MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14)

WASHINGTON – Yesterday, House Republicans dismissed the House and left Washington for holiday break without scheduling a vote on Rep. Lauren Underwood’s legislation to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits for an additional three years. Four Republicans joined Democrats on a discharge petition to force a vote on the legislation on Wednesday, but House Speaker Mike Johnson ignored that bipartisan consensus, and has delayed the vote to January.

The popular tax credits will expire on December 31^st, 2025, and millions of families will now go into the holiday season facing skyrocketing health care costs next year.

“Health care is a human right, and for months we have called on Republicans to address this issue and give families peace of mind by making the incredibly popular tax credits from my legislation permanent,” said Rep Underwood. “But they have done nothing, and now millions of families will head into the holiday season filled with uncertainty and anxiety about the future of our health care. This is a crisis that Republicans have created through their own cruelty and neglect. It’s completely unacceptable, and our communities deserve better.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bruce Westerman (AR-04)

Over the past several months, the House Natural Resources Committee has been tirelessly at work to introduce, and ultimately pass, a once-in-a-generation piece of legislation called the Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development (SPEED) Act. As this is such a notable bill, it has been a great honor to lead the charge in getting this legislation across the finish line that will cut burdensome federal red tape and get America – and Arkansas – building again.

Christmas came early as the House voted this week to pass this piece of legislation that received letters of support from all fifty states.

A bill for every American across every industry, reforming the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) permitting process through the SPEED Act will ultimately reduce unnecessary delays and make it easier for local governments to access the resources they need in order to complete economy-stimulating projects in a timely manner.

You may not realize it but permitting touches all aspects of life, from the ability to complete roadways and bridges that can prevent traffic jams all the way to the ability to lower the cost of your monthly electricity bill. This isn’t just legislation for large, federal industries, it’s a bill for you and every other taxpaying Arkansan. 

Passing this bill means improving road conditions for farmers hauling equipment and goods to market. It’s faster completion of bridge repairs and rural road resurfacing projects. Permitting reform means enhanced access to economic opportunity instead of being tied down by delays in permitting that hold back local governments. And it means a more responsive government that can work at the speed our communities need instead of the pace of Washington’s red tape.

The SPEED Act is a commitment to empowering our local leaders, supporting our rural economy, and ensuring that communities across the Fourth District aren’t left waiting for infrastructure that should have been built years ago. It’s been an honor to work on such a vital piece of legislation that will have direct impacts on dinner table issues. I look forward to seeing the SPEED Act move quickly through the Senate so that we can get this bill signed into law.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bruce Westerman (AR-04)

In a time where countries like China, Russia, and other bad actors stand at the ready for any opportunity to undermine our nation’s democracy – or democracy across the globe – it is crucial that our nation’s defense stands ready and prepared. This week, the House voted to pass the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026, and it was a privilege to vote for this legislation that was not only a win for our national security but our own Arkansas communities.

Our soldiers are owed a debt of gratitude. And while we will certainly never be able to repay that debt, Congress has the ability to craft legislation that supports our troops and improves their quality of life while they defend democracy.

With a 3.8% pay raise for all servicemembers, expanding and reauthorizing military bonuses and special pay, increasing Family Separation Allowance, and improving the Basic Allowance for Housing to keep up with the rising cost of rent, Congress is fiscally supporting our troops in ways that are designed to enhance their quality of life so that they can not only take care of their own needs, but the needs of their families and loved ones.

Access to quality health care has long been a desperate need not only for our Veterans, but our active-duty service members. This year’s NDAA works to renovate military hospitals and even build new medical facilities that will provide this needed access to specialty care. Whether it’s bolstering mental health services or lowering the threshold for travel reimbursement for medical appointments from 100 miles to 75 miles, there is no question that this bill has the well-being of our troops in mind.

Our own state was also the recipient of multiple wins that were authorized in the NDAA. Arkansas is proud to stand on the global stage of munitions production, greatly supporting our nation’s readiness capabilities and position as a global defense leader. Supporting organic industrial base sites in the Fourth District, like Pine Bluff Arsenal, through the addition of more production lines and modernization initiatives will only continue to bolster our Pine Bluff community by creating more jobs and economic wins for the surrounding area. 

Additionally, supporting the East Camden community through the evaluation of U.S. stockpiles of critical munitions that are widely produced by major defense contractors not only positively impacts the Camden economy, but keeps Arkansas punching above its weight as it contributes a large portion of our nation’s munitions stockpile.

I’m always proud to support good, commonsense bills that bolster our nation’s defense, support our troops, and create wins for the Fourth District of Arkansas. This week’s passage of NDAA for Fiscal Year 2026 certainly met those goals, and I look forward to continuing to work to deliver America-first legislation.

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

View the Designed 2025 End of Year Update HERE!

As 2025 comes to a close, here’s a look back at what my team and I have done…

Delivering for Constituents

Supporting Fourth District residents like you is the cornerstone of all that we do at Team Thompson. Since the start of this year, my staff and I have worked with federal agencies to return $19,942,459.62 to residents of our district and helped 2,215 constituents receive assistance from the federal government. 

My team and I have responded to over 214,498 letters, emails, and phone calls from community members and scheduled 329 White House and Capitol tours for constituents. 

I’m pleased to report that my team and I have reached more constituents than ever before through town halls and community events this year. I hosted over 20 town halls, reaching more than 20,000 people in our community in-person and online to answer your questions about my work for our community. 

My team and I were pleased to expand our regular office hours this year, too, to reach people where they live throughout our district and to provide an easy way for community members to speak one-on-one with a member of my staff about any challenges or concerns they face. If you’d like to be notified when my team hosts office hours in your area, sign up for my e-newsletter. 

If you or someone you know needs help with passports and visas, veterans benefits, IRS issues, agricultural issues, small business assistance, immigration, Medicare and Medicaid, or if you are facing any other problem navigating the federal government, my team is ready to help. Click here or call me at one of my offices to get started:

Napa: (707) 226-9898

Santa Rosa: (707) 542-7182

Woodland: (530) 753-3501

Washington: (202) 225-3311

It’s my honor to serve you, and my team and I are prepared to help in any way we can to ensure you get the support you need. 

Hear from some constituents we helped this year:

I want to say THANK YOU for all the assistance [Rep. Thompson] provided in helping to resolve my issue with the FAA. I had an accident in October of 2024 and because of that accident, I was unable to retain my pilot privileges until I could get it reinstated. I am a flight instructor and this is how I make my living and support my family. With [Rep. Thompson’s] help and guidance, I was able to get my pilot privileges reinstated. It is my belief that without the assistance of your office, this process would have been significantly delayed.

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Tim from Lake County

 

The IRS was mistakenly demanding thousands of dollars from me; for a year I couldn’t get them to admit their error. At my wit’s end, I called Mike Thompson’s office. [His staff] listened, collected all my information and began advocating for me. His persistence and skill made all the difference; finally got resolution and vindication. Many, many thanks for this invaluable service!

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Christina from Napa County

 

My Social Security benefit was incorrectly reduced, and for over a year I couldn’t get a response from the Social Security Administration. My wife urged me to reach out to Congressman Mike Thompson’s office, and I met his staff during office hours in Dixon. Within a week, SSA corrected my benefit and sent $5,000 in back pay. I’m truly grateful for the Congressman and his dedicated staff—they made a real difference.

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Mahdi from Solano County

 

I am a Navy veteran suffering the health effects of radiation exposure while on active duty. I had fought with the VA bureaucracy for sixteen years for compensation and had my claim denied on my third and final appeal. I had lost all hope. That’s when Congressman Thompson stepped in. Through his tireless efforts this injustice was reversed and I was granted 100% service-connected disability and compensation. I can now focus my energy and attention on my health instead of reams of fruitless paperwork. Thank you Congressman Thompson.

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Paul from Sonoma County

 

I am a U.S. citizen, and I applied for my parents’ immigration. After waiting for more than a year without any updates, I wrote to [Congressman Thompson] for help. His team responded to my email quickly and contacted USCIS on my behalf. In less than a month, USCIS approved my parents’ cases. I am truly grateful to the staff for helping me with the difficulties I encountered.

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Dan from Yolo County

Legislative Update

As we close out the first session of the 119^th Congress, I’m proud to report that I have introduced or co-sponsored 216 bills. This includes my legislation to:

• Lower The Cost of Living: Dignity should not be a luxury. As families in our community are squeezed by higher prices thanks to the President’s tariff war, I’m leading a comprehensive bill designed to make it easier to afford a house, make rent, care for your kids and elderly family members, afford college, and have health care.

• Stop Rising Energy Bills: I wrote the renewable energy bill that created over $211 million in investments in our district. After the President slashed these investments, I’m once again fighting alongside climate advocates, labor leaders, and local elected officials to reinstate these investments to lower your energy bills and create good paying jobs here at home. 

• Tackle The Home Insurance Crisis: Property insurance has quickly become one of the single biggest issues in our community. People can’t get covered: either the available options are completely unaffordable, or there are no options available at all. That’s why I lead a bipartisan bill to help homeowners and business owners mitigate disaster risks on their property. This will help incentivize insurers back into the market and bring rates back into more affordable territory.

• Expand Health Care Access: Since my days in the California State Senate, I’ve been a big believer in telehealth’s ability to save money, time, and lives. That’s why Congress passed my legislation to extend telehealth access for seniors on Medicare. Now, I’m working to make telehealth coverage permanent. 

• Promote Mental Health Research: Investing in brain research is key to addressing the root causes of mental health conditions, not just managing the symptoms. That’s why I’m working to pass my bipartisan bill to incentivize private companies with financial resources to collaborate with academic or nonprofit research institutions on neurological and mental health research to tackle the root causes of mental health conditions.

• Ensure Fire Prevention and Readiness: Our community knows firsthand the impact breathing wildfire smoke can have on our health. As wildfire smoke and extreme heat become more and more common, my Smoke and Heat Ready Communities Act will help experts better research the impact of wildfire smoke on our communities and provide communities the resources they need to keep Americans safe. 

• Keep Our Community Safe: As Chair of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force in Congress, I’m leading the charge to pass sensible policies that keep our communities safe. That includes driving policies like expanded background checks for firearm purchases.  

In 2026, I look forward to continuing my work to pass sensible legislation that will deliver for our district and improve your quality of life, and I remain committed to working with anyone who will help get these priorities signed into law.

Delivering Long-Awaited Relief to Wildfire Victims

As many of you know too well, federally declared wildfires in 2015, 2017, and 2018 devastated entire communities across our district and across the state of California. 

While the courts eventually created a path to compensation, victims were subjected to unfair taxes on their settlement money. That’s why I worked across the aisle to draft and pass legislation providing tax relief to victims of federally declared disasters who face taxes on settlement money. The relief applies retroactively to qualified victims. 

Last year, President Biden signed into law my bill delivering tax relief to wildfire victims. This year, I’m happy to report that I worked with the IRS to ensure this relief was rolled out immediately to qualified survivors. 

While no fire victim can ever be made truly whole, this law is now providing needed and deserved relief to thousands in our community and across our country. 

Connecting With More People Than Ever

Over the past year, we ramped up our digital presence in a big way to ensure our community’s voice is heard nationwide. Across all social media platforms, we’ve shared more than 6,500 posts that have been viewed more than 18 million times. We’ve added over 25,000 new followers to our online community in just one year. And each of you participating aren’t just watching — you are asking smart questions, sharing ideas, and pushing for sensible policies out of Washington. If you aren’t already part of our online community, you can follow me on Facebook, Instagram, X, Bluesky, Threads, YouTube, and LinkedIn. 

A Look Ahead To 2026

My priorities next year will remain the same: delivering for our district and helping every American live a healthy and successful life. I am committed to working with anyone in Congress to fight for our democracy and to advance the issues that matter to our district.

I am honored to represent California’s Fourth District in Congress and look forward to continuing to serve our community in 2026. 

I wish you and your family a happy, peaceful, and prosperous new year.

Sincerely,

Mike Thompson

Member of Congress

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-07) and Congressmen Jason Crow (CO-06), Scott Peters (CA-52), Seth Moulton (MA-06), and Derek Tran (CA-45) led a group of 61 total lawmakers calling on the Trump administration to stop pushing divisive policies that unfairly target Afghan nationals.

In their letter to Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the lawmakers noted that the Trump administration’s policies will “scapegoat all Afghans and entire nationalities” and put at risk vulnerable Afghans who stood alongside the United States and seek a life free of the Taliban’s repression, discrimination, and violence.

Following the shooting of Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe and tragic death of Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, the Trump administration moved to close nearly all legal pathways Afghan nationals have to resettle in the United States. Included within that change is the suspension of the longstanding Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program, which is open to those who fought alongside American forces in Afghanistan. Their decision is among other deeply troubling actions taken by this Administration like terminating Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Afghanistan, indefinitely pausing all refugee resettlement, including Afghanistan in a blanket travel ban in June, and eliminating a travel ban exception for Afghan SIV holders effective January 1, 2026

“The horrific actions of one individual should not be used to vilify every individual from Afghanistan who legally seeks to live in the United States. Afghans who enter the country with a Special Immigrant Visa (SIV), with humanitarian parole, through the refugee resettlement process, or who claim asylum, are subject to a thorough vetting process that can take months to years,” wrote the lawmakers. 

“Exploiting this tragedy to sow division and inflame fear will not make America safer,” the lawmakers continued. “Abandoning those who made the courageous choice to stand beside us signals to those we may need as allies in the future that we cannot be trusted to honor our commitments. That is a mistake we cannot afford.” 

We have seen the fallout of these actions directly in the Sacramento region.  In the direct aftermath of President Trump and Secretary Noem’s intensified xenophobic rhetoric about immigrant communities, NorCal Resist and members of the Afghan Community reported multiple Afghan asylum applicants were targeted and detained by ICE. On December 5, Congresswoman Matsui, alongside partners from NorCal Resist and CAIR-SVCC, went to the John E. Moss Federal building in downtown Sacramento to condemn the Trump Administration’s actions and push back. 

Congresswoman Matsui and her staff have worked diligently in assisting constituents with Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) applications. Earlier this year she led a letter with 42 lawmakers expressing serious concern over the significant and harmful impact of Trump’s executive orders to halt refugee processing and admissions and upend the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program for our Afghan allies. Additionally in 2021, the Congresswoman introduced the Afghan and Iraqi Allies Resettlement Improvement Act. This bill would allow the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to include SIVs as part of its annual survey of refugees, as well as direct the U.S. Department of Defense and U.S. Department of State to create programs to employ SIVs. 

A copy of the letter is HERE and below. 

Dear Secretary Rubio and Secretary Noem: 

We write with concern regarding the Trump administration’s response to the horrific shooting of two members of the National Guard on November 26, 2025.

We share our condolences with the loved ones of Specialist Sarah Beckstrom and pray for Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe’s continued recovery. There is no acceptable justification for the use of violence. We wholeheartedly condemn the shooter’s actions and expect that he will be held accountable for his actions to the fullest extent of the law.

The horrific actions of one individual should not be used to vilify every individual from Afghanistan who legally seeks to live in the United States. Afghans who enter the country with a Special Immigrant Visa (SIV), with humanitarian parole, through the refugee resettlement process, or who claim asylum, are subject to a thorough vetting process that can take months to years. Many Afghans continue to face persecution from the Taliban, live in dangerous conditions, or are separated from loved ones as they wait for this process to be completed. Individuals are already vetted through numerous interagency databases including through the Departments of Defense, Homeland Security, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the National Counterterrorism Center.

The decision to immediately cease processing all immigration requests relating to Afghan nationals, including those eligible for SIVs, risks the lives of Afghan allies who fought and served alongside American servicemembers. This decision follows actions by the Trump administration to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Afghanistan, to indefinitely pause all refugee resettlement including Afghans under Priority-1 and Priority-2 categories, to include Afghanistan as one of an original 19 countries on a travel ban, and to seek to deport individuals legally in the country through humanitarian parole programs. Closing every avenue for Afghan nationals – including those who directly supported our mission and troops on the ground in Afghanistan – to seek safety in the United States is wrong.

The administration has further paused all asylum decisions for asylum seekers in the United States, announced it would review immigration applications granted for people from countries included on the travel ban list, including Afghanistan, since January 2021, eliminated a travel ban exception for Afghan SIV holders, and publicly floated calls for “denaturalization” or “remigration.” Once again, this administration has embraced a sledgehammer rather than a scalpel. Collective blame is dangerous, reactionary, and short-sighted.

Exploiting this tragedy to sow division and inflame fear will not make America safer. Abandoning those who made the courageous choice to stand beside us signals to those we may need as allies in the future that we cannot be trusted to honor our commitments. That is a mistake we cannot afford.

We made a promise to our Afghan allies who bravely stood alongside us during 20 years of war and to those who legally seek a life free of the Taliban’s repression, discrimination, and violence. The administration’s response will put those most vulnerable at greater risk, and we urge you to rescind policies that scapegoat all Afghans and entire nationalities for one man’s actions.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA)

The company’s proposed acquisition of Tegna is presumptively illegal because it would allow Nexstar to exceed national caps on station ownership

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Sanford D Bishop Jr (GA-02)

WASHINGTON – Specialty Crop Caucus Co-Chairs Rep. Sanford Bishop (GA-02), Rep. Jim Costa (CA-21), Rep. David Rouzer (NC-07), and Rep. David Valadao (CA-22), joined by 103 Members of Congress, sent a bipartisan letter to the House and Senate Agriculture Committees urging immediate and equitable relief for specialty crop producers. 

The letter comes in response to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) Program, which allocates $11 billion to row crop producers, and $1 billion is reserved for specialty crops and other commodities, with little clarity on payment structure or timing. 

Specialty crops—including fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, greenhouse, nursery, and floriculture products—represent one of the most economically significant and labor-intensive sectors of U.S. agriculture, generating more than $75 billion annually in cash receipts. Yet specialty crop producers continue to face rising costs and market disruptions without receiving proportional relief. 

Between 2020 and 2025, specialty crop growers paid: 

• 25% more for pesticides
• 31% more for fuel
• 37% more for fertilizer
• Nearly 50% more for labor 

These cost increases were not matched by comparable increases in crop prices, placing significant strain on growers across the country. 

In their letter, the Members stress that while USDA has stated that $1 billion will be reserved for specialty crops, details regarding eligibility, payment formulas, and timelines remain unclear. The co-chairs urge the Agriculture Committees to press USDA to ensure these funds are distributed quickly, fairly, and in a manner that reflects the unique structure of specialty crop operations. 

“Specialty crop growers contribute over $75 billion annually to the U.S. economy, yet they continue to face rising input costs, limited access to labor, trade disruptions, and other unprecedented challenges. As USDA rolls out the Farmer Bridge Assistance Program, we urge the Agriculture Committees to ensure that the $1 billion set aside for specialty crops is distributed quickly, fairly, and equitably, so growers can continue producing for our nation and remain globally competitive,” said the bipartisan Specialty Crop Caucus Co-Chairs.

“After months of uncertainty, specialty crop growers urgently need clarity and meaningful relief, and we appreciate the Specialty Crop Caucus for elevating this issue and making clear that specialty crops must be included in any relief package for American agriculture,” the co-chairs of the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance said. “Specialty crops are both an economic engine and the source of the most nutritious foods in the American diet, but current policies fail to reflect their importance to public health and food security. We strongly support the Caucus’s call for USDA to act swiftly, provide transparency, and build on proven relief models such as the Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops Program (MASC) and CFAP-2 to ensure assistance reaches growers quickly and fairly. Specialty crop growers cannot afford further delay, and we urge congressional leadership and the Administration to move immediately to deliver proportional, transparent, and timely relief that reflects the economic significance and unique cost structures of specialty crop agriculture.” 

Previous programs, including the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP-2) and the Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops (MASC) Program, demonstrated tailored formulas and streamlined delivery systems ensure relief reaches producers efficiently. 

The Members emphasize USDA should build on these proven models as they proceed with implementation of the FBA Program. The Specialty Crop Caucus is calling on congressional leadership and the Administration to prioritize parity, transparency, and urgency, ensuring specialty crop producers receive the support necessary to remain competitive, sustain rural economies, and continue supplying safe, affordable food to consumers nationwide. 

Background: USDA Farmer Bridge Assistance Program Announced December 8, 2025: 

• $12 billion total in assistance
  • $11 billion designated for row crops
  • $1 billion reserved for commodities not covered by the FBA Program; payment timelines and details are still being finalized based on market impacts and economic needs.
• Payments for row crops are expected as early as February 28, 2026

Find the full letter here.

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

WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (IL-02) introduced the bipartisan and bicameral NIH Clinical Trial Integrity Act to increase the diversity of participants in clinical trials funded by the National Institutes of Health. This bill is also led by U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and U.S. Senators Andy Kim (D-NJ) and Susan Collins (R-ME).

“When people are excluded from clinical trials, they are also excluded from treatments for chronic diseases. The data clearly lays out the fact that historically marginalized communities disproportionately suffer from certain illnesses and diseases – but we are excluded from clinical trials,” said Rep. Kelly, Chair of the CBC Health Braintrust. “I’m proud to work with my colleagues across the aisle and in the Senate to ensure better representation in our clinical trials. No one should be left behind in the pursuit of medical breakthroughs.”

“Medical breakthroughs are only as strong as the data behind them—and data that excludes entire communities is incomplete by definition,” said Representative Fitzpatrick. “The NIH Clinical Trial Integrity Act strengthens the integrity of our research by ensuring clinical trials reflect the full diversity of the patients they are meant to serve. This bipartisan, bicameral effort is about inclusion, accountability, and better science—so that lifesaving treatments work for everyone.”

“Biomedical research holds tremendous promise for treating many of the most costly and devastating diseases we face. To ensure that the benefits of cutting-edge medical science reach all Americans, it is important that participants in clinical trials reflect our overall population,” said Senator Collins. “By encouraging long-term planning and improving demographic representation in clinical studies, this bipartisan legislation would help enhance the effectiveness of critical research that is conducted and sponsored by the NIH.”

“We have a responsibility to ensure Americans of all backgrounds have fair and equal access to treatment and care. This needs to begin with fair and equal representation in the earliest stages of health research and testing, including clinical trials,” said Senator Kim. “I hope we can come together to use this legislation as a tool to combat dangerous and persistent health inequities that are putting communities of color and diverse backgrounds at-risk.”

The NIH Clinical Trial Integrity Act will:

•    Require NIH to work with clinical trial sponsors to develop clear and measurable recruitment and retention goals based on disease/condition prevalence as well as a rationale for specified goals and a recruitment plan;
•    Ensure the availability of less burdensome follow-ups during clinical trials (e.g. fewer follow ups, phone participation, weekend hours) to increase participation of underrepresented populations;
•    Launch a public awareness campaign across federal agencies related to research participation opportunities.

The bill has been endorsed by the Association of Black Cardiologists, Patient Access Network (PAN) Foundation, Blood Cancer United, Susan G. Komen Foundation, American Psychological Association, National Organizations for Rare Disease (NORD), TOUCH: The Black Breast Cancer Alliance, Doctors for America.

Read the full bill text here.
 

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

WASHINGTON – After announcing the WELLS Act, U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (IL-02) continues to take action and demand accountability for her constituent, Mercedes Wells, who was discharged while in active labor. She sent letters to five of the largest health insurance companies, the Office of Inspector General at the health department, and Health Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr.

“Racism in our healthcare system is preventing Black women from receiving the treatment they need and deserve,” said Rep. Kelly. “I’m working on this issue at every angle, from health insurance companies to hospital systems to federal investigations and legislation. We all have a role in improving our healthcare system. I brought the issue of maternal mortality to Congress. I will keep sharing Mercedes’s story, and uplifting the voices of women who have gone unheard, until every mother gets the care she deserves.”

Reps. Kelly, Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), and 31 Members of Congress sent a letter demanding investigations into the hospitals that mistreated Wells and Karrie Jones, another Black woman who was delayed care, to the Office of Inspector General at the Department of Health and Human Services. Formal investigations should be launched to determine whether Franciscan Health in Crown Point, Indiana, and Dallas Regional Medical Center violated the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor (EMTALA) Act of 1986.

“These cases [of Mercedes Wells and Karrie Jones] are not isolated failures; they are part of the ongoing warnings of the Black maternal health crisis, heightened by funding cuts for maternal health and equity,” wrote the Members. “Federal protections like EMTALA mean little without enforcement, transparency, and accountability.”

Read the full letter here.

Reps. Kelly, Yvette Clarke (NY-09), and 49 Members of Congress sent a letter urging Secretary Kennedy to wield his department’s oversight powers to ensure hospitals adhere to patient-safety standards. Hospitals must also comply with civil rights protections of the Affordable Care Act, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race.

“These failures in judgment and oversight are unacceptable and raise serious concerns about whether hospitals receiving federal funds are meeting their obligations under federal law, including patient safety standards and nondiscrimination requirements,” wrote the members.

Read the full letter here.

Rep. Kelly also sent letters to the CEOs of major health insurance companies, including Humana, UnitedHealth Group, Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, and Cigna Group. She is urging health insurance companies to utilize their market position to improve policies and outcomes for patients.

As she writes in her letter, “While your organization is not a direct provider of hospital services, health insurance companies play a pivotal role in shaping hospital standards through contracting requirements, quality metrics, and network adequacy.”

Read the full letters to Jim Rechtin with Humana, Stephen Hemsely with United Health Group, Steve Nelson with Aetna, Kim Keck with Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, and David Cordani with Cigna Group.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05)

Today, U.S. Representatives Mike Quigley (IL-05), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Sarah McBride (DE-At Large), and Valerie Foushee (NC-04) re-introduced the Protecting the Rights of Towns against federal Enforcement contrary to Constitutional Tenets for (PROTECT) Immigration Act, legislation which would end the deputization of local and state police departments to enforce immigration law. The PROTECT Immigration Act would rescind the statutory authority for the federal government’s 287(g) Program, which allows the Department of Homeland Security to enter into agreements with state and local law enforcement agencies to enforce federal immigration law.

“The Trump administration just spent months terrorizing immigrants in the Chicagoland area. Their actions led to domestic violence victims fleeing a courthouse rather than receive restraining orders against their abusers, all out of fear that ICE or local law enforcement would detain and deport them,” said Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05). “I met with immigrants and their neighbors who are afraid to call for help or report crimes in their neighborhoods because of Trump’s deliberate erosion of trust between communities and local police. And now the Trump administration is running ads targeting local police and offering $50,000 signing bonuses to pull critical law enforcement away from day-to-day policing in order to arrest and detain hardworking immigrants with no criminal records. We must bring an end to the 287(g) program and cut off one of the avenues this administration has exploited to intimidate immigrant communities.”

“Allowing local law enforcement to be deputized to kidnap and disappear immigrants undercuts the trust that local police rely on to maintain public safety in our communities,” said Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07). “Immigrants and their U.S. citizen loved ones stop reporting crimes out of fear of being kidnapped and deported. Local police are spread thin enforcing federal civil immigration law. We know that Trump is not targeting criminals, he is targeting our friends, neighbors, co-workers, and pillars of our community. This lawlessness must end immediately.”

“I’m proud to co-lead this legislation with Congressman Quigley to restore trust, safety, and integrity to our immigration system. For too long, the 287(g) program has drained local resources, fueled racial profiling, and made communities less safe — and it’s time we end it. The PROTECT Immigration Act makes clear that immigration enforcement belongs with trained federal authorities, guaranteeing that local law enforcement can focus exclusively on keeping our communities safe. This bill would take a step toward restoring trust between local communities and police departments so every family can live with dignity and without fear,” said Representative Sarah McBride (DE-At Large).

“The Trump Administration’s attempt to expand the 287(g) Program is a direct assault on civil rights and the Constitution,” said Representative Valerie Foushee (NC-04). “Having served in local law enforcement for more than 20 years, I know policing should protect and support our communities, not divide it, and deputizing local officers into immigration enforcers only erodes public trust, undermines public safety, and deepens fear. We need laws in place that restore fairness and uphold justice. That’s why I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing the PROTECT Immigration Act, which will reverse this harmful program and take an important step toward repairing the flaws in our broken immigration system.”

“In just one year, the Trump administration has massively expanded the 287(g) program and distorted it in ways Congress never intended, exploiting local law enforcement resources for its dystopian mass deportation agenda,” said Naureen Shah, director of policy and government affairs for the ACLU’s Equality Division. “Enlisting local law enforcement for mass deportations isn’t just a waste of taxpayer dollars – it terrorizes our communities, undermines public safety and fuels racial profiling. We thank Congressman Quigley for his leadership and urge our members of Congress to pass the PROTECT Immigration Act without delay.”

“The rapid expansion of the 287(g) program under the Trump administration represents yet another way that mass deportation undermines public safety for all Americans. When local police serve as a force multiplier for ICE, people become more afraid to report crime and less trusting of local police officers.  Local law enforcement agencies should prioritize real public safety concerns in their communities rather than waste limited manpower making traffic stops that turn into detention and deportation for long-standing community members who pose no threat. The PROTECT Act takes the overdue step of repealing a program that is unnecessary for effective enforcement of immigration laws, but continues to have a harmful track record for public safety,” said Nayna Gupta, Policy Director at the American Immigration Council.

Quigley has championed the PROTECT Immigration Act since 2017.

The PROTECT Immigration Act would:

• Repeal the statutory authority for the 287(g) Program; and
• Clarify that state and local law enforcement lack “inherent authority” to arrest people for suspected immigration offenses.

The legislation is also cosponsored by U.S. Representatives Eleanor Holmes Norton (Del.-DC), Sarah Jacobs (CA-51), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), Danny K. Davis (IL-07), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Robert Garcia (CA-42), Henry “Hank” Johnson (GA-04), Robin Kelly (IL-02), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12).