MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Johnson (LA-04)

DEMOCRATS’ DHS SHUTDOWN: BY THE NUMBERS

“It is inexcusable that Democrats continue to shut down the American government over and over, hurting American citizens and jeopardizing the security of our homeland — on purpose — to protect illegal aliens.” – Speaker Johnson

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Linda Sanchez (38th District of CA)

WASHINGTON – Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee Ranking Member Linda T. Sánchez (D-Calif.) today introduced the Trade Adjustment Assistance Modernization Act, a bill to renew the Trade Adjustment Assistance program, which Congress allowed to lapse in 2022.

Video of today’s bill introduction press conference is available HERE.

Trade Adjustment Assistance provides displaced U.S. workers with critical support, including job training, income support, health care assistance and reemployment services. Workers who went through the program earned, on average, $50,000 more over a 10-year period than those who did not access the program.

Since the program expired, nearly 200,000 workers have filed petitions to receive assistance through the program, but their cases are still pending due to the lapse in congressional authorization.

“Every day Congress fails to act, American workers and their families are left to struggle,” said Ranking Member Sánchez. “They are not economic statistics. They are our friends and neighbors who unfairly lost their jobs to outsourcing. Trade Adjustment Assistance is a lifeline to them, helping them rebuild their careers, protect their families and hold on to hope. Congress cannot abandon them any longer.”

The TAA Modernization Act would:

• Reauthorize TAA for Workers, TAA for Firms and TAA for Farmers programs for seven years.
• Address shortcomings in the program by expanding eligibility, increasing funding and improving benefits (such as providing for childcare expenses).
• Establish a new TAA Communities program and reinject funding into the popular and successful TAA for Community Colleges program.

In addition to Sánchez, the bill is cosponsored by Representatives Richard Neal (D-Mass.), Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas), Mike Thompson (D-Calif.), John Larson (D-Conn.), Danny Davis (D-Ill.), Terri Sewell (D-Ala.), Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.), Judy Chu (D-Calif.), Gwen Moore (D-Wis.), Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.), Don Beyer (D-Va.), Dwight Evans (D-Pa.), Brad Schneider (D-Ill.), Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.), Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.), Steven Horsford (D-Nev.), Stacey Plaskett (D-V.I.), Thomas Suozzi (D-N.Y.) and Morgan McGarvey (D-Ky.).

The bill is endorsed by the AFL-CIO, Communication Workers of America (CWA); International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM); International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW); International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE); International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW); and United Steelworkers (USW).

“For years, the Trade Adjustment Assistance program has acted as a lifeline for workers who have had their jobs stolen by unfair trade policies or corporate outsourcing that seeks to exploit low wages and poor conditions abroad,” said Jody Calemine, director of advocacy at the AFL-CIO. “But right now nearly 200,000 workers who may be eligible for training opportunities, transition support and other tools they need to get back on their feet cannot access these benefits because Congress has failed to act. The AFL-CIO applauds Representative Linda Sánchez for introducing the Trade Adjustment Assistance Modernization Act, leading the fight to support workers and communities across our country who have been hurt by unfair trade policies, and we call on Congress to support this legislation and renew this critical program.”

“The IAM knows firsthand how critical the TAA program is to workers who lost their jobs as a result of outsourcing and unfair trade practices,” said President Brian Bryant, IAM International. “When Caterpillar shuttered its Joliet, Ill., facility in 2018 and 2019 and moved roughly 600 IAM jobs to Mexico, TAA was there. When Truck-Lite closed its Falconer, N.Y., plant in early 2020 and shipped more than 150 jobs to Mexico and China, TAA was there. Now, nearly 400 Whirlpool workers in Amana, Iowa, are losing their jobs to Mexico, with hundreds more cuts expected later this year. Without TAA reauthorization, these workers lose not just their paychecks, but the job training and financial support they need to rebuild their lives. That’s not just a blow to workers, it’s a blow to their families and their communities.”

“The working class shouldn’t be the collateral damage of a broken system that rigs trade to benefit corporations and billionaires while shipping jobs overseas,” said President Shawn Fain, UAW. “Congress must prioritize keeping work here at home and ensure that workers – not CEOs or shareholders – are at the front end of trade discussions, not an afterthought after the rich have divvied up their share. Every worker deserves real support when companies shutter plants and abandon domestic production. It’s past time to fix a system that leaves workers behind and restore even the bare minimum protections through an updated Trade Adjustment Assistance program.” 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jason Crow (CO-06)

WASHINGTON — Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO)—a combat veteran and Co-Chair of House Democrats’ National Security Task Force, and a member of the House Armed Services Committee and House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence—today called on Congress to rein in President Trump’s military adventurism and war in Iran.

Crow spoke at the weekly House Democratic Caucus press conference alongside Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar, Democratic Caucus Vice Chair Ted Lieu, and fellow House Democratic veterans.

Watch Congressman Crow’s remarks here, and find a transcript of them below.

In his remarks, Crow said:

“After trillions of dollars, thousands of American lives, decades of endless conflict, my entire adult life, a quarter of a century of American war, here we go again. 

“Donald Trump campaigned on ending the wars because he knew, at the time, that that’s what Americans wanted, and still want. And yet, here we go again.

“I learned when I was fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan that when elites in Washington bang the war drums, pound their chest, talk about the costs of war, and act tough, they’re not talking about them doing it. They’re not talking about their kids or their billionaire donors picking up rifles, jumping into planes, jumping into helicopters. They’re talking about working-class kids like us. 

“They’re talking about those in small towns and farms and ranches across the country that have to actually do the work, that have to fight and die, and the American people that have to pay for all of it. Americans have had enough.

“Now, don’t get us wrong. We believe in American strength. We believe in American engagement. We believe that America has a role to play in the world, and we will not hesitate to use our military and our strength to protect Americans and to protect our vital interests when it’s necessary. But it’s very clear in this instance that there is no imminent threat. And this is a war of choice by Donald Trump. 

“There’s a lot of talk and discussion in D.C. sometimes about notification requirements and process and procedure and what the Constitution requires. And I understand that a lot of Americans who are just trying to raise families and build businesses don’t immerse themselves in these debates. But I’ll tell you why that is important, why what we’re talking about resuming our control is important. Because it’s about accountability. 

“It’s not simply just about our interest in being involved in notifying. It’s about accountability. Because nobody is going to sit here and tell me that after 20 years of war in Iraq and Afghanistan, failed military endeavors, that if this Congress hadn’t been forced to debate and vote and finance year after year and to take the accountability for this and to put the American people back in the driver’s seat for these conflicts, that they wouldn’t have ended sooner or differently. 

“That’s what this is about. Putting the American people back in the driver’s seat to decide when they want to finance these wars, when they are willing to send their sons and daughters to fight and die for our interests. 

“We will be relentless in pursuing that accountability and that transparency and putting the American people back in the driver’s seat for the most important decision that their government can make.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett (USVI)

Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett (D-VI) released the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Territorial Student Access to Higher Education Act, bipartisan legislation that guarantees in-state tuition rates for students from the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa. The bill, led by the territorial Members, passed the House floor today following debate and a full vote, marking a historic milestone in the decades-long fight to expand affordable higher education access for territorial students pursuing degrees on the mainland. 

The legislation amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require public institutions receiving federal funds to charge eligible territorial residents no more than the in-state tuition rate. Out-of-state tuition can be two to three times higher than in-state rates, representing a significant deterrent for families who already face higher costs of living, limited degree options on-island and the added burden of long-distance relocation. 

“Today is a historic day for students and families across the U.S. territories,” said Congresswoman Plaskett. “Since my first term in office, I have advocated for legislation to expand in-state tuition access for students in the Virgin Islands and the other U.S. territories. In 2022, I secured a provision in the Build Back Better Act, which passed in the U.S. House of Representatives, that would have established a college access grants program to cover the difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition rates for students from the territories. Today, the House has spoken clearly: our students deserve the same educational opportunities and pathways to success as their peers in the states. Guaranteeing in-state tuition is essential to reducing the burden of student debt and opening doors to the careers and training needed to strengthen our local economies. I am proud to have fought alongside my colleagues to advance this legislation, and I urge the Senate to act swiftly so that we can deliver this long-overdue relief to territorial students and families.” 

“The passage of H.R. 6472 marks a significant step toward ensuring true parity for American students living in the territories,” Congressman Moylan (R-GU) said. “Too many of our students leave home to pursue degrees that simply aren’t available locally, and too often the financial burden places that opportunity further out of reach for hardworking families. This measure strengthens the pipeline of skilled professionals who will help build a stronger, more resilient Guam. It’s about empowering our youth to pursue their dreams without being priced out of them, and ensuring that when they return home, they are ready to lead the next chapter of Guam’s growth.” 

“This is great news for our students, and a successful bipartisan collaboration. Our students deserve the best possible access to four-year University degrees. Millions of American students benefit from in-state tuition, and this innovative bill extends this sensible policy to the islands. Thank you to each of my colleagues. With passage by the full House, we’re a big step closer to fairness, and making a major difference in opportunity for our students,” said Congresswoman Amata Coleman Radewagen (R-AS). 

“Students from the Northern Mariana Islands bring talent, dedication, and a strong commitment to their education when they pursue opportunities across the United States.  H.R. 6472 helps expand access to affordable higher education by allowing students from U.S. territories to qualify for in-state tuition rates at public colleges and universities.  For many CNMI families, higher education requires significant sacrifice, and this bipartisan legislation helps open more doors for our students while strengthening pathways to build the skilled workforce our islands and our nation need,” said Congresswoman Kimberlyn King-Hinds (R-MP). 

“I want to thank Congressman Moylan for his leadership on this issue, as well as Congresswoman Radewagen, Congressman Hernández, and Congresswoman King-Hinds for their steadfast partnership in this fight for educational equity,” Congresswoman Plaskett concluded. “I also extend my gratitude to Chairman Walberg, Ranking Member Scott, and every Member of the House of Representatives who voted to advance this critical legislation. Our work is not finished—this bill now moves to the U.S. Senate for consideration, and if passed, it will proceed to the President’s desk to be signed into law. I remain fully committed to seeing this bill across the finish line, ensuring that Virgin Islands students and all territorial students finally have the same access to affordable higher education as their peers across this nation.” 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Jesús Chuy García (IL-04)

“Your thugs at DHS brutalize the American people, and you lie and smear victims to cover up their crimes.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steny H Hoyer (MD-05)

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05), Ranking Member of the Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) Appropriations Subcommittee, delivered remarks on the House Floor in support of the request by Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Ranking Member of the Appropriations Committee, to receive unanimous consent on H.R. 7481, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2026. Below are a transcript and video of his remarks:
 

Click here to watch a video of his remarks.
 

“Mr. Speaker, I want to speak to the American people through you. So, I address the Speaker and the American people. You must be confused by this debate. We have two relatively new Members of the Congress who have spoken – I came in as Mr. Jack was speaking, and he said that we need to open DHS. We certainly have agreement on about 80% of that, but the Republicans are saying, ‘Unless you agree to 100%, we’re not going to agree to opening DHS,’ [which] ought to be opened during this time of war. The Secret Service could be funded this afternoon; the Speaker just has to say the word. Because our side will vote to open up the agencies, but we have a difference of opinion with respect to two components of DHS that we believe are violating the Constitution of the United States. But we agree that we ought to open [the] Secret Service, we agree that we ought to open FEMA, we agree that we ought to open Cybersecurity [and Infrastructure Security Agency]. But what is your answer to saying, ‘But if you don’t do it all, we will not open those agencies and have the employees paid,’ who, of course, are critical employees. You don’t have an answer to that other than you want to muscle through something that [has] been questioned by many courts in this land.

“Now, let me read you a statement that was made by the Border Czar. After the – a court said, ‘You must do this,’ the Border Czar, Tom Homan, who was in Minneapolis – who, by the way, Border Patrol killed Alex Pretti. Here’s what the Border Czar said – and perhaps you don’t care, but he said this: ‘I don’t care what the judges think. I don’t care.’ Yes, we here on this Floor and the Democrats on the Floor in the United States Senate believe that is improper policy for law enforcement to say, to do, to act, to threaten people with, by ‘I don’t care what the judges say.’ Bring Ms. DeLauro’s bill to the Floor. It will pass, it will pass this afternoon, and all of those agencies you have mentioned will be funded. May I have one – 30 second? In addition to that – I don’t know that I’ve heard it mentioned, but in your bill that you passed earlier this year, you funded DHS, you funded ICE with $150 billion. So, don’t get on this Floor and pretend that somehow it is not funded, because that is not true. Bring this bill to the Floor. We agree on it overwhelmingly. Do not allow the disagreement to undermine the agreement we have, particularly at a time of war when we ought to be united. I yield back the balance of my time.”

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

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform heard testimony from Governor Walz, Attorney General Ellison, and Reverend Mariah Tollgaard, Senior Minister at Hamline United Methodist Church. Congresswoman Betty McCollum, the Dean of the Minnesota Congressional Delegation, issued the following statement: 

“Rather than addressing the health care and affordability crises they created for the American people, President Trump and Republicans in Congress continue to target Minnesota in an unprecedented campaign of retribution and incompetence aimed at attacking our way of life and dividing our neighbors,” said Congresswoman McCollum. “In December, the Trump administration claimed that fraud and crime were the primary issues impacting Minnesotans. However, rather than working with the Walz administration and Attorney General Ellison on their successful efforts to hold those accountable for their crimes, Trump used fraud as a pretext to invade and occupy our state with an estimated 4,000 masked, unidentifiable immigration agents – nearly 1,000 more agents than previously acknowledged by the administration. The result of their ‘surge?’ Federal agents killed Renee Good and Alex Pretti – two American citizens, injured hundreds more, and violated the civil rights of thousands in the process. I thank Reverend Mariah Tollgaard for offering the committee a glimpse of the suffering that Minnesotans have experienced as a result of the cruelty directed upon our state by President Trump.

“Additionally, in January, a majority of the leadership team at the Minnesota U.S. Attorney’s Office resigned over the administration’s surge, including the lead fraud prosecutor. Since 2025, nearly half the office’s attorneys have quit or retired citing concerns about the administration’s ethics, political pressure, and immigration tactics. This catastrophic loss of prosecutorial experience threatens the government’s cases against criminals, including drug dealers and sex offenders, leaving our state less safe.

“President Trump’s ‘Operation Metro Surge’ has been a complete failure. The Trump administration broke the law and now they are blaming immigrants and American citizens rather than holding accountable those who violated the Constitution.

“Instead of conducting any real oversight, Congressional Republicans are complicit with the Trump administration’s political attacks on Minnesotans, Governor Walz, Attorney General Ellison, Alex Pretti, Renee Good, and her widow – casting blame on everyone except those who trampled on Americans’ civil rights and due process during the occupation of Minnesota. In the face of this unprecedented assault on our state, Minnesotans have responded by coming together to support one another. We are Minnesota Strong.”

Click here to read Congresswoman McCollum’s statement for the record.

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

WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Thursday, the U.S. House of Representatives will vote on the bipartisan Massie-Khanna War Powers Act (H.Con.Res.38), directing the President to remove United States Armed Forces from unauthorized hostilities in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Congresswoman McCollum, the Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, will vote yes on the resolution, ending the President’s illegal war, citing the urgent need for Congress to reassert its authority over the power to declare war.

“President Trump has taken our nation to war in violation of the War Powers Act and the Constitution,” said Congresswoman McCollum. “President Trump knows his actions are unconstitutional, because the administration’s own justification for this unlawful war shifts by the hour. Passing this War Powers resolution is essential to reining in the unlawful actions of this president. Every Member of Congress must state on the record whether they support the president’s actions.

“Already, the lives of six American service members have been lost, including a fellow Minnesotan, Sergeant First Class Nicole M. Amor of White Bear Lake. Their service to our nation will never be forgotten. We pray for their families, for the safety of all our men and women in uniform serving overseas, and for those in the region who now find themselves in danger because of President Trump’s reckless, unlawful, and unnecessary decision to go to war.”

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

Legislation Requires Trump Admin to Publish National Unemployment Numbers with Demographic Data

With Black Women’s Unemployment Rising, Pressley Leads Demands to Federal Reserve to Address Pushout of Black Women from Workforce

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

WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) and Congresswoman Summer Lee (PA-12) introduced the Better Labor Statistics Act, or the BLS Act, legislation that would codify the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ mandate to report unemployment data publicly, online, and at the first Friday of each month to ensure transparency and accuracy in unemployment data collection. The BLS Act would also codify the publication of unemployment data broken down by race and ethnicity, gender, geography, and industry.

Additionally, the legislation would amend terminology used to describe the Secretary of the Department of Labor to be gender neutral, as language currently exclusively includes male pronouns.

In Congress, Rep. Pressley has repeatedly sounded the alarm on the rising number of Black women forced out of the workforce in the United States and called on the Federal Reserve to take action.

“Every month, policymakers, businesses, economists, investors, and more require an accurate and detailed report of our nation’s labor market – but the Trump Administration is trying to stand in the way,” said Rep. Pressley. “With unemployment rates rising—and skyrocketing for Black women—and Trump firing workers when he doesn’t like the data they publish, we must codify practices that ensure accuracy and transparency. With detailed reporting, we can support our workers who are being left behind and pushed out of the workforce.”

“At a time when the Trump administration is attempting to scale back how much, how often, and how accurately labor data is reported, we must ensure our labor statistics laws keep pace with the realities working people face every day,” said Rep. Lee. “The Better Labor Statistics Act is about transparency, accountability, and making sure our economic data actually reflects all of us, especially workers and communities too often left out of the picture. When attacks on the independence of the Bureau of Labor Statistics threaten public trust, we must strengthen safeguards and ensure timely, disaggregated data that tells the full story of our economy. When we have honest data, we can fight for policies that truly support workers, including Black women and other communities disproportionately impacted by rising unemployment. This bill is a necessary step toward an economy where everyone is seen, counted, and valued.”

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

The bill is endorsed by the AFL-CIO.

In September 2025, Congresswoman Pressley wrote to Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell sounding the alarm on the rising unemployment rate for Black women in the United States and demanding the Fed take immediate action to uphold its mandate of maximum employment for all. The Congresswoman’s letter came amid the Trump Administration’s mass federal workforce layoffs and anti-DEI policies disproportionately impacting Black women and as Donald Trump attempted to seize control of the Fed by illegally firing Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook. A copy of the Congresswoman’s letter is available here.

In September 2025, Congresswoman Pressley convened a press conference with a coalition of Black women activists and civil rights leaders to continue sounding the alarm on the rising number of Black women forced out of the workforce in the United States.

In November 2025, Rep. Pressley convened Black women, economists, civil rights leaders, and community members for an urgent discussion about the unemployment crisis facing Black women and its impact in Massachusetts and beyond.

Rep. Pressley has consistently advocated for race-conscious policies to help close the racial wealth gap in America, uplift Black, brown, and other marginalized communities.

• Building on the legacy of Black women in the civil rights movement, Rep. Pressley led a historic resolution calling for a federal job guarantee.  
• In a House Financial Services Committee hearing, Congresswoman Pressley questioned Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell on the issue of full employment and the Civil Rights history of the Federal Reserve’s dual mandate. Powell conceded, for the first time in Federal Reserve history and on the Congressional record, that the Fed alone cannot get the United States to full employment.
• Congresswoman Pressley, along with Senator Cory Booker, is the lead co-sponsor of the American Opportunity Accounts Act—also known as Baby Bonds—legislation that would create a federally-funded savings account for every American child in order to make economic opportunity a birthright for every child and help close the racial wealth gap.
• Rep. Pressley, alongside Senators Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Mazie Hirono (D-HI) and Cory Booker (D-NJ), introduced the Strengthening Place-based Access, Resources, and Knowledge (SPARK) Act to spur entrepreneurship and increase access for underserved entrepreneurs nationwide.
• Rep. Pressley introduced the Equity in Government Act to codify racial equity across federal agencies and improve government services for underserved communities.
• Rep. Pressley introduced the Appraisal Modernization Act, legislation to promote equity and combat systemic bias in the home appraisal process that has disadvantaged many current and aspiring homeowners—especially homeowners of color.
• Rep. Pressley introduced the Greater Supervision in Banking Act, or the GSIB Act, to mandate disclosures on diversity metrics and ensure transparency and accountability of big banks.
• Rep. Pressley has also called on the five largest banks in America to provide a detailed update on the racial equity commitments the institutions made following the murder of George Floyd in 2020.
• Rep. Pressley was also a leading voice in Congress urging President Biden to cancel student debt. Following years of advocacy by Rep. Pressley—in partnership with colleagues, borrowers, and advocates like the NAACP—the Biden-Harris Administration announced a historic plan to cancel student debt that stands to benefit over 40 million people.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Salud Carbajal (CA-24)

Carbajal to Support Bill to Rein in Trump’s Military Powers