MIL USHOR-2b Engine

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

In addition to directing the IRS to establish and operate a free online tax preparation and filing program, the Direct File Act would: 

• Prohibit the IRS from entering into agreements that restrict its ability to provide free online tax preparation or filing services.
• Direct the IRS to publish an annual report on use levels, patterns of usage, and ways to improve access to Direct File.
• Direct the IRS to enable seamless integration between state tax filing systems and Direct File, including through information sharing and a new grant program for states.
• Reduce tax fraud by getting third-party income information to the IRS earlier in the tax season, allowing the agency to verify this information before issuing refunds.
   

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Brett Guthrie (2nd District Kentucky)

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02) released the following statement encouraging Kentucky farmers to apply to receive one-time payments through the Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) program after the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the opening of the enrollment period for the program, which will close on April 17, 2026.

“It is essential that qualifying Kentucky farmers take action to receive their Farmer Bridge Assistance program payments during the ongoing enrollment window,” said Congressman Guthrie. “After an extremely difficult year in agriculture, this incredible program will help producers get financial relief ahead of the spring planting season. I am grateful for the diligent efforts of the Trump Administration to support those who work around the clock to keep our nation fed and clothed.”

Important Information to Apply for Farmer Bridge Assistance Program Payments:
On December 8, 2025, President Trump and the USDA announced the creation of the FBA program, dedicating $11 billion in tariff revenue to provide one-time payments to support agricultural producers impacted by recent trade market disruptions and continued increased production costs from the Biden Administration. The USDA also announced the launch of a payment calculator so that farmers can estimate the total payment they can expect to receive as a part of the FBA program. This will allow them to better plan their 2026 spring planting budget more accurately. 

Pre-filled applications are currently available online to producers with a Login.govaccount who accurately filed their 2025 acreage reports. Producers with a Login.govaccount can access and submit their pre-filled application from fsa.usda.gov/fba. Additionally, producers can also request their pre-filled FBA application from their FSA county office. 

The deadline for producers to submit a completed FBA program application is April 17, 2026. Producers can complete their pre-filled applications online or submit them to their FSA county office.

Eligible commodities covered under the FBA program include: Barley, Chickpeas, Corn, Cotton, Lentils, Oats, Peanuts, Peas, Rice, Sorghum, Soybeans, Wheat, Canola, Crambe, Flax, Mustard, Rapeseed, Safflower, Sesame, and Sunflower.

Important Eligibility Information for Specialty Crop Farmers Program:
On February 13, 2026, the USDA announced the Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers (ASCF) program, which will provide $1 billion in assistance for specialty crops and sugar commodities not covered under the Farmers Bridge Assistance Program. 

Qualifying producers of specialty crops are encouraged to ensure their 2025 acreage reporting is factual and accurate by 5 pm ET on March 13, 2026.Payment rates set by the USDA will be released by March 31, 2026.

Specialty commodities covered by the ASCF program include: (A) Almond, Apple, Apricot, Aronia berry, Artichoke, Asparagus, Avocado (B) Banana, Bean (Snap or green; Lima; Dry edible), Beet (Table), Blackberry, Blueberry, Breadfruit, Broccoli (including Broccoli Raab), Brussels Sprouts (C) Cabbage (including Chinese), Cacao, Carrot, Cashew, Cauliflower, Celeriac, Celery, Cherimoya, Cherry, Chestnut (for Nuts), Chive, Citrus, Coconut, Coffee, Collards (including Kale), Cranberry, Cucumber, Currant (D) Date, Dry Edible Beans and Peas* (E) Edamame, Eggplant, Endive (F) Feijou, Fig, Filbert (Hazelnut) (G) Garlic, Gooseberry, Grape (including Raisin), Guava (H) Horseradish (K) Kiwi, Kohlrabi (L) Leek, Lettuce, Litchi (M) Macadamia, Mango, Melon (All Types), Mushroom (Cultivated), Mustard and Other Greens (N) Nectarine (O) Okra, Olive, Onion, Opuntia (P) Papaya, Parsley, Parsnip, Passion Fruit, Pea (Garden; English or Edible Pod; Dry edible), Peach, Pear, Pecan, Pepper, Persimmon, Pineapple, Pistachio, Plum (including Prune), Pomegranate, Potato, Pumpkin (Q) Quince (R) Radish (All Types), Raspberry, Rhubarb, Rutabaga (S) Salsify, Spinach, Squash (Summer and Winter), Strawberry, Suriname Cherry, Sweet Corn, Sweet Potato, Swiss Chard (T) Taro, Tomato (including Tomatillo), Turnip (W) Walnut, and Watermelon. 

Additional information on FBA and ASCF is available online at fsa.usda.gov/fba. Producers can also contact their local FSA county office.

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

Griffith Statement on State of the Union Address, Governor Spanberger Rebuttal

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

WASHINGTON — Congressmen Jared Golden (ME-02), Jack Bergman (MI-01), Tom Suozzi (NY-03), and Don Bacon (NE-02) have introduced the Improving Mental Health Support for Servicemembers and Veterans Act, which would launch a formal review into the effectiveness of the federal government’s mental health programs for veterans and transitioning servicemembers in an effort to address longstanding accessibility issues.

“When I came home from the Marines, I saw how important it is to have a strong support system in your corner. The VA is full of skilled public servants who do that work, but there’s only so much an individual employee can do about the fundamental gaps in service created by an imperfect system,” Golden said. “I’m grateful for the partnership of Congressmen Bergman, Bacon and Suozzi in the effort to show VA leaders just how lacking the agency’s outreach, rural logistics, and staffing efforts have been.”

“I’ve seen firsthand how the transition from active duty to civilian life can be one of the most vulnerable periods in a servicemember’s career. We owe our men and women in uniform more than gratitude – we owe them accountability and results,” Bergman said. “The Improving Mental Health Support for Servicemembers and Veterans Act ensures the Department of War and VA are working together effectively, eliminating gaps and duplication, and delivering real access to mental health care when it matters most. By requiring measurable standards, regular review, and transparency to Congress, this bill strengthens the transition process and helps ensure no Veteran falls through the cracks.”

“Too many veterans and service members fall through the cracks when transitioning from active duty to civilian life. We have to do better,” Suozzi said. “It’s our responsibility as lawmakers and Americans to make sure that everyone who serves our country receives the healthcare, including mental healthcare, they deserve,” said Congressman Tom Suozzi. “It’s common sense to assess and improve veterans’ health services of all kinds as time goes on. This bipartisan bill does just that, and I’m glad to join my colleagues, Congressmen Golden, Bergman, and Bacon, who I also thank for their service. Never forget the vet!”

“The transition to civilian life is one of the most vulnerable periods in a servicemember’s career. We must ensure our mental health screening tools are validated, effective, and connecting people to care,” Bacon said. “The Improving Mental Health Support for Servicemembers and Veterans Act strengthens oversight, improves coordination between the Department of Defense and the VA, and helps ensure no servicemember falls through the cracks. I’m pleased to co-lead this bipartisan legislation with Rep. Golden on this important effort to better support our servicemembers and veterans.”

The Improving Mental Health Support for Servicemembers and Veterans Act would require the Department of Defense-Veterans Affairs Joint Executive Committee (JEC) to assess the effectiveness of their programs and processes in facilitating access to mental health services for veterans returning to civilian life.

Included in JEC’s review would be a complete inventory of the government’s mental health programs, along with metrics, milestones and plans of actions to identify inefficiencies and gaps in programming. There would be a 180-day deadline to present the report to the House and Senate Veterans Affairs Committees.

The legislation would also require the JEC to update its existing Joint Separation Health Assessment (SHA) every two years. The SHA currently uses an outdated process to infrequently catalog veterans’ generalized health needs — an issue that forces policymakers to contend with data that isn’t specific nor timely enough.

“The American Legion is proud to support the Improving Mental Health Support for Servicemembers and Veterans Act,” Matthew Jabaut, chairman of the American Legion’s National Legislative Commission said. “On behalf of our nearly 1.5 million members, we commend Representative Golden for advancing oversight-driven reforms that reinforce mental health support and help ensure no servicemember or veteran falls through the cracks.”

“We are happy that Congressman Jared Golden continues to focus on mental health for our Service Members and Veterans,” said  Steve SanPedro, national legislative committee member and chief of staff for the Department of Maine Veterans of Foreign Wars. “These invisible injuries need to be addressed so these men and women can live a healthy life after service to their country.” 

Full text of the legislation can be found here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Haley Stevens (MI-11)

Legislation builds on Michigan’s unanimously passed state law, closing interstate enforcement gaps for online crimes targeting adults with disabilities

Washington, D.C. –Today, Representatives Haley Stevens (MI-11) and Debbie Dingell (MI-06) introduced the Justice for Allie Act, legislation to make it a federal crime to knowingly coerce, manipulate, or entice a vulnerable adult into sending intimate images with the intent to cause harm. The bill closes a major gap in federal law by addressing online sexual exploitation that crosses state lines.

The legislation is named for Allie Hayes, a Michigan woman with Down syndrome who was targeted by an online predator in 2017. Because Allie was over 18, her family discovered there was no clear legal pathway to hold the perpetrator accountable. Her parents, Dawn and Mark Hayes, have spent nearly a decade advocating to close that loophole at the state and federal levels. Their efforts led to Michigan’s unanimously passed Justice for Allie state law, written by State Representative Sharon MacDonell and signed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer in 2023.

“Michigan led the way by passing Justice for Allie unanimously; now it’s time to extend those protections nationwide. The internet is everywhere—we cannot let online predators evade prosecution simply because their crimes cross state lines,” said Rep. Haley Stevens. “The Justice for Allie Act establishes a clear federal standard to give families real protections and hold predators accountable.”

“Allie, a young woman in Michigan with Down syndrome, was targeted and manipulated by a predator into sending intimate images. She was exploited and victimized, yet because she was 18 there was no legal path to hold that predator accountable,” said Rep. Debbie Dingell. “As lawmakers, and as human beings, it is our responsibility to stand up for those who cannot protect themselves. This bill ensures that what happened to Allie will not happen again to someone else’s child.”

“I won’t stop until I know EVERYONE with a disability is protected so they won’t experience what I did,” said Allie Hayes, who enthusiastically supports this legislation.

 Stevens and Dingell’s Justice for Allie Act builds on the Michigan model, ensuring predators can no longer evade accountability simply by exploiting victims across state lines. The bill protects adults 18 and older with developmental, intellectual, neurological, or serious mental health conditions and defines harm to include physical, psychological, financial, or reputational damage.

“Americans with intellectual and developmental disabilities are constantly in danger on the internet. This legislation protects the people we love from online predators who knowingly take advantage of people with disabilities. These crimes often go unrecognized, unprosecuted, and unpunished. Worst of all, the abuser is often free to abuse again…and they do,” said the Hayes Family. “Our family saw firsthand the challenges of trying to convince law enforcement to take up these cases that are often difficult to win in court. This new legislation gives law enforcement a desperately needed tool to put these criminals behind bars and protect our loved ones online.”

“As the legislator behind Michigan’s ‘Justice for Allie’ law, I enthusiastically endorse Reps. Stevens’ and Dingell’s efforts,” said State Rep. Sharon MacDonnell, Michigan’s 56th District. “I also want to recognize Allie Hayes and her amazing family for their years of advocacy, first in Michigan and later at the federal level. Thanks to them, the internet will be a safer place for America’s vulnerable adults.”

“Allie is a deeply respected member of our community, and while her story hits close to home for us, it’s a reminder that this kind of exploitation can happen in any neighborhood. The Justice for Allie Act helps ensure that no one, here or anywhere in the country, can be exploited without consequences,” said Dawn Calnen, Executive Director of The Arc of Oakland County. “The Arc of Oakland County supports this legislation because every person deserves to be safe from online predators no matter their disability or where they live.”

“The Arc Michigan supports the Justice for Allie Act that closes a gap in federal law by making it a crime to exploit and coerce vulnerable adults into sending intimate images, ensuring predators can no longer evade accountability across state lines. Thank you for introducing this important bill,” said Sherri Boyd, Executive Director of The Arc Michigan.

“We fully support The Justice for Allie Act, which will be critical to ensuring the safety and protection of our community. Safety and wellbeing are foundational to living the most supported and/or independent life,” said Dr. Colleen Allen, President and CEO of the Autism Alliance of Michigan. “This legislation goes a long way to extending the protections set forth in our state law here in Michigan. We applaud Representative Stevens for her leadership in advancing this bill and her commitment to individuals living with autism and their families.”

“The Justice for Allie Act advances safety, self-determination, and community inclusion — which are core independent living values — by strengthening deterrence and accountability for online coercion and exploitation of individuals with disabilities, especially when the abuse crosses state lines,” said Kelly Winn, CEO of the Disability Network of Eastern Michigan.

“The Michigan legislature acted when vulnerable citizens needed protection. The Justice for Allie Act works, and Disability Rights Michigan supports passing this legislation at the federal level,” said Michelle Lindsay, Executive Director of Disability Rights Michigan. “We encourage Congress to send a message that exploitation of individuals with disabilities, across all state lines, is not tolerated.”

“People with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) experience the highest rate of victimization among disability groups.  The internet and social media have expanded the opportunities for perpetrators to victimize people with I/DD. The Justice for Allie Act addresses a specific gap in the federal law by criminalizing the coercion of vulnerable adults to send intimate imagery,” said Sharon Milberger, ScD, Director of the Michigan Developmental Disabilities Institute at Wayne State University. “Michigan passed the Justice for Allie Act after the steadfast advocacy of Allie Hayes, a woman with Down syndrome who fell victim to this crime.  The Michigan Developmental Disabilities Institute, Michigan’s University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, applauds Ms. Hayes for bravely sharing her personal story, leading to the Justice for Allie Act.”  

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Haley Stevens (MI-11)

Washington, D.C. –This week, Congresswoman Haley Stevens (D-MI) passed yet another piece of legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives—her bipartisan Small Business AI Advancement Act. The legislation, which was co-led by Congressman Mike Collins (R-GA), passed the full House on Monday after advancing unanimously out of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee last summer. The bill now heads to the Senate for approval.

Small businesses are increasingly finding new ways to use AI to facilitate their operations, ranging from logistics to design to customer service to cybersecurity. The Small Business AI Advancement Act ensures small businesses have access to clear guidance so they can compete and grow without unnecessary risk. It directs the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to develop and distribute guidance to help small businesses understand, evaluate, and adopt AI technologies, including technical standards, best practices, and case studies.

“As someone who works closely with Michigan manufacturers and small businesses, I know innovation works best when businesses have the information they need to succeed,” said Rep. Stevens. “This legislation helps ensure Michigan’s small businesses aren’t left behind in our 21st-century economy.”

The bill also requires NIST to update these resources every two years and report back to Congress after four years with feedback from small businesses and recommendations for improvement. The approach builds on NIST’s successful Small Business Cybersecurity Corner, a widely used resource that has helped strengthen cybersecurity practices across small businesses nationwide.

Passing bills like the Small Business AI Advancement Act is what makes Stevens the most effective Democratic lawmaker from Michigan and the most effective Democrat in Congress on science and technology issues.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Joaquin Castro (20th District of Texas)

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

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

Know Your Immigration Rights

If you or a loved one encounter immigration enforcement officials, it is essential that you know your rights and have prepared your household for all possible outcomes.

Ask for a warrant: The Fourth Amendment of the Constitution protects you from unreasonable search and seizure. You do not have to open your door until you see a valid warrant to enter your home or search your belongings.

Your right to remain silent: The Fifth Amendment protects your right to remain silent and not incriminate yourself. You are not required to share any personal information such as your place of birth, immigration status or criminal history.

Always consult an attorney: You have a right to speak with an attorney. You do not have to sign anything or hand officials any documents without speaking to an attorney. Try to identify and consult one in advance.

The New York City Office of Civil Justice and the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) support a variety of free immigration legal services through local nonprofit legal organizations. To access these resources, dial 311 and say “Action NYC,” call the MOIA Immigration Legal Support Hotline at 800-354-0365 Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. or visit MOIA’s website.

Learn more here: KNOW YOUR IMMIGRATION RIGHTS  – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries

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

Pressley Has Fought to Protect Black History Against Trump’s Crusade to Whitewash Museums

Pressley, Tonko Demanded an Investigation into Trump’s Attack on Smithsonian Museums

Resolution Text (PDF)

WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) led 52 of her colleagues in introducing a resolution to honor Black history museums and cultural institutions in their telling of our accurate, shared American history and protect these institutions from erasure, whitewashing, and funding cuts.

“Without Black history, America has none—and this resolution honors and defends the museums that keep our shared history alive,” said Rep. Pressley. “As this wannabe dictator attempts to censor our history, ignore systemic impression of marginalized people, and attack our intellectual freedoms, it is imperative that we protect the institutions that commemorate the contributions, brilliance, and hardships of our Black ancestors. We refuse to yield to their revisionist narratives and a whitewashing of structural racism. Instead, we support and defend the institutions who do the essential truth-telling of our stories of resilience and radical joy.”

As 2026 marks the 100th anniversary of Black History Month commemorations and the 250th anniversary of the United States, this resolution is introduced at a critical inflection point to affirm Black history is American history.

The resolution also:

• Recognizes Black history museums and cultural institutions are essential to fulfilling the United States’ founding promises and telling the full, accurate history of our nation;
• Encourages the United States Semiquincentennial Commission and affiliates to partner with Black history museums and cultural institutions in designing and implementing commemorative programming, exhibitions, and public education;
• Calls on relevant federal agencies, including the National Endowment for the Humanities, National Endowment for the Arts, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and the National Park Service, to ensure strong support for Black museums and cultural institutions in their funding and partnership programs;
• Calls upon the people of the United States to—
  • Visit Black history museums and cultural institutions, engage with their educational resources, and support through membership, attendance, and philanthropy;
  • Confront efforts to erase or distort Black history and to uplift Black history museums and cultural institutions as trusted spaces for truth-telling, learning, dialogue, and healing;
  • Honor the nation’s 250th by participating in events at Black history museums and cultural institutions that honor both the struggles and joy that have expanded American freedom and democracy

Text of the resolution is available here.

This resolution is endorsed by: American Alliance of Museums, Association of African American Museums, Museum of African American History | Boston & Nantucket, Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), American Historical Association, Museum Hue, the National Action Network, and the American Library Association.

“As the nation marks its 250th anniversary, African American museums ensure our history is told in full by preserving stories of creativity, resilience, and civic progress that belong to all Americans,” said Marilyn Jackson, President & CEO of the American Alliance of Museums. “This resolution affirms their essential role in education, community memory, and our shared understanding of the past.”

“Supporting African American-focused museums and cultural institutions is not a niche investment as it is a national imperative.  African American history is American history.  These institutions safeguard the full, unvarnished story of our nation, ensuring that the voices, resilience, innovation, and contributions of African Americans remain central to our collective understanding of who we are. When we strengthen these museums, we strengthen the integrity of the American narrative itself.” — Dr. Vedet Coleman-Robinson President & CEO Association of African American Museums

“The Museum of African American History | Boston & Nantucket (MAAH), the oldest African American history museum in New England, supports Congresswoman Pressley’s resolution. Black history museums are created out of grassroots efforts and reflect the regional histories of Black communities across the country. Located in Boston, Massachusetts, MAAH stands as a testament of the long history of Black people in the Commonwealth who were active participants, both as free and enslaved people, in our country’s founding. Our country’s 250th anniversary is about more than the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, it reflects the rich roles all people have played in the creation of our great nation.” — Dr. Noelle Trent, President & CEO, Museum of African American History | Boston & Nantucket

“In 1926, Dr. Carter G. Woodson, the father of Black History and co-founder of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), established Negro History Week to ensure that Black History was integrated into schools and discussed everywhere from the barber shops to the pulpit. Dr. Woodson believed that history was made by the people and that it was their responsibility to learn it and to teach it. Since then, Negro History Week has evolved into Black History Month and is now celebrated worldwide. In 1976, during America’s Bicentennial Year, Black History Month was officially proclaimed by President Gerald Ford.  ASALH has continued to advance Dr. Woodson’s vision by promoting, preserving, and protecting Black History; setting the annual Black History Month theme; and providing resources for educators and parents.  On this centennial anniversary, ASALH supports Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley’s resolution recognizing Black History Month as a time to celebrate the lasting impact and contributions of Black Americans to the nation’s history. We urge every American to learn about the stories and contributions of African Americans.”—Dr. Kaye Wise Whitehead, Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH)

“The Black history museums and cultural institutions supported by this resolution are essential to telling the full story of our nation’s past. As we commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and the 100th anniversary of Black History Month, we must acknowledge that Black historical experiences belong in all institutions where United States history is presented and interpreted—from our museums to our parks to our schools.”—Sarah Weicksel, Executive Director, American Historical Association

“Black history museums and cultural institutions are vital community anchors that preserve history, expand narratives, and reflect the lived experiences of Black communities too often marginalized in mainstream cultural spaces. Recognizing and celebrating their significance at the federal level affirms their essential role in educating the public, advancing equity, and ensuring a fuller and true understanding of America’s diverse history.” — Stephanie Johnson-Cunningham, Executive Director, Museum Hue

“National Action Network, representing 140 chapters nationwide, strongly supports Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley’s resolution celebrating Black history museums and cultural institutions. In the wake of the 2026 State of the Union, we must affirm what has always been true: Black history is American history. These institutions preserve the truth of our struggle, our resilience, and our contributions to this nation. At a time when our history is too often challenged or overlooked, Congress must act to recognize and protect the institutions that safeguard the full American story.” — Rev. Al Sharpton, President, National Action Network

Joining Rep. Pressley as original co-sponsors of the letter are: Representatives Joyce Beatty (OH‑03), Wesley Bell (MO‑01), Sanford Bishop (GA‑02), Suzanne Bonamici (OR‑01), Nikki Budzinski (IL‑13), André Carson (IN‑07), Sheila Cherfilus‑McCormick (FL‑20), Yvette Clarke (NY‑09), Emanuel Cleaver II (MO‑05), Steve Cohen (TN‑09), Danny K. Davis (IL‑07), Madeleine Dean (PA‑04), Sarah Elfreth (MD‑03), Dwight Evans (PA‑03), Cleo Fields (LA‑06), Shomari Figures (AL‑02), Valerie Foushee (NC‑04), Sylvia Garcia (TX‑29), Jesús “Chuy” García (IL‑04), Dan Goldman (NY‑10), Adelita Grijalva (AZ‑07), Jonathan Jackson (IL‑01), Henry C. “Hank” Johnson, Jr. (GA‑04), Sydney Kamlager‑Dove (CA‑37), Robin Kelly (IL‑02), Timothy Kennedy (NY‑26), Summer Lee (PA‑12), Stephen Lynch (MA‑08), James McGovern (MA‑02), LaMonica McIver (NJ‑10), Seth Moulton (MA‑06), Jerry Nadler (NY‑12), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC‑00), Alexandria Ocasio‑Cortez (NY‑14), Frank Pallone (NJ‑06), Mike Quigley (IL‑05), Delia Ramirez (IL‑03), Jamie Raskin (MD‑08), Andrea Salinas (OR‑06), Jan Schakowsky (IL‑09), David Scott (GA‑13), Terri Sewell (AL‑07), Lateefah Simon (CA‑12), Darren Soto (FL‑09), Eric Swalwell (CA‑14), Bennie G. Thompson (MS‑02), Dina Titus (NV‑01), Rashida Tlaib (MI‑12), Paul Tonko (NY‑20), Marc Veasey (TX‑33), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ‑12), Frederica S. Wilson (FL‑24).

Rep. Pressley has been a leading voice in defending diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, protecting Black history, and pushing back against Republicans’ efforts to deny intellectual freedom—whether by banning books or threatening museums.

Rep. Pressley has also led on securing critical funding for museums, arts, and humanities.

In 2022, she secured $207 million in federal funding for both the National Endowment for the Humanities and the National Endowment of the Arts, which has supported communities, schools, and small businesses throughout the Massachusetts 7th Congressional district. She also secured $2,505,000 for the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom program in the National Parks Service Operations.

Rep. Pressley has advocated for support for museums across the country that are dedicated to archiving, researching, and preserving the African American experience, such as the National Museum of African American History and Culture. In FY26, she secured $6 million for the Museum Grants for African American History and Culture—including $500,000 for Boston’s Museum of African American History—which will provide such museums the resources they need to build on their work and continue to make history more accessible to the public.

In August 2025, Rep. Pressley condemned Trump’s attempt to politicize, editorialize, and whitewash exhibits at Smithsonian museums—particularly museums and exhibits with diverse and factual presentations of American history

In May 2025, Rep. Pressley, alongside Congressman Paul Tonko (NY-20), Co-Chair of the Congressional Museum Caucus, led 69 of their colleagues on a letter to the Inspector General of the Smithsonian Institution demanding an investigation on the impact of Donald Trump’s harmful Executive Order attacking Smithsonian museums – namely, the American Art Museum, the American Women’s History Museum, and the National Museum of African American History and Culture – attempting to erase histories of marginalized communities. A copy of the letter is available here.

In May 2025, Rep. Pressley convened a roundtable and press conference at the Museum of African American History in Boston to uplift the vital role of museums in preserving our shared history amid Donald Trump’s attack on cultural institutions and his attempts to erase the documented histories of marginalized communities.

In April 2025, Rep. Pressley delivered a floor speech slamming Trump’s attack on Smithsonian museums and affirming that Black history is American history.

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