MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose)

SAN JOSE, CA – Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (CA-18) released the following statement reacting to ongoing military action in Iran by American military forces:

“Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth have both referred to this as a ‘war’ and one that may require ‘boots on the ground’. Starting a war requires the consent of Congress,” Rep. Lofgren said. “Donald Trump has not made any attempt to justify to the Congress or the American people why this act of war was necessary at this time, how long he expects this war to last, or what his objectives are.”

Rep. Lofgren will be supporting H.Con.Res.38, the war powers resolution authored by Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) to remove American forces from unauthorized hostilities in Iran.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Don Beyer (D-VA)

U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Representative Donald S. Beyer Jr., VA-08, today said they are leading their bicameral colleagues in pushing the Federal Judicial Center (FJC) to reverse course on its decision to rescind critical judicial guidance on climate science following politically-motivated pressure by Republicans.

“After facing political pressure from Republican attorneys general and conservative organizations, you made the decision to eliminate the entire chapter on climate science from the FJC Reference Manual on Scientific Evidence,” the lawmakers wrote to FJC Director, Judge Robin Rosenberg. “We vehemently oppose this decision and are writing to understand why, after publishing, the FJC made the decision to delete this chapter. The decision to censor this information recklessly disregards scientific consensus and the work of experts in a critical field of science.”

As part of its responsibilities, the FJC publishes a more-than-1,000 page reference manual for judicial use in partnership with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. This manual, entitled the Reference Manual on Scientific Evidence, provides “impartial and reliable primary reference source on science for judges” and is written and reviewed by dozens of leading scientific experts.

Pulling this guidance leaves judges without the resources they need to make important rulings on climate-related lawsuits. Republicans have long voiced opposition to the inclusion of climate-related guidance, arguing that it is skewed against oil and gas producers.

In addition to their request that the FJC rescind its guidance, Wyden, ## and their colleagues also requested that the FJC answer the following questions:

1. Describe in detail how the decision was made to remove this chapter.
2. What review processes did this chapter undergo prior to initial publication?
3. Were the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine consulted prior to the removal of this chapter?
4. What steps, if any, are you taking to eliminate partisan influence in the work of the FJC?

Wyden and Beyer were joined by Senators Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., Richard Durbin, D-Ill., Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., and Representatives Steve Cohen, D-T.N., Nydia M. Velázquez, D-N.Y., Paul D. Tonko, D-N.Y., Chrissy Houlahan, D-P.A., Mike Thompson, D-C.A., Maxwell Alejandro Frost, D-F.L., Madeleine Dean, D-P.A., Sara Jacobs, D-C.A., Mike Quigley, D-I.L., and Shri Thanedar, D-M.I.

The text of the letter is here.

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

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. Gregory W. Meeks (NY-05) and 15 members from the New York Democratic Congressional Delegation sent a letter to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) urging them to immediately start a study ordered by Congress to address and modernize the country’s aging air traffic control (ATC) systems. The FAA must work with airports and airlines to assess how modernization and technology can improve operations in congested airspace especially as major tourist events are scheduled for New York and nearby areas. 

“Flight delays across the country caused by outdated air traffic control systems strain airports, disrupt the economy, and impact millions of passengers who expect to arrive at their destination safely and on time,” Rep. Meeks said. “As we prepare to welcome the world for America250, the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and the 2028 Summer Olympic Games, it is imperative that our systems are ready to safely and efficiently manage the surge in traffic so visitors can experience the best of our nation without disruption.” 

More than 142 million passengers, from daily commuters to international visitors, traveled through the New York City region’s airports in 2024. The upcoming mega-decade of events is expected to drive record levels of travel to the United States making the need for the FAA to modernize air traffic control systems even more urgent.

The Members wrote in the letter:

“We appreciate the FAA’s commitment to modernizing the nation’s airspace and look forward to swift implementation now that a prime integrator is in place. To ensure that public investment delivers maximum public benefit, federal ATC modernization must focus first on the areas where improvements will have the greatest national impact. With its unmatched passenger volume and critical role in the broader aviation network, the New York region must be a top priority for modernization. Accordingly, we urge the FAA to proceed without delay in launching the required ATC modernization study and to ensure the needs of the New York region are fully prioritized and addressed.”

Read the full letter, here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07)

Legislation Bans Chemicals Linked to Cancer and Reproductive Harm in Hair Products, Causing Disparate Impact on Black Women’s Health

Pressley, Brown Have Led Congressional Efforts to Ban Formaldehyde

Bill Text (PDF)

WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), alongside Congresswoman Shontel Brown (OH-11) and Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez (NY-07), introduced the Health Hair Act, legislation to effectively ban formaldehyde from hair products.

The Health Hair Act would designate hair straightening or hair smoothing products containing formaldehyde as adulterated under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, prohibiting their sale or distribution in the United States. Congressional Black Caucus Chair Yvette Clarke (NY-09) is an original cosponsor of the bill, which is cosponsored by 13 members of the House of Representatives. 

Formaldehyde, a known carcinogen, has been linked to increased cancer incidence, respiratory illness, and reproductive harm, including fibroids. Formaldehyde is a common element in hair relaxers and straighteners that are largely marketed to Black women. Black women are also more likely to develop uterine cancer, and twice as likely to die from it, which has also been linked to exposure to hair products. 

“Whether in schools, in the workplace, or in our everyday lives, Black women have been overlooked, punished, and criminalized for our hair. Not only does that come at an emotional cost, but a physical one too,” said Congresswoman Pressley. “The beauty products marketed to Black women and girls and found in our salons contain toxic, unregulated chemicals—leaving us to disproportionately suffer from adverse health impacts like cancer. Black women, girls, and salon workers should be able to show up without putting our health at risk. That’s why I’m proud to introduce the Healthy Hair Act with Reps. Brown and Velazquez to regulate these hazardous products and affirm our right to safer alternatives.” 

“It is time to get hair products that are making us sick off the shelves, out of stores, and out of salons. The evidence builds every day that chemical hair relaxers and straighteners are killing Black women, and this is a public health and consumer safety crisis that must be addressed. Since the FDA continues to delay, Congress must move first. I am proud to introduce the Health Hair Act with Congresswoman Velazquez and Congresswoman Pressley because women, hairdressers, and their families deserve better,” said Congresswoman Shontel Brown.

“The FDA had every opportunity to ban formaldehyde in hair products, and their failure to act has put the health of millions of women at risk. No one should have to choose between straightening their hair and their health, especially Black women and salon workers who face the greatest risks. This bill will finally ban these dangerous chemicals and make clear that Congress will not stand by while consumers are exposed to a known carcinogen. If the FDA won’t act, we will,” said Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez. 

“The link between chemical hair straighteners and extreme harms like cancer is not a matter of debate, nor has it been for years. This is the reality for countless Black women across America who, whether due to their workplaces’ demands, society’s pressures, or simply their personal preferences, turned to these carcinogenic products to alter their hair texture. Products we know to be dangerous have no place on the shelves of our stores and salons, and no business being anywhere close to our bodies. I am proud to fight alongside my colleagues to protect consumers and salon workers from the proven unsafe side effects of hair straightening products and bridge the health inequities that too often leave Black women and girls behind,” said Chairwoman Yvette D. Clarke.

Text of the bill can be accessed here.

The Healthy Hair Act is cosponsored by: Rep. Joyce Beatty, Rep. Shontel Brown, Rep. Yvette Clarke, Rep. Jasmine Crockett, Rep. Jahanna Hayes, Rep. Summer Lee, Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove, Rep. Robin Kelly, Rep. LaMonica McIver, Rep. Terri Sewell, Rep. Nydia Velázquez, and Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman. 

The bill is also endorsed by the Clean Beauty Coalition.

Congresswoman Pressley, alongside Congresswomen Brown and Velázquez, have led congressional efforts to ban formaldehyde in hair products. Last year, they sent a letter to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requesting an update on delays in implementation of a rule to ban formaldehyde and other formaldehyde-releasing chemicals in hair products. In October 2023, the FDA proposed the ban of formaldehyde in hair products following a letter led by Reps. Pressley and Brown, which called on the agency to investigate the health risks associated with the chemical. However, the implementation of the ban has continuously been delayed.

Congresswoman Pressley has been steadfast in her advocacy for Black women’s health, ending race-based hair discrimination, and introducing policies that affirm the right of Black women to show up in the world as their full, authentic selves.

• Rep. Pressley is a lead co-sponsor of the Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair (CROWN) Act, legislation with Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Gwen Moore (WI-04), Barbara Lee (CA-13) and Ilhan Omar (MN-05) that would ban discrimination based on hair textures and hairstyles that are commonly associated with a particular race or national origin.
• In February 2026, Rep. Pressley, alongside Rep. Jim McGovern (MA-02) and Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), led their colleagues in re-introducing the Wigs as Durable Medical Equipment Act, legislation to help individuals affected by Alopecia Areata and patients with cancer who are undergoing chemotherapy by allowing medical wigs and other head coverings to be covered under the Medicare program.
• Rep. Pressley, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), and Rep. Jennifer McClellan (VA-04) lead the Recognition of Traction Alopecia in Service Women Act of 2023 to support servicemembers with traction alopecia.
• Rep. Pressley leads the Anti-Racism in Public Health Act, a bicameral bill to declare structural racism a public health crisis and confront its public health impacts through two bold new programs within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Rep. Pressley originally introduced the bill in September 2020.
• In 2020, the House passed an amendment introduced by Congresswoman Pressley to provide $5 million dollars for the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases to fund research on the causes, impacts, and possible treatments of Alopecia areata.
• In December 2019, Rep. Pressley and her colleagues sent a letter to Johnson & Johnson Chairman and CEO Alex Gorsky seeking information on the targeted marketing and sale of the company’s talc-based baby powder and its potential to cause harm, particularly to women, teenage girls, and people of color, due to asbestos contamination. 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07)

Bill Text (PDF) | Bill One-Pager (PDF)

WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), alongside Congresswomen Judy Chu (CA-28), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), and Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), reintroduced the Southeast Asian Deportation Relief Act, which would end the deportation of Southeast Asian American (SEAA) refugees, provide critical protections for the more than 15,000 community members living under final orders of removal, and establish a pathway for the more than 2,000 refugees who have already been deported to Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam to return to the United States.

Between January and October 2025, the Trump administration deported more SEAAs in a single fiscal year than any prior administration — including 46 individuals to Cambodia, 175 to Laos, and 676 to Vietnam. Many of these individuals were shackled hand and foot for flights lasting more than 50 hours to countries they had never set foot in, including Sudan and Eswatini.  The administration also paused immigration applications for 75 countries including the Southeast Asian nations of Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos.

“Trump’s campaign of terror is traumatizing children, ripping families apart, and harming dedicated community members who have called our country home for years—and that includes Southeast Asian Americans who have planted roots, grown families, and contributed significantly to our communities,” said Rep. Pressley. “This reckless abuse of power must be reigned in, and that means ending deportations and providing critical protections for Southeast Asian American refugees—many of whom reside in the Massachusetts 7^th and strengthen our economy, schools, culture, and more.”

“Donald Trump has made the entire immigrant community his scapegoat to justify horrifying violence, undermine our rights, and tear families apart. That includes Southeast Asian Americans (SEAAs) who have called our country home for decades and who are now being targeted and forced to return to countries that are unsafe or completely unfamiliar to them,” said Rep. Chu. In 2025 alone, Trump deported more SEAAs than any president in a single year, and we know this cruelty will continue without action. That is why I am proud to reintroduce the Southeast Asian Deportation Relief Act of 2026 to provide critical protections from detention and deportation for SEAAs who have contributed so immensely to our communities. In the face of Donald Trump’s anti-immigrant regime, we will continue to stand with refugees and fight for justice.”

“As the Trump administration has worked criminalize all forms of immigration and terrorized immigrant communities, it is more important than ever that we pass the Southeast Asian Deportation Relief Act. This is a long-overdue step to end the constant fear of deportation for families across this country,” said Rep. Jayapal. 

“I’m proud to represent San Jose, which has the largest Vietnamese population of any city outside Vietnam,” Rep. Lofgren said. “Many Southeast Asian refugees settled here following the Vietnam War and have become an integral part of our communities. Deporting refugees back to nations where they may face persecution or human rights abuses is completely antithetical to American values. The policy in this bill has been the anti-Communist policy of every administration, both Republican and Democratic, yet the Trump administration cozies up to Communist regimes that threaten human rights. Unlike Trump, I am an anti-Communist, and I recognize that we have to protect folks from removal and we need a pathway to return for those who have already been deported back to Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.”

Specifically, the bill would:

• Limit the Department of Homeland Security’s authority to detain or deport Southeast Asian refugees from Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam who arrived in the United States by 2008;
• Permanently authorize employment eligibility for Southeast Asians with a final order of removal with a five-year renewal period;
• End in-person ICE check-ins and establish five-year intervals between virtual check-ins for Southeast Asians on orders of supervision; and
• Create a pathway for Southeast Asian refugees who have already been deported to return to the U.S. and fight their removal orders.

Text of the bill can be accessed here and a one-pager here.

Southeast Asians from Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam comprise the largest refugee population ever resettled in the United States. In the aftermath of U.S. military interventions in the region, more than 1.2 million refugees were welcomed to the United States because they fought alongside the U.S. or were forced to flee genocide, persecution, and violence. Most resettled into heavily disinvested communities with limited access to resources or support systems while grappling with the lingering trauma of war and displacement.

As a result, many Southeast Asian youth made mistakes or were swept into cycles of violence—leading to criminal convictions and incarceration decades ago. Although many have since rebuilt their lives and given back to their communities, many SEAAs continue to face double punishment through deportation for decades-old convictions for which they have already served their time. These individuals often have U.S. citizen family members, serve as primary caregivers in their families, have no recollection of or meaningful ties to their country of origin, and have deep roots in their local communities in America.

“SEADRA is more than policy; it’s a promise of healing, hope, and a future where Southeast Asian families are no longer torn apart. We thank Reps. Judy Chu, Pramila Jayapal, Zoe Lofgren, and Ayanna Pressley for reintroducing this critical legislation and for supporting our Southeast Asian American refugee communities, who have endured decades of trauma and separation. SEADRA recognizes the full lives that people have built here and refuses to erase them,” said Quyên Đinh, Executive Director of Southeast Asia Resource Action Center.

“The SEADRA bill would end deportation for Southeast Asians as we know it. In this moment when we’re told to turn against one another, we must choose a different path: we belong here and no one is disposable. Our communities have organized, resisted and created new worlds when the old ones failed us. This bill is part of that legacy – a call to love and protect one another, especially now.” said Chhaya Chhoum, Co-Executive Director of Southeast Asian Freedom Network

The Southeast Asian Deportation Relief Act of 2026 is cosponsored by Representatives Judy Chu (CA-28), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Zoe Lofgren (CA-18),, Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), Grace Meng (NY-06), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Betty McCollum (MN-04), Ro Khanna (CA-17), Gwen Moore (WI-04), James McGovern (MA-02), Dan Goldman (NY-10), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Juan Vargas (CA-52), Gabe Amo (RI-01), Adam Smith (WA-09), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), Nikema Williams (GA-05), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), Ted Lieu (CA-36), Wesley Bell (MO-01), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), and Robert Garcia (CA-42).

The Southeast Asian Deportation Relief Act of 2026 is endorsed by over 100 nationwide and statewide organizations including: A Legacy of Equality Leadership and Organizing (LELO), API Chaya, API RISE, ARISE, Asia Pacific Cultural Center, Asian American Law Fund of New York (AALFNY.org), Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund, Asian American Resource Workshop (AARW), Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC, Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California, Asian Law Caucus, Asian Pacific Americans for Higher Education (APAHE), Asian Prisoner Support Committee, Asian Resources, Inc., Asian Solidarity Collective, Black Alliance for Just Immigration, Board of Directors of The International Examiner, Borderlands Resource Initiative, Buen Vecino, California Coalition for Women Prisoners, Cambodian American Community Council of WA, Cambodian Association of Greater Philadelphia (CAGP), Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association of Greater Lowell, Inc., CAPI, Center for Empowering Refugees & Immigrants, Center for Gender & Refugee Studies (CGRS), Church World Service, City of Seattle, Climate Refugees, Collective Freedom, Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice, CSU Fullerton, Empowering Pacific Islander Communities (EPIC), End Child Poverty California powered GRACE, F.I.G.H.T, FIRM – Fresno Immigrant and Refugee Ministries, Formerly Incarcerated Group Healing Together (F.I.G.H.T.), Freedom Action Now, Freedom, Inc., Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees, Haitian Bridge Alliance, Hmong American Partnership, Hmong American Women’s Association, Hmong Cultural Center of Butte County, Hmong Innovating Politics, Hmong National Development, Inc., Immigrant Defenders Law Center (ImmDef), Immigrant Defense Project, Immigrant Legal Resource Center, Immigration Equality Action Fund, InterIm Community Development Association, Jacqueline Tran, Consulting, Japanese American Citizens League, Japanese American Citizens League, Seattle Chapter, Jewish Activists for Immigration Justice of Western MA, Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice NW, Khmer Alumni Association, Khmer Anti-deportation Advocacy Group (KhAAG), Khmer Community of Seattle-King County, Khmer Girls in Action, Khmer Student Association UW, Lao Assistance Center of MN, Laos In The House, Laotian American National Alliance (LANA), LEAD Filipino, Mekong NYC, Missouri Asian American Youth Foundation, MN8 (Minnesota 8), National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association (NAAPIMHA), National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum, National Cambodian American Organization, National CAPACD – National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development, National Council of Asian Pacific Americans, National Education Association, National Immigration Project, National Korean American Service and Education Consortium, New Breath Foundation, New Light Wellness, Nikkei for Civil Rights & Redress, Nikkei Progressives, Northern California Coalition for Just Immigration Reform (NCCJIR), Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, OCA – Asian Pacific American Advocates, Ohana Ho`opakele, OneAmerica, ORALE (Organizing Rooted in Abolition Liberation & Empowerment), Pennsylvania Immigration Coalition, Progressive Vietnamese American Organization (PIVOT), Providence Youth Student Movement (PrYSM), Public Defender Coalition for Immigrant Justice, Rising Voices, ROOTS Laos, RSN, Refugee Support Network, San Francisco Public Defender’s Office, Stop AAPI Hate, The Banh Mi Chronicles Podcast, The Cambodian Family, The Sikh Coalition, United Cambodian Community, United Hmong with Disabilities Inc., VAO | Vietnamese American Organization, Viet Rainbow of Orange County (VROC), VietLead, Vietnamese American Roundtable (VAR), and Wing Luke Museum.

In 2022, Rep. Pressley, alongside Reps. Lowenthal, Chu, Jayapal, and Lofgren, originally introduced the Southeast Asian Deportation Relief Act (SEADRA). She has consistently advocated for protections and the end of deportations for Southeast Asian refugees in the Unites States., including continuing to introduce and push SEADRA in Congress.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Al Green (TX-9)

(Houston, TX) —On Monday, March 2, 2026, Congressman Al Green, a member of the Homeland Security Committee, will hold a press conference to address issues related to the war in Iran. This will include a classified briefing which he will attend tomorrow, March 3, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. ET in Washington, D.C. The presenters at this classified briefing will include Secretary Marco Rubio, Department of State; Secretary Pete Hegseth, Department of War; Director John Ratcliffe, Central Intelligence Agency; and General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He will also address the impeachment of President Trump.

Click here to watch the YouTube Live Stream of the event.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif)

Washington, DC – United States Representatives Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) and Tracey Mann (KS-01), co-chairs of the Congressional FFA Caucus, led 58 of their colleagues in introducing a resolution to designate February 21-28 as National FFA Week. U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-IN) and Chris Coons (D-DE) introduced companion legislation in the U.S. Senate. 

“Our nation is yearning and ready for the next generation of young farmers, ranchers, and producers to continue the United States’ agricultural leadership,” said Rep. Panetta. “This bipartisan resolution recognizes the vital contributions of the National FFA Organization in training leaders who are ready to bolster both American food security and innovation. I am proud to once again work with my FFA Caucus co-chair, Representative Mann, to support the men and women who proudly wear the blue jacket so that they can help move our agriculture and our country forward.” 

“Happy National FFA Week,” said Rep. Mann. “This week, more than one million FFA members will reflect on the impact of the National FFA Organization and its role in shaping the next generation of leaders in food and agriculture. Those of us who have had the honor of wearing the blue jacket understand the lasting impact FFA has on molding and equipping young leaders to succeed. Across the country, FFA members will fulfill our motto—‘Learning to Do, Doing to Learn, Earning to Live, and Living to Serve’— through service projects, educational showcases, and engagement in their communities. As a past chapter FFA officer from Quinter, Kansas, proud FFA alumnus, and founder of the Congressional FFA Caucus, I’m honored to introduce this resolution.”

“Thanks to FFA, more young people have opportunities to pursue careers in agriculture and related fields,” said Chairman Thompson. “Agriculture provides the food, fiber, and fuel that keeps America going, but it will be nothing without the next generation. I am proud to celebrate FFA and all it does to inspire and encourage our youth.”

“I am proud to once again cosponsor the National FFA Week resolution, which recognizes the vital role this education and leadership play in shaping the next generation of agriculture leaders,” said Rep. Issa. “California is home to more than a million Future Farmers of America students, and they are demonstrating the energy and enthusiasm to safeguard our nation’s lands and preserve them for years to come.”

“Montana is home to nearly 6,700 FFA members across more than 100 chapters and plays a vital role in fostering the next generation of Montana’s agricultural community,” said Rep. Downing. “As a proud member of the FFA caucus, I’m pleased to join 58 of my colleagues in officially recognizing February 21st through 28th as National FFA Week.” 

“Since 1928, Nebraska FFA has helped shape our state’s next generation of agricultural leaders, equipping young people with the skills, experience, and passion needed to feed and fuel our world,” said Rep. Smith. “I am proud to cosponsor this year’s National FFA Week resolution and join members across the country in celebrating the extraordinary work of the National FFA Organization. With dedicated young leaders like these stepping forward, I have no doubt the future of American agriculture is bright.”

“Future Farmers of America plays an essential role in developing the next generation of farmers and leaders, ensuring our local agricultural industry can continue to thrive,” said Rep. Valadao. “As a former FFA member, I understand firsthand how valuable this organization is to our community, and I’m proud to honor and recognize their efforts this National FFA Week.”

“FFA made a big impact on my life, instilling leadership skills while I was in high school that I carry with me to this day,” said Chairman Graves. “FFA continues to provide high quality agriculture education, as well as valuable lessons in leadership and personal growth for the next generation and I’m proud to celebrate National FFA Week.”

“I’m proud to cosponsor the National FFA Week resolution and to recognize the extraordinary young leaders who are shaping the future of American agriculture,” said Rep. Cleaver. “During National FFA Week, we celebrate the students who rise before dawn to tend to livestock, who study science and technology in the classroom, and who serve their communities with integrity and grit. FFA is more than an organization, it’s a pathway to leadership, innovation, and opportunity in rural and urban communities alike. As we honor National FFA week, we recommit to supporting the next generation of farmers, ranchers, scientists, and agricultural entrepreneurs who keep our nation fed, fueled, and thriving.”

“Supporting and uplifting our young farmers is key to ensuring we revitalize and strengthen American agriculture,” said Rep. Budzinski. “Future Farmers of America is a vital piece of that puzzle, and National FFA week recognizes the contributions they have made to countless rural communities. Across central and southern Illinois, I’ve had the privilege of meeting the farmers of tomorrow who participate in FFA, and I am confident the future of food and agriculture is in good hands.”

“As we recognize National FFA Week, we celebrate the young men and women who represent the very best of rural America,” said Rep. Moore. “These students aren’t just learning how to farm – they’re learning leadership, responsibility, and the value of hard work. In Alabama’s First Congressional District and across our nation, these future farmers are carrying forward a proud agricultural heritage that feeds and fuels America. I’m grateful for their dedication, their teachers and mentors, and the families who support them. Investing in FFA is investing in the future of American agriculture.”

“National FFA Week is a time to recognize the young men and women who are stepping up to lead the future of American agriculture,” said Rep. Aderholt. “Across Alabama and the nation, FFA members are gaining the skills, character, and work ethic that will strengthen our farms, our communities, and our economy for generations to come. I’m proud to support this resolution honoring the National FFA Organization and the important role it plays in developing the next generation of agricultural leaders.”

“Future Farmers of America has equipped the next generation of agricultural leaders and passing the legacy of farming down to the next generation,” said Rep. Cline. “For nearly a century, students have relied on FFA to gain hands-on experiences in and out of the classroom that prepare them for success in agriculture and beyond. I am proud to recognize National FFA Week and the organization’s vital contributions to rural America through its hundreds of local chapters. From leadership development to technical training and community service, FFA continues to strengthen our communities and invest in the future of agriculture.”

“I am delighted to join Reps. Mann and Panetta in designating this week as National FFA Week to celebrate our future farmers and agricultural leaders,” said Rep. Newhouse. “As a former member of the FFA, I know firsthand how this program helps educate the next generation of agricultural leaders, not only in Central Washington, but around the country. Our Nation’s future depends on young Americans being engaged with and knowledgeable about farming and agricultural sciences, and the FFA does just that through prioritizing knowledge required to address problems faced by rural communities.”

“I’m honored to join my colleagues for this resolution that recognizes FFA students nationwide,” said Rep. Estes. “In my district, and all of Kansas, this program is incredibly important and successful to teach the practices of agriculture from a young age that shapes the next generation of leaders.” 

“FFA is raising up the next generation of ag and community leaders here in Nebraska and all across the country,” said Rep. Flood. “Their work is making a huge difference. This week, Congress salutes the FFA chapters in every corner of America that are teaching young leaders the skills they need to be civically engaged and to take the great paying jobs available in our ag economy.”

“I am proud to cosponsor this resolution marking February 21-28 as National FFA Week,” said Rep. Scott. “During this time, we reflect on the impact that the FFA National Organization has had on our agriculture community. The FFA helps to produce the next generation of agricultural leaders for our nation and cultivates future generations of the best growers and producers America has to offer. When you see FFA on a resume, you know that you are hiring a combination of talent and character, that is ready to take on the challenges and lead our country in the future. Happy National FFA Week.“

“The FFA has a long, proud tradition of engaging young Americans eager to grow the crops and livestock which keep our pantries full,” said Rep. Hageman. “The world-class personal and professional development programs of this key organization are curriculums to be admired by every industry. Wyoming’s nearly 5,000 members are the farmers and ranchers of tomorrow carrying the cowboy legacy of grit and determination to feed their neighbors. Recognizing the work of the FFA is critical to cultivating the next generation who will carry on our agricultural heritage as the global breadbasket.”

“National FFA Week is a time when we showcase the collective impact of FFA nationwide,” said National FFA Advisor, Dr. Travis Park. “Throughout FFA, we see our members stepping up as leaders, innovators, and advocates for agriculture. We know this happens, thanks to the dedication of agricultural teachers, FFA Alumni & Supporters, and our many partners. This week, National FFA Week, is when we celebrate the collective agricultural education ecosystem.”

“It is an exciting week for Kansas FFA members, advisors, alumni, and supporters,” said Kansas FFA State President Lillian Hulse. “During National FFA Week, everyone that has been impacted by the organization comes together to reflect on experiences and opportunities they have had in the blue corduroy jacket. The week is commemorated by highlighting the future of agriculture, chapters hosting events, members and alumni sharing memories, and continuing growth of career and leadership development.”

Click here for the text of the resolution.

The National FFA Organization is a congressionally chartered school-based national youth leadership organization of more than 1,042,245 student members as part of 9,400 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, Washington DC, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. 

Reps. Mann and Panetta are co-chairs the Congressional FFA Caucus, with more than 60 members. Reps. Mann and Panetta originally launched the Congressional FFA Caucus in December 2021. The caucus serves to raise the profile of school-based agricultural education and FFA and to develop relationships between Congress and the next generation of leaders in food and agriculture.

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

Washington, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and Mississippi’s U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, along with U.S. Representatives Jen Kiggans (R-VA-02) and Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-01), led a bipartisan group of over 150 lawmakers in calling for the U.S. Department of Education to not make changes to post-baccalaureate nursing degrees that would saddle nurses with more student loan debt. 

The lawmakers submitted public comment in response to a notice of proposed rulemaking from the U.S. Department of Education regarding changes to federal student loan programs that declassifies nursing degrees as “professional” and puts them in the same category as “graduate degrees.”

“We write with disappointment over the Department’s decision to omit post-baccalaureate nursing degrees from the regulatory definition of ‘professional degree,’” the bipartisan group of 160 lawmakers wrote. “This will make it harder for nursing students to access the loans that they need.”

“Nurses and nurse faculty make up the backbone of our health system, and post-baccalaureate nursing degrees lead to demonstrated outcomes,” the lawmakers continued. “As such, post-baccalaureate nursing degrees should be treated equally to other accredited post-baccalaureate health profession degrees.”

The lawmakers’ comment outlines their concerns over the rule’s omission of post-baccalaureate nursing degrees from the regulatory definition of “professional degree,” meaning they would be classified as a “graduate degree.” If this omission is adopted during this rulemaking, the proposed definition threatens more debt for post-baccalaureate nursing students, as student loans are currently capped for new borrowers at $20,500 annually and $100,000 in the aggregate for “graduate” programs and $50,000 annually and $200,000 in the aggregate for “professional” programs.

As leaders of the Senate and House Nursing Caucuses, Merkley, Wicker, Kiggans, and Bonamici have championed bipartisanefforts to support the more than 5 million registered nurses across the United States and address the challenges facing the nursing workforce. Merkley is the husband of a nurse, and Kiggans is one of three nurses currently serving in Congress.

The bipartisan public comment is supported by 60 organizations, including the American Association of Colleges of Nursing; American Association of Nurse Practitioners; American Nurses Association; American College of Nurse-Midwives; Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses; National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners; National Council of State Boards of Nursing; and the National League for Nursing. A full list of supporting organizations can be found by clicking here.

In addition to Merkley, Wicker, Kiggans, and Bonamici, the comment submitted to the Department of Education was signed by U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Susan Collins (R-ME), Christopher Coons (D-DE), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Richard Durbin (D-IL), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Angus King (I-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Cynthia M. Lummis (R-WY), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Christopher Murphy (D-CT), Patty Murray (D-WA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Adam B. Schiff (D-CA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Raphael G. Warnock (D-GA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR), as well as U.S. Representatives Alma Adams (D-NC-12), Gabe Amo (D-RI-01), Nanette Barragán (D-CA-44), Jack Bergman (R-MI-01), Sanford Bishop (D-GA-02), Robert Bresnahan (R-PA-08), Julia Brownley (D-CA-26), Janelle Bynum (D-OR-05), Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24), Greg Casar (D-TX-35), Ed Case (D-HI-01), Kathy Castor (D-FL-14), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL-20), Judy Chu (D-CA-28), Gilbert Cisneros (D-CA-31), Yvette Clarke (D-NY-09), Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO-05), Steve Cohen (D-TN-09), Jim Costa (D-CA-21), Joe Courtney (D-CT-02), Angie Craig (D-MN-02), Jasmine Crockett (D-TX-30), Sharice Davids (D-KS-03), Danny Davis (D-IL-07), Madeleine Dean (D-PA-04), Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03), Suzan DelBene (D-WA-01), Christopher Deluzio (D-PA-17), Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA-10), Maxine Dexter (D-OR-03), Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX-37), Sarah Elfreth (D-MD-03), Dwight Evans (D-PA-03), Cleo Fields (D-LA-06), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01), Bill Foster (D-IL-11), Valerie Foushee (D-NC-04), Laura Friedman (D-CA-30), John Garamendi (D-CA-08), Andrew Garbarino (R-NY-02), Daniel Goldman (D-NY-10), Maggie Goodlander (D-NH-02), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ-05), Al Green (D-TX-09), Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ-07), Michael Guest (R-MS-03), Jahana Hayes (D-CT-05), James Himes (D-CT-04), Val Hoyle (D-OR-04), Jared Huffman (D-CA-02), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA-07), David Joyce (R-OH-14), Robin Kelly (D-IL-02), Greg Landsman (D-OH-01), Rick Larsen (D-WA-02), John Larson (D-CT-01), Michael Lawler (R-NY-17), Summer Lee (D-PA-12), Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-NM-03), Ted Lieu (D-CA-36), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA-18), Stephen Lynch (D-MA-08), Ryan Mackenzie (R-PA-07), Seth Magaziner (D-RI-02), Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY-11), Lucy McBath (D-GA-06), Sarah McBride (D-DE-At Large), Jennifer McClellan (D-VA-04), Betty McCollum (D-MN-04), Richard McCormick (R-GA-07), Morgan McGarvey (D-KY-03), James McGovern (D-MA-02), Grace Meng (D-NY-06), Dave Min (D-CA-47), Joseph Morelle (D-NY-25), Kelly Morrison (D-MN-03), Seth Moulton (D-MA-06), James Moylan (R-GU-Delegate), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY-12), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC-Delegate), Johnny Olszewski (D-MD-02), Ilhan Omar (D-MN-05), Frank Pallone (D-NJ-06), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA-19), Chris Pappas (D-NH-01), Scott Peters (D-CA-50), Brittany Pettersen (D-CO-07), Chellie Pingree (D-ME-01), Mark Pocan (D-WI-02), Delia Ramirez (D-IL-03), Emily Randall (D-WA-06), Jamie Raskin (D-MD-08), John Rutherford (R-FL-05), Andrea Salinas (D-OR-06), Linda Sánchez (D-CA-38), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA-05), Janice Schakowsky (D-IL-09), Kim Schrier (D-WA-08), Terri Sewell (D-AL-07), Eric Sorensen (D-IL-17), Darren Soto (D-FL-09), Melanie Stansbury (D-NM-01), Haley Stevens (D-MI-11), Marilyn Strickland (D-WA-10), Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA-10), Thomas Suozzi (D-NY-03), Eric Swalwell (D-CA-14), Shri Thanedar (D-MI-13), Bennie Thompson (D-MS-02), Mike Thompson (D-CA-04), Dina Titus (D-NV-01), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI-12), Jill Tokuda (D-HI-02), Ritchie Torres (D-NY-15), Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14), Derrick Van Orden (R-WI-03), Marc Veasey (D-TX-33), James Walkinshaw (D-VA-11), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL-25), and Frederica Wilson (D-FL-24).

Full text of their bipartisan comment can be found by clicking HERE and follows below:

Dear Under Secretary Kent:  

We write regarding the Department of Education’s notice of proposed rulemaking to implement the student financial aid provisions included in Public Law 119–21. As Members of Congress who have championed legislation to strengthen the nursing workforce, we write with disappointment over the Department’s decision to omit post-baccalaureate nursing degrees from the regulatory definition of “professional degree.” As such, we strongly urge you to categorize all post-baccalaureate nursing degrees (MSN, DNP, PhD) as “professional degrees.” 

Nurses comprise the largest health care workforce in the United States, with more than 5 million registered nurses nationwide, including over 500,000 advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs). Nurses provide high-quality care to patients in all communities, including rural and urban areas, yet we are in the midst of a nursing workforce crisis in this country. According to the 2024 National Nursing Workforce Study, more than 138,000 nurses have left the workforce since 2022 due to stress, burnout, and retirement, and by 2029, almost 40 percent of nurses intend to leave the workforce. Post-baccalaureate prepared nurses are essential for patients to have access to high-quality health care in the United States, and for educating and providing clinical training for the next generation of nursing students. Given this trend, we have a strong interest in bolstering the nursing workforce, and the nursing faculty that educate them. This support extends to legislation and regulations that will make it easier for nurses to enter the field. 

The Department’s interpretation of the term “professional degree” will make it more difficult for nurses to join the health care workforce because the Department explicitly said that a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) would not satisfy the “professional degree” definition. This will make it harder for nursing students to access the loans that they need. Moreover, it is important to note that the original regulation cited by Congress, which the Department recognizes, describes a professional degree as a degree that “signifies both completion of the academic requirements for beginning practice in a given profession and a level of professional skill beyond that normally required for a bachelor’s degree.” That regulation also states that “professional licensure is also generally required.” Post-baccalaureate nursing degrees satisfy these criteria, as all APRNs must have a graduate degree, such as an MSN or a DNP, and require national certification and state licensure to practice. 

The Department also omits nursing from its definition of a “professional degree” due to its troubling explanation that degrees that may be required under state law to have a supervisory agreement or relationship with another licensed professional cannot be professional degrees. However, this particular characterization goes far beyond how professional students are defined in § 685.102 and the definition of “professional degree” in § 668.2 as intended by Congress. According to that definition, students must possess “a level of professional skill beyond that normally required for a bachelor’s degree.” These qualifications are clearly satisfied by an MSN, a DNP, a PhD in nursing. The additional limits the proposed rule places on health professionals are arbitrary and unprecedented. 

Furthermore, this new proposed limit to exclude professions that may be required under state law to have a supervisory agreement or relationship with another provider was never part of discussions by the Reimagining and Improving Student Education (RISE) Committee. Similarly, when defining the term “professional student,” the text of H.R. 1 pointed to “section 668.2 of title 34, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this paragraph).” That regulation gives specific examples of a professional degree but explicitly says that those examples “include but are not limited to” a list of professions. Congress specifically pointed to a broader regulation, but the Department has circumvented the text of H.R. 1 by including a fixed list of degrees rather than a larger group or a recognition that these examples “include but are not limited to,” as Congress intended.  

Post-baccalaureate nursing students also have a demonstrated need to access the higher borrowing limits for professional degrees set in Public Law 119–21. The law states that students earning professional degrees may borrow up to $50,000 annually and $200,000 aggregate, in contrast to students earning graduate degrees, whose borrowing limits are capped at $20,500 annually and $100,000 aggregate. In a recent survey on the impact of federal loan limits on post-baccalaureate nursing education, 81% of nursing students surveyed indicated that the $100,000 aggregate federal loan cap will negatively impact their ability to finance their education.

Similarly, the current graduate level loan cap would not meet the need of most Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) programs, which can cost over $200,000, thereby restricting the pipeline of CRNAs and further limiting an anesthesia workforce that is suffering from shortages across all provider types. For example, a recent survey of nurses showed that 75% of those surveyed reported that CRNA education would no longer be financially feasible under the new loan caps. CRNA programs have shown to be a critical return on investment, with default rates near zero percent, and a workforce that overwhelmingly provides anesthesia to rural and underserved communities where higher cost physicians do not practice. 

In addition, many post-baccalaureate nursing programs hit the annual limit of $20,500, including some programs that may be under the aggregate limit. For instance, many nurse practitioner and other post-baccalaureate academic programs operate year-round across three full-time semesters, as opposed to the traditional two-semester academic calendar, and thus cost more than $20,500 per year. A recent survey also found that 82% of nursing students reported that the $20,500 annual loan limit would negatively affect their ability to finance their education. These same students reported an average annual cost of approximately $38,500, nearly double the new annual graduate borrowing cap. Classifying these programs as graduate programs would result in these students having to take out additional student loans to cover the remainder of their tuition, which will limit the ability for students to complete their advanced degree. 

At a time when our nation is facing a health care shortage, especially in primary care, now is not the time to cut off the student pipeline to these programs. According to the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), fifty-seven percent of Medicare beneficiaries received a primary care service from an NP or physician associate (PA), and sixty-six percent of rural Medicare patients received a primary care service from an NP or PA. Consequently, we believe that post-baccalaureate nursing degrees should be included in the department’s definition of a “professional degree.”

Nurses and nurse faculty make up the backbone of our health system, and post-baccalaureate nursing degrees lead to demonstrated outcomes, with a recent study from the Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity showing that nursing was one of the top three master’s degrees for return on investment. As such, post-baccalaureate nursing degrees should be treated equally to other accredited post-baccalaureate health profession degrees. 

Thank you for your attention to this matter, and we implore you to work with us to improve and expand the nursing workforce across the country.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Joe Neguse (D-Co 2)

Ruling Reaffirms the Right and Duty of All Members of Congress to Conduct Unannounced Inspections Amid Alarming Reports of Abuse

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mike Thompson Representing the 5th District of CALIFORNIA

Washington, D.C. – Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-04) released the following statement today in response to the President’s strikes against Iran:

“In the dead of night, President Trump started an unauthorized, unconstitutional war with Iran. As a combat veteran, I know the terrible realities of war and I am deeply opposed to any unprovoked strikes carried out without Congressional authorization — authorization that is explicitly required by our constitution.

“America is going into this war alone with Israel and this president is putting U.S. troops and the entire region at risk. Not to mention the President told our nation that he destroyed Iran’s nuclear program completely last year, and is now citing the need to destroy Iran’s nuclear program as an excuse for his latest strikes. Either he was lying then, or he is lying now. We won’t go to war in the Middle East over lies once again. 

“I demand that Speaker Johnson re-convene the House and hold a vote to put every single member on record and to pass a War Powers resolution to stop this war. It’s unacceptable that members are home in their districts when we should be on the House floor taking action now.”