jayapal lead 26 members of Congress in letter to major tech, telecom companies about how they handle DHS administrative subpoenas

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (7th District of Washington)

WASHINGTON – U.S. Reps. Robin Kelly (IL-02) and Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) led 26 Members of Congress in a letter to major technology and telecom companies, inquiring how they respond, track, and comply with administrative subpoenas from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). As first reported by the Washington Post, administrative subpoenas are not widely known, but are a powerful weapon utilized by DHS to gather personal information on Americans. Under the Trump administration, administrative subpoenas have been used against people attending pro-Palestinian or anti-ICE protests.

“Administrative subpoenas allow federal agencies to demand the disclosure of records without prior judicial approval,” the members wrote in the letter. “Recent incidents demonstrate that DHS has used this authority to identify, surveil, and intimidate individuals based on speech and political expression protected by the First Amendment…These practices undermine public trust in both law enforcement and the private companies entrusted with Americans’ personal data.”

The letter was sent to the CEOs of Apple, Snapchat, Google, Meta, TikTok, Microsoft, X, AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile.

“The companies that receive these subpoenas serve a critical position,” the members continued. “Decisions to comply, challenge, or narrow government demands determine whether constitutional protections are meaningfully upheld. Companies’ decisions whether or not to provide notice to the affected individuals impacts whether they can exercise their free speech rights.”

The American Civil Liberties Union also endorsed the letter.

In addition to Reps. Kelly and Jayapal, these members signed the letter: Eleanor Holmes Norton, Danny K. Davis, Becca Balint, Madeleine Dean, Zoe Lofgren, Seth Moulton, Jesús G. “Chuy” García, Dan Goldman, Debbie Dingell, Emily Randall, Nydia M. Velázquez, Lloyd Doggett, André Carson, Rashida Tlaib, Mary Gay Scanlon, Maxine Dexter, Delia C. Ramirez, Seth Magaziner, Greg Casar, Sara Jacobs, Stephen F. Lynch, Summer L. Lee, Jasmine Crockett, Emanuel Cleaver II, Lauren Underwood, and Jan Schakowsky.

Read the full letter here.

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Griffith Celebrates $8.9 Million Manufacturing Expansion in Giles County

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA)

Griffith Celebrates $8.9 Million Manufacturing Expansion in Giles County

Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger announced an $8.9 million investment from Interstate Group LLC to expand operations in Giles County. According to a press release, this investment will support 46 new jobs. Following news of this announcement, U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement:

“Virginia’s Ninth District is full of hardworking businesses and communities eager to contribute to the Commonwealth’s growing economy.

“I join Southwest Virginia officials to celebrate the news that this nearly $9 million investment in Giles County will help support local manufacturing and distribution jobs.”

BACKGROUND

In 2018, Interstate Group LLC announced a $4.1 million investment to establish the manufacturing and distribution operation center in Giles County.

Interstate Group LLC makes cargo, dump and utility trailers.

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LEADER JEFFRIES: “DONALD TRUMP HAS JUST GOTTEN AMERICA INTO AN ENDLESS WAR”

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

Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries held a press conference, where he emphasized that Donald Trump and Republicans have lied and failed the American people, spending taxpayer dollars not to make life more affordable for them but to launch endless foreign wars and brutalize or kill everyday Americans. 

LEADER JEFFRIES: Donald Trump and Republicans have once again failed the American people. On the campaign trail, Donald Trump and Republicans promised to lower costs on day one. But failed Republican policies haven’t led to costs going down. Costs have gone up, and the Trump tariffs have increased costs on everyday Americans by thousands of dollars per year. On the campaign trail, Donald Trump and Republicans promised that immigration enforcement would focus on targeting violent criminals who are here illegally. But under Donald Trump, the Department of Homeland Security and ICE are spending taxpayer dollars to brutalize, and in some cases kill, American citizens like Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti. On the campaign trail, Donald Trump and Republicans promised not to get the American people into endless, failed, foreign, forever wars. And yet, Donald Trump has just gotten America into an endless war that he acknowledges and plans to be endless, as was the case earlier today. And we’ve already tragically lost the lives of six American service members because Donald Trump, without justification and without coming to Congress, has gotten America into a Middle Eastern war that we know will not end well based on what we’ve already seen in Afghanistan, in Iraq and, for that matter, in Vietnam as well.

Donald Trump and Republicans have consistently lied to the American people over and over and over again on matters related to both domestic and foreign policy. These extremists have been a complete and total disaster. They have consistently failed the American people. And Democrats are here to offer a better path forward. And our commitment to the American people remains—we’re going to fight to make your life better in every way possible, to drive down the high cost of living, to fix our broken healthcare system, to deliver an immigration enforcement system that’s fair, just and humane, that focuses on violent criminals who are here illegally, not targeting law-abiding immigrant families or killing American citizens. And we are here as Democrats to make sure that we’re spending taxpayer dollars in ways that are designed to improve the quality of life for the American people, not launching another endless war in the Middle East that is destined to cost more American lives and billions, if not trillions, of dollars unless Congress is able to stop Donald Trump in his tracks, which is what it is our intention to do.

Full press conference can be watched here.

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Rep. Mike Levin’s Statement on the Strikes Against Iran

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

February 28, 2026

Washington, D.C.—Today, Rep. Mike Levin (CA-49) released the following statement on the U.S. strikes against Iran:

“In the dark of night, President Trump announced that the United States had begun ‘major combat operations’ in Iran, describing a ‘massive and ongoing operation.’ Those are not the words that describe a limited strike to repel an imminent threat or a sudden attack. They describe sustained warfare.

“Article I of the Constitution gives Congress, not the President, the power to declare war. A President may act to repel an imminent attack, but launching an open-ended campaign requires congressional authorization. If this operation is truly massive and ongoing, it cannot rest solely on unilateral executive authority.

“We pray for the brave service members placed in harm’s way. Preventing Iranian nuclear proliferation is a serious objective. The Iranian regime continues to be a threat to American national security—and the safety of its own people—as it has been since 1979. But national security goals must be pursued within constitutional limits.

“Congress must be brought into this decision immediately. There must be a prompt War Powers vote so that the American people, through their elected representatives, determine whether our nation goes to war.

“When we take that vote, I will oppose a sustained war in Iran. I have no greater responsibility as an elected representative than deciding whether to send service members into harm’s way. I believe that we can support Iranians’ struggle for democracy without initiating a regional war. This is the type of war that Donald Trump explicitly said he was opposed to during his presidential campaign. Once again, the American people have found out that we cannot trust Donald Trump.”

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Rep. Kelly, Chicago Park District, Griffin Museum of Science and Industry celebrate $1.2 million federal funds to Jackson Park

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Robin Kelly IL

CHICAGO – On Monday, U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (IL-02) awarded $1.2 million in Community Project Funding to the Chicago Park District at Griffin Museum of Science and Industry (MSI). The funds will enhance the safety and accessibility of Jackson Park, including the pathways that connect the park to Griffin MSI and the future Obama Foundation Center.

“I’m proud to bring home $1.2 million to Jackson Park so everyone can enjoy this beautiful green space right in the Second District,” said Rep. Kelly. “Whether you are visiting Griffin MSI, the future Obama Foundation Center, or taking a stroll through Jackson Park, these improvements will ensure our community spaces are safe, accessible, and well-lit for all residents.”

“Griffin MSI is proud to call Jackson Park home,” said Chevy Humphrey, President and CEO of Griffin MSI. “We are in the process of transforming our South Portico into an even more welcoming, fully accessible entrance creating a more seamless connection between the museum, Jackson Park and the vibrant South Side communities we serve. The federal funding supporting accessibility improvements in Jackson Park will make a meaningful difference for our neighbors, families and our many visitors for generations to come.”

“The Chicago Park District is honored to accept $1.2 million in federal funding from Rep. Kelly for access and connectivity improvements in Jackson Park. This funding will be used for pathway paving, lighting and wayfinding measures to create a safer, more accessible environment for the public,” said Carolos Ramirez-Rosa, CEO and General Superintendent of the Chicago Park District. “In partnership with Griffin MSI, these enhancements will elevate the experience for park patrons to explore Jackson Park and visit its world-class amenities including the Osaka Garden, Griffin MSI and Obama Presidential Center opening later this year.”, including the pathways that connect the park to Griffin MSI and the future Obama Foundation Center.

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Reps. Kelly, Jayapal leads 26 members of Congress in letter to major tech, telecom companies about how they handle DHS administrative subpoenas

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Robin Kelly IL

Administrative subpoenas from Homeland Security are issued without a judge, used to suppress free speech

WASHINGTON – U.S. Reps. Robin Kelly (IL-02) and Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) led 26 Members of Congress in aletter to major technology and telecom companies, inquiring how they respond, track, and comply with administrative subpoenas from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). As first reported by the Washington Post, administrative subpoenas are not widely known, but are a powerful weapon utilized by DHS to gather personal information on Americans. Under the Trump administration, administrative subpoenas have been used against people attending pro-Palestinian or anti-ICE protests.

“Administrative subpoenas allow federal agencies to demand the disclosure of records without prior judicial approval,” the members wrote in the letter. “Recent incidents demonstrate that DHS has used this authority to identify, surveil, and intimidate individuals based on speech and political expression protected by the First Amendment…These practices undermine public trust in both law enforcement and the private companies entrusted with Americans’ personal data.”

The letter was sent to the CEOs of Apple, Snapchat, Google, Meta, TikTok, Microsoft, X, AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile.

“The companies that receive these subpoenas serve a critical position,” the members continued. “Decisions to comply, challenge, or narrow government demands determine whether constitutional protections are meaningfully upheld. Companies’ decisions whether or not to provide notice to the affected individuals impacts whether they can exercise their free speech rights.”

The American Civil Liberties Union also endorsed the letter.

In addition to Reps. Kelly and Jayapal, these members signed the letter: Eleanor Holmes Norton, Danny K. Davis, Becca Balint, Madeleine Dean, Zoe Lofgren, Seth Moulton, Jesús G. “Chuy” García, Dan Goldman, Debbie Dingell, Emily Randall, Nydia M. Velázquez, Lloyd Doggett, André Carson, Rashida Tlaib, Mary Gay Scanlon, Maxine Dexter, Delia C. Ramirez, Seth Magaziner, Greg Casar, Sara Jacobs, Stephen F. Lynch, Summer L. Lee, Jasmine Crockett, Emanuel Cleaver II, Lauren Underwood, and Jan Schakowsky.

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Golden lauds NOAA for hiring Mainer as ‘Fisherman in Residence’

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02)

WASHINGTON — In a letter to top leaders at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) lauded the recent creation of the position of “Fisherman in Residence” and the appointment of Mainer Dustin Delano to the post. 

Delano, of Friendship, is a fourth-generation lobsterman and leading advocate for Maine’s seafood harvesters. Thanks to his experience, knowledge and the respect of his peers, Delano has held positions on the board of the Maine Lobstermen’s Association and the Maine Lobster Marketing Collaborative. He also helped create the New England Fishermen’s Stewardship Association in 2023. 

As Fisherman in Residence, Delano is tasked with strengthening communications between fishermen and NOAA, making federal fishery management processes more accessible and responsive to fishermen, and enhancing decision-making frameworks so they reflect industry realities and support balanced outcomes, among other responsibilities. 

“Mr. Delano is a perfect fit for the position,” Golden wrote in a letter to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere Dr. Neil Jacobs. “[His] exemplary record as a fisherman and advocate for the marine resources economy speaks for itself. I applaud NOAA for identifying the need for a real harvester, not another bureaucrat, to have a seat at the table and to provide input and clarity on fisheries issues.”

Golden, a member of the House Natural Resources Committee (HNRC), voiced his support for the Fisherman in Residence as other Democrats on the committee launched unfair attacks against Delano. HNRC Ranking Member Jared Huffman (CA-02) and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Maxine Dexter (OR-03) questioned Delano’s fitness for the position in a letter earlier this week. They insinuated he had “conflicts of interest” because of his fishing experience and advocacy for Maine harvesters — even though that experience was the very reason he was appointed to the post.

Huffman and Dexter “seem to believe that the only place for people with real-world harvesting experience is at the receiving end of government regulations, not in the rooms where those decisions are made,” Golden wrote. He noted that Delano is a contractor under the Intergovernmental Personnel Act, a law designed to allow people with relevant experience outside of government to bring their expertise to bear in temporary posts.

“Good policy and regulations must not be created in a vacuum, and those who are being regulated must have a real voice in the process,” Golden said. “I am confident the creation of the Fisherman in Residence will give voice to harvesters, and I applaud NOAA for taking this proactive step to bring fishermen into the fold.”

Click here to view Golden’s full letter. 

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Huffman, Heinrich, Markey Lead 60 Lawmakers in Condemning Trump’s Plans to Sell Off the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jared Huffman Representing the 2nd District of California

March 03, 2026

Washington, D.C. – Today, House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), and Senator Ed Markey (D-Mass.) led 60 members in the House and Senate in condemning the Trump administration’s plans to auction off sacred and sensitive lands within the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas companies.

The administration’s push comes despite two failed lease sales that exposed drilling in the Refuge as an economic fantasy. The first sale in 2021 generated less than one percent of projected revenue, while the second in 2025 received zero bids. Today, no oil company holds leases on the Coastal Plain of the Refuge. Major companies, including Chevron and BP, have abandoned their Arctic Refuge interests entirely, in some cases paying millions to walk away. Every major bank in the United States and Canada has refused to finance Arctic Refuge drilling, citing no real industry interest, extreme costs, remoteness, and decades-long bipartisan opposition.

“These outcomes were not anomalies but rather reflect a clear and consistent lack of market interest in Arctic drilling,” the lawmakers wrote. “As a Goldman Sachs analyst previously observed, ‘there is almost no rationale for Arctic exploration.’”

The Coastal Plain provides critical habitat for polar bears and the Porcupine Caribou Herd, which Alaska Native and Indigenous communities, particularly the Gwich’in people, depend on for subsistence. The lawmakers added, “Even preliminary activities, such as seismic exploration, risk causing lasting damage to this remote and highly sensitive landscape.”

Republicans have repeatedly tried to use Arctic drilling to help offset tax breaks for the wealthy. Trump’s first billionaire giveaway — the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act — mandated lease sales in the Arctic Refuge that the Congressional Budget Office estimated would generate $1.8 billion. Those projections proved wildly inaccurate. The 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill repeated the same scheme anyway, requiring more lease sales to pay for tax giveaways to the ultra-wealthy.

“Taken together, these facts underscore a fundamental reality: oil and gas leasing in the Arctic Refuge has failed to generate meaningful revenue, failed to attract industry participation, and failed to demonstrate any realistic prospect of benefiting American taxpayers,” the lawmakers wrote.

Read the full letter here.

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Committee Democrats Probe New “Fisherman in Residence” Role at NOAA

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jared Huffman Representing the 2nd District of California

March 02, 2026

Washington, D.C. – Today, Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) and Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Ranking Member Maxine Dexter (D-Ore.) demanded transparency from the Commerce Department on the appointment of Dustin Delano as “Fisherman in Residence” at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, including his suspected conflicts of interest.

Transparency regarding this position is critical to the continued success of marine fisheries nationwide. The United States is the gold standard for healthy, sustainable fisheries that support 2.1 million jobs, contribute $319 billion to the U.S. economy, and provide American families with a healthy, affordable protein source. Conservation-focused, science-based fisheries policy developed in close collaboration with the fishing industry and local stakeholders supports fishing communities across the country.

“For the sake of the 2.1 million jobs that rely on healthy, sustainably managed fisheries, we seek full transparency regarding the role of “Fisherman in Residence,” the lawmakers said.

“It is our understanding that Mr. Dustin Delano has been appointed as “Fisherman in Residence” at NOAA. As such, we assume he is a NOAA employee, has been drawing a federal paycheck, and is advising on fisheries policy within NOAA. However, it is clear from his Facebook posts and other public activities that he continues to serve as an industry association advocate on matters before NOAA, raising questions about his impartiality and ability to serve in the best interests of the American people and fishing communities across the country,” the lawmakers wrote.

The lawmakers noted his continued roles with organizations that are heavily impacted by NOAA regulations and policies, including as Chairman and Chief Strategist of the New England Fishermen’s Stewardship Association (NEFSA). “Mr. Delano’s non-government roles and professional work involve representing fishermen in litigation and advocacy that directly implicate NOAA and the regulated industries and stakeholders before it.” They cited evidence that suggests “Mr. Delano may be working inside NOAA on the very matters he was and continues to advocate for on behalf of NEFSA,” particularly a Facebook post in which Delano said he couldn’t testify at an International Trade Commission hearing on deregulatory actions favored by the industries he is working for.

“If Mr. Delano’s job at NOAA is enough to bar him from testifying, it should also bar him from secretly shaping internal agency action that affects the same interests he represents outside government. Unfortunately, without documented recusals and enforced screening, the public has no way to know whether NOAA’s decisions are being made on the merits or because of insider influence to benefit industries and the officials potentially benefiting from their success,” they write.

The lawmakers are requesting documentation by March 16, 2026, including:

  • All financial disclosure reports and related records filed by Mr. Delano
  • All documents or communications referring or relating to Mr. Delano, and involving any Department of Commerce or NOAA ethics officials, including: any deadline extension requests, reviews, or decisions about his financial disclosures as well as any ethics training, onboarding, and conflict of interest compliance materials provided to him
  • All official calendars, schedules, meeting invitations, agenda entries, and other scheduling records maintained by or for Mr. Delano in his official capacity as a Department of Commerce or NOAA employee

Read the full letter here.

Background

Last year, the Department of Commerce cancelled the Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee (MAFAC), limiting the ability of fishing communities to provide equal input in NOAA’s policy decisions. In lieu of MAFAC, NOAA appointed Dustin Delano – an industry insider – as the “Fisherman in Residence,” a singular position responsible for representing the diverse fishing communities and sectors across our country.

This is the latest in a string of investigations launched by Natural Resources Committee Democrats into whether federal employees in the Trump administration are complying with federal ethics laws governing conflicts of interest, impartiality, and outside activities, and whether ethics screening controls have been adequately implemented and enforced. The members have launched investigations into:

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Frankel Statement on U.S. Strikes Against Iran

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lois Frankel (FL-21)

Frankel Statement on U.S. Strikes Against Iran

West Palm Beach, FL, February 28, 2026

“The Iranian regime and its proxies have wreaked murderous havoc across the region—targeting U.S. servicemembers, Israel, and other allies, while advancing dangerous missile and nuclear programs that threaten global security,” said Rep. Frankel. “This threat must be eliminated, and President Trump should come to Congress to consult Members on his Administration’s objectives and plans moving forward. I am keeping our allies and our brave military in my thoughts as events unfold.”