Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steve Scalise (1st District of Louisiana)
NEW ORLEANS, La.—Today, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) joined Fox News’ Fox and Friends Weekend to address radical Democrats defending the Iranian regime over America, urge the Senate to pass the common-sense SAVE America Act, and highlight House Republicans’ efforts to save college sports through the SCORE Act.
Click here or the image above to view Leader Scalise’s full interview.
Highlights from Leader Scalise’s interview:On Democrats voting against condemning Iran’s terrorism:“I think it was very telling when we had that vote. Very clear language that’s just restated what everybody knows: Iran is the largest state sponsor of terrorism. They’ve killed hundreds of American soldiers over years. All we were doing was laying that out before the vote on whether or not we should be able to take action against them. You saw that. I mean, over 50 Democrats voted basically with the Iranian regime. It’s insane, but it shows you just how far left the Mamdani wing of the Democrat Party has moved. That is where the center of the Democrat Party is, and people need to know that. This is not your father’s Democrat Party. This is a bunch of radicals.”On protecting election integrity through the SAVE America Act:“We worked hard to get the SAVE America Act over to the Senate, just as prove your citizenship to register to vote, and then show a picture ID, just like you do when you get on an airplane or go buy beer. Or, by the way, you could not get into the Democrat Convention without showing ID. Every American gets this. If you want to prevent voter fraud, we have got to get the SAVE America Act to President Trump’s desk. We passed it to the House. It’s in the Senate. They have got to find a way to get that bill to President Trump’s desk if you want to have fair and free elections.”On restoring structure to college athletics through the SCORE Act:“I’m glad that President Trump took the leadership because everybody in college sports, all the schools, all the conferences recognize it’s out of control. It’s the Wild Wild West. When you have 28-year-olds playing on their sixth team, we’ve got to put structure back in college athletics, and they’ve lost lawsuit after lawsuit, so they need Congress to step in. We need antitrust protections. We need to protect the student-athletes better. We need to make sure that the schools can police themselves again. We put together a bill. It’s a very bipartisan bill called the SCORE Act. You saw a lot of people in the room, like Coach Nick Saban, like all the conferences, the HBCUs all support this approach to putting the structure back in place so that schools can govern themselves again, and we can get college athletics back to what it’s supposed to be. It’s a really important bill. We’re going to be moving it in the House soon. Then hopefully, the Senate takes action there because you’ve seen it in college athletics. It’s gotten out of hand. It’s got to get back under control. It’s not just some farm club of professional athletics. Let’s protect women’s sports. Let’s protect the student athletes. That’s what the SCORE Act does.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)
Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries appeared on NBC’s Meet the Press, where he emphasized that the Trump administration has failed to justify this war of choice in the Middle East, and that Democrats will continue working to make life better and more affordable for everyday Americans.
KRISTEN WELKER: Joining me now is House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York. Leader Jeffries, welcome back to Meet the Press.
LEADER JEFFRIES: Good morning, great to be back.
KRISTEN WELKER: It’s great to have you back. Let’s start with the war in Iran. The United States now a week into this conflict. Do you think the world is safer now that the Supreme Leader is dead?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Well certainly as it relates to the Ayatollah, he was a bad actor and I’m not going to shed any tears as a result of his departure. I think the big question is: why did we get into this war? What are our strategic objectives—because they shift every day? And what is the plan to get out of this conflict? The American people don’t want to see billions of dollars being spent to bomb Iran in the Middle East, while at the same period of time, my Republican colleagues and this President are unwilling to spend a dime to lower their grocery bills, spend a dime to actually make it more affordable to go see a doctor or do anything about this affordability crisis that is very real in the United States of America.
KRISTEN WELKER: Well, in talking about the strategy for this war—let me ask you because NBC News is reporting that President Trump has privately considered sending boots on the ground to Iran. Is there any scenario where you would support sending U.S. forces to be on the ground in Iran, Leader Jeffries?
LEADER JEFFRIES: No, and in fact Candidate Trump suggested that under no circumstances should American servicemen and women be put into harm’s way in this particular type of situation, particularly as it relates to another endless war in the Middle East. And we are deeply saddened right now by the loss of six brave and heroic servicemen and women who have already lost their lives and we’ll continue to pray for their families and their loved ones. But the American people deserve answers from the administration as to how we’re going to actually move forward in a way that makes America safer, not more vulnerable.
KRISTEN WELKER: Well, there is a push for congressional oversight, but both the House and the Senate this week rejected a resolution to curb President Trump’s war powers in Iran. And, frankly, even five Democrats joined Republicans to block the resolutions in those chambers. Does that effectively give President Trump a mandate to fight this war?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Not at all. The President, of course, has a responsibility first and foremost to make his case to the American people, which he’s failed to do. There’s a reason why this President is deeply unpopular. His policies, including the One Big Ugly Bill, are unpopular. And this war of choice in the Middle East are unpopular. As Democrats, we’re going to continue to make the case to the American people that we should be stewards of spending their taxpayer dollars in a manner that actually is designed to make their life better and make their life more affordable as opposed to another endless war in the Middle East,where we’re spending billions and billions of dollars to drop bombs and doing nothing to drop the high cost of living.
KRISTEN WELKER: Well your Democratic colleague, Democratic Congressman Jared Golden, is among those who voted to block the resolution. I want to read you a little bit of his statement from this week. He says, quote, ‘the President has so far acted within the authorities given to him by Congress through the War Powers Act of 1973. He has been briefing Congress and he has 60 days to make his case for ongoing operations. This is not an illegal war, but it could become one.’ How do you respond to your House colleague?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Well every individual Member, of course, is going to articulate their position. The overwhelming majority of both House and Senate Democrats have made the case to the American people and taken the position that this is a war of choice that Donald Trump decided to get into without any evidence being presented to us as Members of Congress or to the American people that a preemptive strike was necessary to protect the national security of the American people—
KRISTEN WELKER: But do you agree with Golden it’s not an illegal war yet?
LEADER JEFFRIES: No. Jared obviously has a very different position. He’s a hero. He’s fought in the Middle East bravely, and he’s entitled, of course, to his perspective. But as I indicated, the American people are dissatisfied with this war of choice that Donald Trump has decided to enter into. And Donald Trump has not made a compelling case as to why we are in a situation where American servicemen and women, their lives are at risk.
KRISTEN WELKER: Let’s talk about the cost of this war, Leader Jeffries. The White House is reportedly weighing a request to Congress for tens of millions of dollars. Several Senate Democrats have said they’re open to reviewing what the administration requests, arguing it could be critical to military readiness overall. As the Leader of House Democrats, do you plan to block all Pentagon funding even if the argument is it is critical for military readiness?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it in terms of if the administration makes a request to Congress to consider additional funding. But at this particular point in time, the administration has failed to make its case as to the rationale or justification for this war of choice in the Middle East. Listen, Candidate Trump promised that he was not going to get the country into an endless war, particularly in the Middle East, in the aftermath of what we saw in places like Iraq and Afghanistan. President Trump has now done the exact opposite. And absent him actually providing us with a compelling rationale, he’s going to have a difficult case to make on Capitol Hill.
KRISTEN WELKER: Leader Jeffries, let me ask you about another aspect of this. As you well know, President Trump fired Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem this week, something you and other Democrats have been calling for. Democrats continue to block funding for DHS amid these demands that there be changes to ICE and the President’s deportation policies. Is the change in leadership at DHS enough for you and other Democrats to reopen the government and start to fund DHS again?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, again, let’s understand. Republicans control the House, the Senate and the presidency. They’ve made an affirmative decision that they would rather shut down FEMA, shut down the Coast Guard and shut down TSA as opposed to getting ICE under control. What we want is a situation where ICE is actually conducting itself like every other law enforcement agency in the country, as opposed to using taxpayer dollars to brutalize or in some cases kill American citizens and to violently target law-abiding immigrant families.
KRISTEN WELKER: So is replacing Noem a big enough step for you to get to yes?
LEADER JEFFRIES: No it’s certainly not. What we need is a change in policy, not simply a change in personnel. Now, Kristi Noem was a disgrace. She was totally unqualified. She’s a pathological liar. She called American citizens domestic terrorists without any justification whatsoever. But we need dramatic, bold, meaningful and transformational changes to get ICE under control. That’s what the American people want to see. That’s what we’re working hard to deliver.
KRISTEN WELKER: Congressman, there’s a real concern that the Iran strikes may increase the terror risk here in the United States. Republican Congressman Mike Lawler of New York wrote this, quote, ‘Given the situation in the Middle East and the potential for Iran and terrorist proxies to attempt some type of attack, it is imperative that Senator Schumer and Rep. Jeffries immediately drop all opposition to funding the Department of Homeland Security and pass the funding bill. What say you to that argument that this is about the safety and security of U.S. citizens?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, House and Senate Democrats have actually introduced legislation to make sure that every other aspect of the Department of Homeland Security is funded in order to ensure that we are protecting our national security, funding the Coast Guard, funding FEMA, as well as funding TSA. Unfortunately, Republicans have decided that they would block those changes from being put into place in order simply to continue to protect and shield ICE from the type of accountability, the type of dramatic change that’s necessary, things that we’re asking to do that are common sense, like making sure that judicial warrants are required before ICE agents can break into the homes of the American people, ensure that there are independent investigations when ICE agents break the law or even kill American citizens so that there is accountability. We want to make sure sensitive location like schools and hospitals are protected, including other locations like houses of worship and polling sites. These are common sense reforms that are necessary in order to get ICE under control.
KRISTEN WELKER: Leader Jeffries, a couple more. We’re almost out of time. I want to turn to the midterms, the result in Texas this week. State Representative James Talarico, of course as you know, won the Senate Democratic primary against Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett. What message do you have for Black voters who supported Crockett and may feel less enthusiastic about supporting Talarico?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, Jasmine Crockett ran a great race and she’s going to continue to be a powerful voice as we move forward to hold this administration accountable and to push back against the extremism that they’re unleashing on the American people. And I think in her own statement in the aftermath of the results, she indicated that we needed to all come together to make sure that we’re doing what’s necessary to support our Democratic nominee and to win up and down the ballot in Texas and across the country. And that’s what we’ll continue to do—to fight to lower the high cost of living, to fix our broken healthcare system and to clean up the corruption that the Trump Cartel has unleashed on the American people.
KRISTEN WELKER: Leader Jeffries, I have to ask you very quickly because Vice President Kamala Harris endorsed Crockett in that race. After Crockett lost, a former Biden-Harris staffer said of the Former Vice President, quote, ‘her rapidly declining polling numbers are a lagging indicator her lack of political relevancy is a leading one.’ Has Kamala Harris lost her political relevancies, Leader Jeffries?
LEADER JEFFRIES: No, I don’t think so. But look, we’re focused right now on the 2026 midterm elections. And we’re going to do everything we can to make sure we take back control of the House of Representatives, to focus on the issues that matter in terms of dealing with the affordability crisis, to make life more affordable for everyday Americans who are struggling, far too many people, to live paycheck to paycheck. That should not be the case in the United States of America, the wealthiest country in the history of the world.
KRISTEN WELKER: Alright, Leader Jeffries. Thank you so much.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)
Know Your Immigration Rights
If you or a loved one encounter immigration enforcement officials, it is essential that you know your rights and have prepared your household for all possible outcomes.
Ask for a warrant: The Fourth Amendment of the Constitution protects you from unreasonable search and seizure. You do not have to open your door until you see a valid warrant to enter your home or search your belongings.
Your right to remain silent: The Fifth Amendment protects your right to remain silent and not incriminate yourself. You are not required to share any personal information such as your place of birth, immigration status or criminal history.
Always consult an attorney: You have a right to speak with an attorney. You do not have to sign anything or hand officials any documents without speaking to an attorney. Try to identify and consult one in advance.
The New York City Office of Civil Justice and the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) support a variety of free immigration legal services through local nonprofit legal organizations. To access these resources, dial 311 and say “Action NYC,” call the MOIA Immigration Legal Support Hotline at 800-354-0365 Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. or visit MOIA’s website.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)
Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries appeared on CNN Newsroom, where he highlighted how Donald’s Trump has failed to articulate a reason for his unconstitutional war of choice in Iran and continues to do nothing to make life better for everyday Americans.
JESSICA DEAN: We’re joined now by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. Leader Jeffries, thank you so much for being here with us today. I really appreciate it. We just got the latest reporting there out of Israel from our colleague Nick Paton Walsh. I know you have taken issue with the process by which the Trump administration is going about this war, but the administration, the President, their allies continue to say that this war will make America stronger and its allies safer and stronger in the long run. Do you think they’re wrong about that?
LEADER JEFFRIES: I think they’re definitely wrong, but at minimum they have not made the case to the American people. So it’s less about process and more about substance in terms of what is the justification for this? What is the strategy to be successful? And what is the end game, in an environment where everyday Americans right now are struggling to live paycheck to paycheck? Millions of people can’t thrive and can barely survive given the high cost of living that exists in this country. Donald Trump promised to lower costs on day one. He hasn’t done that. In fact, costs have gone up. And our view is that taxpayer dollars at this moment in time should be used to make life more affordable for the American people, to lower grocery prices and housing costs and healthcare costs. Instead, Donald Trump is spending billions of dollars to drop bombs in another war in the Middle East with no evidence that at the end of the day, it’s actually going to make the American people safer.
JESSICA DEAN: You know, he campaigned on America First and some Republicans like Marjorie Taylor Greene have said this is America last. Do you think this is America last?
LEADER JEFFRIES: I think that Donald Trump has consistently not put the interests of the American people first, as he promised. In fact, Candidate Trump said that he was not going to involve America in another endless war in the Middle East. President Trump has done the exact opposite. Candidate Trump, of course, talked about lowering costs on day one. President Trump enacted tariffs that have increased costs on everyday Americans by thousands of dollars per year. Candidate Trump said that his immigration enforcement policy would focus on the worst of the worst, go after violent criminals who are here illegally. Instead, what we know is that he’s unleashed ICE engaging in brutality against everyday Americans and American citizens, and in some cases, like the situation with Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti, killing them. And so, this is part of a pattern of Candidate Trump promising one thing and then President Trump doing the exact opposite in ways that aren’t designed to actually benefit the American people and in many cases are hurting everyday Americans.
JESSICA DEAN: I want to ask you about the fact that it’s been a week and we still don’t have a clear explanation of that strike on a girls school in Iran that killed at least 168 children. That’s according to Iranian state media. I want to play you what Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has said about this.
RECORDING OF PETE HEGSETH: All I can say is that we’re investigating that. We, of course, never target civilian targets, but we’re taking a look at investigating that.
RECORDING OF REPORTER: Just on the basis that with the information you would have, your reconnaissance abilities, ability to gather information, I mean it’s several days on now. So is there any clarity on whose munition this was?
RECORDING OF PETE HEGSETH: We’re investigating it.
JESSICA DEAN: Leader Jeffries, is that an acceptable explanation at this point, to the American people, to the world?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Certainly not an acceptable explanation. I’m horrified, saddened, deeply disturbed by both the tragic death of six American patriots, heroes, our men and women in uniform serving the country who have died as a result of Donald Trump’s war of choice, and deeply saddened and disturbed by the death of more than 100 school children who appear to have been struck by the United States military. And I think the American people are owed an explanation. The civilians, Iranian civilians are owed an explanation. The world is owed an explanation. And this is part of why, you know, these decisions of war and peace should actually be taken seriously. And Donald Trump should have made his case to the American people and to Congress on behalf of the folks that we represent as to why this has been done, why this war has been launched, why billions of dollars are being spent overseas in the Middle East as opposed to make life better for the American people. And the administration has completely and totally failed to meet its responsibilities to the public and certainly under the United States Constitution.
JESSICA DEAN: We’re also getting information and reporting that Russia is now aiding Iran with intelligence about locations, movements of US troops. I want to play what the White House Press Secretary said about this.
RECORDING OF KAROLINE LEAVITT: We don’t comment on intelligence reports that are leaked to the press. Whether or not this happened, frankly, it does not really matter.
JESSICA DEAN: So she said it does not really matter. She then had a clarification. This was the clarification.
RECORDING OF KRISTEN HOLMES: You just said on Fox that it doesn’t really matter if Russia is giving Iran information about military assets. Why doesn’t it matter if U.S. Military is being put in danger by Russia and is that what the President believes as well?
RECORDING OF KAROLINE LEAVITT: What I meant, Kristen, and thank you for giving me a chance to make it very clear, is that it clearly is not making a difference with respect to the military operations in Iran, because we are completely decimating them.
JESSICA DEAN: So if Russia’s giving intelligence to Iran to strike US military, our men and women, our bases, et cetera, doesn’t doesn’t matter in her words, and the President really dismissed this as well. Do you do you agree with that? What action should the US be taking now knowing this?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, it’s very callous in terms of her observations, and we’ve seen that. Even the notion that we shouldn’t be concerned about the deaths of those service members and that these things are to be expected in theaters of war, which some members of the administration have seemed to suggest, it’s all highly problematic in terms of just the brazenness of this Trump administration in both getting us into this war after promising not to entangle the country in endless conflict in the Middle East, and then failing to really articulate any prospective strategy about how we are actually successful, what that should look like in terms of how the American people can see a favorable resolution to this conflict, and then how does it all end? And this is just, you know, part of both the arrogance and the incompetence, that’s a dangerous combination. But this is an arrogant administration and it’s an incompetent one at the same period of time and this is just the latest example of it.
JESSICA DEAN: House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, we really appreciate your time this afternoon. Thank you very much.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jason Crow (CO-06)
WASHINGTON — Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO) released the following statement in response to possible clemency for Tina Peters:
“Tina Peters is a convicted felon. She was found guilty, by a jury of her peers, for her actions to undermine a free and fair election in Colorado. She has shown no contrition for what she did, and she has not accepted responsibility for it.
“Donald Trump lost the 2020 election, a fact the President still refuses to acknowledge. As a county clerk, Tina Peters helped to prop up Trump’s Big Lie, promoting conspiracy theories about a ‘stolen’ election and allowing unauthorized access to election systems.
“It would be wrong to let Tina Peters off for her crimes. The President is working to dismantle our democracy. He’s already threatened to ‘take over’ the next election, and his MAGA allies have called for the President to illegally deploy ICE and military troops to polling locations.
“Now more than ever, it’s important that our state’s leaders stand up to this reckless and lawless President, not bow down to the political pressures of a wannabe King.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steny H Hoyer (MD-05)
WASHINGTON, DC – Yesterday, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05), U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks (both D-MD), and U.S. Representatives April McClain Delaney (MD-06), Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Kweisi Mfume (MD-07), Glenn Ivey (MD-04), Sarah Elfreth (MD-03), and Johnny Olszewski (MD-02) pushed back on the Trump Administration’s Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE) plans to convert a warehouse located in Washington County into a 1,500-person immigration detention facility. In a letter submitted for DHS’s comment period on the project, the lawmakers outlined serious concerns about ICE’s severe lack of transparency on the purchase and preparations for the facility, as well as its expected impacts on local infrastructure and the surrounding communities. Additionally, given ICE’s track record of subjecting people to inhumane conditions and rampant violations of human rights, they cast doubt on the agency’s ability to humanely operate this facility – especially since it was not built for this purpose.
“As members of Maryland’s Congressional Delegation, we write in strong opposition to the effort by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to convert a large, industrial warehouse at 10900 Hopewell Road, Williamsport, Maryland into an immigration detention facility. We are deeply concerned about the negative impact this facility may have on Washington County and the State of Maryland. Your lack of any substantive response to our multiple inquiries surrounding the facility is unacceptable and flouts Congressional oversight authority, and the lack of regard for community input around this proposal is a disservice to the people you purport to serve,” the lawmakers began.
“DHS appears to be attempting to execute its plan to convert this warehouse into an immigration detention facility with as little transparency as possible. For example, DHS did not notify the county where the warehouse is located about its plans until two days before its purchase. The State of Maryland has also filed a lawsuit arguing that DHS did not engage in the required environmental review process, nor did it provide any justification for not doing so,” they continued.
“This effort to convert an industrial warehouse into a ‘Detention Processing Center’ for up to 1,500 detainees is an apparent attempt to realize Acting Director Lyons’ previously-stated goal of transforming the deportation process into “[Amazon] Prime, but with human beings.” However, people are not packages. Every individual in the United States has guaranteed constitutional rights, including the Fifth Amendment right to due process and the Eighth Amendment right to be protected from inhumane treatment,” they wrote. “The warehouse DHS seeks to convert into a detention facility is a commercial property. It is neither designed nor outfitted to house, feed, or provide adequate care for detainees. Retrofitting such a building into a detention facility is a dramatic departure from its original design and intended purpose and raises questions as to how DHS and ICE will be able to humanely care for detainees and how the facility will impact the local community.”
“This effort to establish a massive detention facility in Maryland is poorly-planned, goes against the will of our constituents, is unnecessary for a mission that truly targets the “worst of the worst,” and given DHS’s track record in this Administration, is likely to violate the constitutional and human rights of detainees. We urge you to immediately and completely halt DHS’s plans to establish a detention facility in Maryland,” the lawmakers concluded.
Full text of the letter is available here and below:
Dear Secretary Noem and Acting Director Lyons,
As members of Maryland’s Congressional Delegation, we write in strong opposition to the effort by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to convert a large, industrial warehouse at 10900 Hopewell Road, Williamsport, Maryland into an immigration detention facility. We are deeply concerned about the negative impact this facility may have on Washington County and the State of Maryland. Your lack of any substantive response to our multiple inquiries surrounding the facility is unacceptable and flouts Congressional oversight authority, and the lack of regard for community input around this proposal is a disservice to the people you purport to serve.
On February 27th, DHS published an “Early Notice and Public Review of a Proposed Activity in a 100- to 500-Year Floodplain,” with its proposal to acquire and retrofit the warehouse on Hopewell Road. This notice, made six weeks after DHS had already purchased the building, raises more questions than it answers about DHS and ICE’s facility needs.
DHS appears to be attempting to execute its plan to convert this warehouse into an immigration detention facility with as little transparency as possible. For example, DHS did not notify the county where the warehouse is located about its plans until just days before its purchase. The State of Maryland has also filed a lawsuit arguing that DHS did not engage in the required environmental review process, nor did it provide any justification for not doing so. And with this notice, DHS has allotted just one week for the public to submit comments about this troubling undertaking, a deadline that should be extended to allow for stakeholder input.
This effort to convert an industrial warehouse into a “Detention Processing Center” for up to 1,500 detainees is an apparent attempt to realize Acting Director Lyons’ previously-stated goal of transforming the deportation process into “[Amazon] Prime, but with human beings.” However, people are not packages. Every individual in the United States has guaranteed constitutional rights, including the Fifth Amendment right to due process and the Eighth Amendment right to be protected from inhumane treatment.
The warehouse DHS seeks to convert into a detention facility is a commercial property. It is neither designed nor outfitted to house, feed, or provide adequate care for detainees. Retrofitting such a building into a detention facility is a dramatic departure from its original design and intended purpose and raises questions as to how DHS and ICE will be able to humanely care for detainees and how the facility will impact the local community. For example, DHS’s proposal notes that upgrades may be necessary to wastewater infrastructure but does not articulate a plan or timeline for those changes and simply asserts, without evidence, that the municipal system can handle all future needs. As the State points out in its lawsuit, the average wastewater flow for an industrial warehouse is a fraction of the necessary capacity for a 1,500-person facility, and overwhelming the existing capacity could result in sewage overflows. There is no evidence that DHS and ICE have discussed their needs or permitting plans with municipal authorities.
ICE operations have already inflicted distinct harm upon Maryland residents and communities resulting in chaos, confusion, and violence. Currently, ICE operates temporary holding rooms at its Baltimore Field Office, where there have been consistent, credible reports of inhumane conditions, including that detainees have routinely been denied access to medical care and medication, basic hygiene products, timely communication with legal counsel and families, and even denied food.
In a response to a January 20, 2026 letter from our delegation regarding DHS and ICE plans to convert this warehouse into a detention facility, Secretary Noem claimed that the operation of such a facility would be maintained at the “same high standard of care” as other ICE detention facilities, which DHS is able to achieve in part due to a “robust and multilevel oversight and compliance program.” Unfortunately, and with grave consequences, DHS has gutted key oversight offices within the Department, including the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties and the Office of the Immigration Detention Ombudsman, after an attempt to shut them down entirely faced significant pushback. In fact, a report by a government watchdog found that ICE detention facility inspections dropped by more than one-third in 2025. In light of this, it comes as little surprise that there have since been multiple reports that have found violations of not just the national detention standards but also human rights in ICE facilities. DHS also experienced its deadliest year in more than two decades as 32 people died in ICE custody in 2025.
DHS and ICE are dramatically expanding detention capacity because you are not targeting the “worst of the worst” as claimed but rather are engaged in a dragnet operation that has overwhelmingly caught people who pose no threat to public safety. An internal DHS document reportedly exposed that more than 86% of the nearly 400,000 noncitizens arrested by ICE in the first year of this Administration did not have charges or convictions for violent crimes. Reviews of ICE’s own data revealed that during the first nine months of this Administration, more than half of the people ICE arrested in Maryland had no criminal convictions or charges, and only 10% were violent criminals.
This effort to establish a massive detention facility in Maryland is poorly-planned, goes against the will of our constituents, is unnecessary for a mission that truly targets the “worst of the worst,” and given DHS’s track record in this Administration, is likely to violate the constitutional and human rights of detainees. We urge you to immediately and completely halt DHS’s plans to establish a detention facility in Maryland.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ed Case (Hawai‘i – District 1)
(Honolulu, HI) – U.S. Representative Ed Case (HI-01) issued the following statement on the passing of former U.S. Representative Colleen Hanabusa:
“With the passing of former U.S. Representative Colleen Hanabusa, Hawai‘i has lost one of our most talented, committed and accomplished public servants,” said U.S. Representative Ed Case, who succeeded Representative Hanabusa in 2019 as Representative of Hawaii’s First Congressional District (Honolulu).
“Representative Hanabusa achieved so much throughout multiple careers, including her almost seven years in Congress, where she was a valued and effective legislator, especially in strengthening our national defense, preserving our natural resources, advancing Native Hawaiians and protecting our civil rights.
“Hers was a life well lived for our Hawai‘i and country, for which I am grateful. For all who we were both honored to represent, I send my deep aloha to John and their family.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA)
Yesterday, the House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously passed Congresswoman Matsui’s SECURE GRID Act, bipartisan legislation that empowers states to fully assess risks to the electric grid from extreme weather, physical and cyber threats, and other vulnerabilities. This bill is co-led by Energy Subcommittee Chairman Bob Latta (R-OH-05).
“Keeping the lights on should never be a gamble. Across America, a power outage can mean a life-threatening scenario during extreme temperatures, a parent scrambling to keep insulin cold, or a senior worrying about a medical device,” said Congresswoman Matsui. “The SECURE Grid Act takes a commonsense step to strengthen the local grid that serves our communities and protect it from extreme weather, physical threats, and cyberattacks. I’m glad this bipartisan bill passed out of committee, and I’ll keep pushing to get it to the House floor.”
“States must have a fully accessible plan in place to respond when threats are posed to the electric grid,” said Congressman Latta. “As Chairman of the Energy Subcommittee on Energy and Commerce and Co-Chair of the Grid Innovation Caucus, ensuring America’s electric grid is secure and resilient for families and businesses across the country remains a top priority. I thank my Energy and Commerce Committee colleagues for advancing this legislation at today’s markup, and I urge the House to swiftly bring it to a vote.”
Background on the SECURE Grid Act:
States must submit a State Energy Security Plan (SESP) annually to receive funds from the State Energy Program. State Energy Offices use these funds to implement energy security and resiliency plans, invest in domestic energy resources, reduce energy waste, pilot innovative energy projects, and more. A state’s SESP allows it to recognize, respond to, and mitigate weaknesses in its energy infrastructure.
While SESPs are currently required to consider broad vulnerabilities, including physical and cyber-attacks, the SECURE Grid Act adds necessary detailed data to these reports, requiring states to consider:
threats posed to local distribution facilities and supporting grid infrastructure, like distribution substations;
the risks posed by increasing grid demand;
available technologies to mitigate threats to energy distribution and rising grid demand;
the distinctions between weather-related threats and threats from a physical act of violence;
the utility of public-private partnerships in meeting energy security needs;
the availability of innovative financing models that may save taxpayer dollars and increase access to digital grid technology; and
the role of vendors in maintaining a secure, reliable, and resilient energy distribution system.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Grace Meng (6th District of New York)
Reports indicate Director Patel dismissed FBI agents for previously investigating the President despite potential threats from Iranian regime
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Grace Meng (D-NY), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies, sent a letter to Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel raising concerns about his decision to fire several agents from the Bureau’s top Middle East counterintelligence unit just days before U.S. military operations began against the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Recent reports allege that Director Patel personally ordered the termination of multiple agents and staff from CI-12, the FBI’s elite counterintelligence division responsible for tracking threats originating from Iran and other parts of the Middle East. The reports come amidst concerns raised by national security and intelligence community analysts that Iranian sleeper cells—groups of undercover agents—could increase activity across the United States in response to Operation Epic Fury.
According to reports, each of the dismissed employees had previously been involved in the investigation into President Trump’s handling of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago. One of the functions of CI-12 is to investigate mishandling of classified documents, in addition to counterterrorism and counterintelligence.
“At this tense moment, Americans deserve to know our law enforcement agencies are doing everything in their power to keep them safe. I am deeply concerned by Director Patel’s decision to fire these public servants who were elite agents conducting irreplaceable counterintelligence, especially in the wake of Operation Epic Fury,” said Ranking Member Meng. “His pattern of political retaliation undermines our national security. Americans deserve answers from Director Patel and this Administration about how they are defending our nation against escalating threats from Iran and across the Middle East, including any threats to the homeland.”
In her letter, Meng asks Director Patel to justify why the CI-12 agents and staffers were fired, as well as provide information on staffing levels for counter-intelligence and counter-espionage teams since the President’s second term began, and an outline of how the FBI is coordinating with state, local, and international partners to address potential threats at home and abroad.
A copy of the letter to Director Patel can be viewedhere.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steny H Hoyer (MD-05)
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05), U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks (both D-MD), and U.S. Representatives Kweisi Mfume (MD-07), Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Glenn Ivey (MD-04), Sarah Elfreth (MD-03), April McClain Delaney (MD-06), and Johnny Olszewski (MD-02) pressed the Trump Administration for answers around a reported outbreak of Legionella bacteria at the Fallon Federal Building in Baltimore City, where the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Baltimore regional office is located. This facility has repeatedly held people in unsafe, overcrowded conditions and for detention periods that far exceed those that temporary holding rooms are equipped to accommodate. In light of those compounding concerns, the lawmakers urged GSA to take immediate action to remediate the outbreak and sought answers to a series of questions regarding measures it has taken thus far to mitigate the risk of exposure to building occupants.
“We write with concern regarding recent reports of a Legionella bacteria outbreak at the George H. Fallon Federal Building, located at 31 Hopkins Plaza, Baltimore, MD 21201. The Fallon Building houses several federal agencies, including offices in the U.S. Departments of the Treasury, Veterans Affairs, Justice, and Homeland Security. We are particularly concerned by this development in light of reports of overcrowding at the Baltimore Immigration and Customs Enforcement Field Office’s holding rooms, as well as the presence of a childcare facility, in the building,” the lawmakers began.
“We have learned that in November of 2025, GSA conducted a baseline test that confirmed the presence of the bacteria and proceeded to implement hyperchlorination to treat the issue. However, we understand that the bacteria are still present in the building’s water system and the tenants of the Fallon Building have received varying levels of communication regarding the status of the outbreak, and some may remain entirely unaware. The presence of these bacteria, and the lack of clear direction from GSA, poses a serious health and safety threat for all users of the Fallon Building,” they continued, going on to ask a series of questions about the timeline of the outbreak’s discovery and how the agency responded – including seeking answers on corrective actions taken and communication with building occupants regarding those actions.
“We must ensure that our federal employees, along with other tenants of and visitors to the building, are being afforded clear communication and a safe working environment. We look forward to your response and ensuring the health and wellbeing of all current tenants of the Fallon Building,” they concluded.
We write with concern regarding recent reports of a Legionella bacteria outbreak at the George H. Fallon Federal Building, located at 31 Hopkins Plaza, Baltimore, MD 21201. The Fallon Building houses several federal agencies, including offices in the U.S. Departments of the Treasury, Veterans Affairs, Justice, and Homeland Security. We are particularly concerned by this development in light of reports of overcrowding at the Baltimore Immigration and Customs Enforcement Field Office’s holding rooms, as well as the presence of a childcare facility, in the building.
We have learned that in November of 2025, GSA conducted a baseline test that confirmed the presence of the bacteria and proceeded to implement hyperchlorination to treat the issue. However, we understand that the bacteria are still present in the building’s water system and the tenants of the Fallon Building have received varying levels of communication regarding the status of the outbreak, and some may remain entirely unaware. The presence of these bacteria, and the lack of clear direction from GSA, poses a serious health and safety threat for all users of the Fallon Building.
We therefore ask you to undertake immediate remediation measures and to respond to the following questions no later than March 20, 2026:
When did GSA first discover the bacteria at the Fallon Building? Please share all testing dates to date since the outbreak was discovered as well as their results.
When did hyperchlorination treatment commence after discovery?
According to a 2023 Memorandum from the Office of Inspector General, the Public Buildings Service’s “current approach to Legionella testing is not comprehensive or consistent.” Has the Public Buildings Service addressed the concerns outlined in the report? How frequently is GSA required to test for Legionella bacteria?
According to GSA guidelines, GSA or the delegated federal agency is required to notify tenants and post relevant signage and communicate with the water supplier if necessary. Has GSA satisfied these requirements? a. If tenants have been notified, when, and with what information? b. If the issue is ongoing, are tenants provided with regular updates? If so, what do the updates entail? c. Does GSA still notify tenants of buildings in states without notification requirements? If so, with what information?
According to the aforementioned GSA guidelines, GSA or the delegated federal agency is required to begin corrective actions and notify tenants of follow-up testing. Has GSA satisfied these requirements?
We must ensure that our federal employees, along with other tenants of and visitors to the building, are being afforded clear communication and a safe working environment. We look forward to your response and ensuring the health and wellbeing of all current tenants of the Fallon Building.