MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Chris Pappas (D-NH)

 Today Representatives Chris Pappas (NH-01), Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11), and Dina Titus (NV-01), Co-Chairs and Vice Co-Chairs of the Hellenic Caucus, introduced a resolution commemorating the 200th anniversary of the Exodus of Missolonghi, a defining and heroic moment in the Greek War of Independence. The resolution honors the extraordinary courage, sacrifice, and enduring legacy of those who fought for Greece’s freedom in 1826. The Exodus of Missolonghi is widely regarded as one of the most pivotal events in the Greek struggle for independence from Ottoman rule. Marked by immense hardship and bravery, the event has become a powerful symbol of resilience and the enduring pursuit of liberty. The introduction of this resolution reflects the deep historical and cultural ties between the United States and Greece.

“With this resolution we commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Exodus of Missolonghi, in which the Greek people chose freedom and defiance in their fight for sovereignty and changed the tide of the Greek War of Independence,” said Congressman Pappas. “We honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice and recognize the shared spirit of both the American and Greek fights for independence.”

“Missolonghi stands as a timeless testament to the human spirit’s unyielding desire for freedom and self-determination,” said Congressman Bilirakis. “As a proud Greek American, I am honored to help recognize this historic anniversary and to pay tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the pursuit of independence. Their legacy continues to inspire generations around the world.”

“As a senior member of the Congressional Hellenic Caucus and proud Greek-American, I am honored to recognize the 200th Anniversary of the Exodus of Missolonghi,” said Congresswoman Titus. “As we celebrate Greek independence, may we also cherish the boundless spirit of the Hellenic community and the special bond between our two democracies.”

“As we mark the 200th anniversary of the Exodus of Missolonghi, we honor the bravery and sacrifice of those who fought for Greece’s independence,” said Congresswoman Malliotakis. “This defining moment in history stands as a powerful symbol of resilience and the pursuit of freedom, values that continue to unite the United States and Greece today. I’m proud to join my colleagues in recognizing this legacy and reaffirming the strong ties between our nations.”

The resolution highlights the significance of the Exodus in shaping modern Greek identity and acknowledges the profound influence of the Greek War of Independence on democratic ideals worldwide. It also reaffirms the strong bonds of friendship between the United States and Greece, rooted in shared values of liberty, democracy, and self-governance.

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

During today’s House Armed Services Committee hearing on the Department of Defense FY27 Budget Request, U.S. Representative Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24) questioned Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on a wide range of topics: the cost of the ongoing war in Iran, the Administration lifting sanctions on Russian oil, and the new Department of Defense vaccine rules. 

Download a video clip of the full exchange here. 

A rough transcript is available below:

Chairman Rogers 

Times expired, and I recognize the gentleman from California, Mr. Carbajal. 

Rep. Carbajal 

Thank you, Mr. Chair and thank you General Caine, Mr. Hegseth, for being here today. I associate myself with the comments of Ranking Member Smith and Mr. Garamendi, so that I won’t repeat a lot of what has been said. Mr. Hegseth, I recently realized that we have something in common. I’m also a fan of Pulp Fiction, and no, the movie is not an accurate portrayal of the Bible. You know what I’m talking about. This President and his administration has…have claimed to be the most transparent of all time. With that in mind, I love to get some straightforward, straightforward answers today. Some estimates show that the Trump administration’s war of choice in Iran is costing taxpayers around $1 billion every day. In addition to spending taxpayer money on a war they don’t want, it is also driving up costs. The cost of gas, while the cost of living is skyrocketing under this administration’s policies. To me, and I assume to the American people, it is unclear why we started this war, how it will end, and what anyone gained from it. Mr. Hegseth, about how much money has been spent on this war to date, and how much more do you anticipate spending?

Secretary Hegseth 

Well, as our comptroller laid out, the estimate is less than 25 billion at this point, as far as an expenditure. And the question I would ask this committee is, what is it worth to ensure that Iran never gets a nuclear weapon, considering the radical ambitions of that regime? I mean, almost every member of this dais at some point has said whether…

Rep. Carbajal 

Thank you for your answer, I’ll proceed to my next question, thank you for your answer…

Secretary Hegseth 

President Trump is the one that’s willing to make sure it doesn’t happen.

Rep. Carbajal 

Supposedly, we had taken care of the nuclear capability last time around, and now this war, we’re at it again, because obviously we said we did, but we didn’t… […]  I want to reclaim my time. We know that the cost of oil and gas has gone up as a direct result of this war, and the American people are feeling that pain at the pump. In an attempt to alleviate the high price of gas caused directly by this President, he lifted sanctions on Russian oil. The way I see it, this is a massive gift to Putin and Russia’s struggling economy. Mr. Hegseth, is there any concern that easing sanctions against Russia will allow Putin to continue funding Russia’s illegal war against Ukraine?

Secretary Hegseth 

Well, we’ve seen Russia’s and Putin’s inability to make effective battlefield gains, just like their inability to defend the Maduro regime with the billions of dollars of systems the Russians sent to Venezuela in order to defend him, which were defeated in 15 minutes. So Russia’s military capabilities are no match….

Rep. Carbajal 

And you don’t believe easing the sanctions is helping Russia?

Secretary Hegseth 

We have the best energy team in the planet at….

Rep. Carbajal 

It’s a simple yes or no. This is not deja vu. It’s a simple yes or no…

Secretary Hegseth 

You understand the energy dominance that this administration has unleashed?

Rep. Carbajal 

Last week, it was announced that the Department of Defense is no longer requiring service members to get their annual flu shot. Now this is an easy one for you. It’s a softball. Don’t screw it up. The rationale was to, and I quote, restore freedom to our joint force. This has been a requirement since 1950 because it is effective at preventing the spread of flu among our troops. It’s not some new woke requirement, as you like to lean on for much of your rhetoric. This decision is actively making our military less safe… Mr. Hegseth, at this time, there are plans. Are there plans to remove the mandatory requirement of other vaccinations like measles, mumps, and polio?

Secretary Hegseth 

We made very clear in our announcement that it applies to service members having a choice as it pertains to the flu vaccine.

Rep. Carbajal 

Don’t you think that’s a little reckless?

Secretary Hegseth 

No, I think allowing well informed Americans who serve our country to make a choice is not reckless, and commanders will still have latitude, say for a submarine or something else, to make a decision for a unit about whether it could be mandatory in a particular circumstance. But overall, our troops have earned the right to be able to choose about something like that related to their health.

Rep. Carbajal 

Mr. Hegseth, I stand by what I said last time you were here, you were incompetent, then you’re incompetent now, and you’re the gift that keeps on giving when it comes to incompetence with that. Mr. Chairman, I yield back.

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

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Congressman Jesús “Chuy” García issued the following statement on the decision by the Supreme Court to further destroy the Voting Rights Act:

 “Today’s decision by the Supreme Court is another step in the relentless efforts by John Roberts and his fellow Republican extremists to dismantle the Voting Rights Act. This shameful ruling is a betrayal of the Civil Rights Movement and an attack on one of the most fundamental elements of our democracy: the right to fair representation by our elected leaders. Black, Latino, Native and other communities of color deserve to be represented by elected officials who reflect their lived experiences. But instead, Republican judges are helping Republican politicians disenfranchise minority voters because they know the odds are against them in November and beyond. Democrats must act by passing state-level voting rights legislation now, and prioritizing voting rights bills when we retake control of Congress and the White House.”

# # #

 

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

WASHINGTON — Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) today cautioned Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth over plans to rush a costly, unproven battleship while slowing production of the proven DDG-51 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers built at Bath Iron Works. 

Hegseth appeared before the House Armed Services Committee (HASC), on which Golden is a member, to present the Pentagon’s proposed Fiscal Year 2027 budget. While the plan cuts production of DDG-51s, it includes $17 billion for a new “Trump–class” battleship on a rushed timeline. 

“Everyone on this committee knows about the Navy’s struggles to successfully design, manage and field new classes of ships,” Golden said, citing the Littoral Combat Ships, Zumwalt-class destroyers and Constellation-class frigates — all of which had to be scrapped due to challenges such as cost overruns, design problems and scheduling delays. 

“Recent history is littered with failed Navy efforts to replace existing, successful programs that remain the best in class worldwide — including the Bath-built Arleigh Burke destroyers. This isn’t the failure of our shipbuilders or our sailors. It’s a failure by top brass to learn a simple lesson: If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. My sincere hope is that Secretary Hegseth, the Navy and Congress will pump the brakes on this battleship and focus on producing ships we know can meet our needs today.” 

Bath Iron Works has built dozens of Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, including USS Harvey C. Barnum Jr., which entered service earlier this month. Golden has long advocated, successfully, for multi-ship procurement in defense appropriations bills to ensure not only maritime combat readiness but stable demand for highly skilled, good-paying jobs at BIW.  

Hegseth himself called the destroyer the “workhorse” of the U.S. Navy when he visited BIW earlier this year and told shipbuilders that the Pentagon would “max out” on destroyer procurement. But the Fiscal Year 2027 budget proposal requests just one DDG-51. Instead, it proposes construction of a new battleship named for the president with a price tag of $17 billion — enough to fund six DDG-51s. 

Golden noted that the Trump-class ship would be a return to a vessel style not used since WWII. Experts have raised questions about the proposed battleship’s ability to meet modern surface combatant needs, with one suggesting that the ship will never hit the water.

“The proposed battleship is a high-risk, low-reward proposition and the cost will be high — not just for taxpayers, but for the lost opportunity to maintain the supply of destroyers proven to meet our surface fleet’s needs,” Golden said. 

HASC will continue to consider the Pentagon’s budget request in the coming weeks. Video of Golden’s remarks can be viewed here. 

###

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09)

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), the only Democrat in the Tennessee Congressional Delegation will hold a press conference today at 3:30 p.m. to discuss the impact of the Supreme Court’s Voting Rights Act ruling in Louisiana v. Callais and candidate for Governor Senator Marsha Blackburn’s call on Governor Bill Lee to call a Special Session of the General Assembly to consider redistricting.

Time: Today, Wednesday, April 29 at 3:30 p.m. Eastern

Where: 2268 Rayburn House Office Building

RSVP to the Congressman’s communications director atBartholomew.Sullivan@mail.house.gov

# # # 

Source: {United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bobby Scott (3rd District of Virginia)

Headline: Scott, Omar Slam DOL Rule Robbing Workers of Fair Wages and Workplace Protections

WASHINGTON – Today, House Education and Workforce Committee Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) and Subcommittee on Workforce Protections Ranking Member Ilhan Omar (MN-05) slammed the Department of Labor’s (DOL) proposed rule to allow unscrupulous employers to misclassify their workers as independent contractors, robbing workers of their wage and hour and other work protections.

The Members argued that by loosening restrictions allowing employers to misclassify their employees as independent contractors, the proposed rule will strip workers of their basic wage and hour protections and leave law-abiding businesses at a competitive disadvantage. Unlike employees, independent contractors do not get essential protections, such as minimum wage, overtime, unemployment compensation, workers’ compensation, access to employee healthcare and benefits, pensions, or OSHA protections.

“Despite the proposed rule’s claims to the contrary, the Department’s proposal conflicts with the statutory text and Congressional intent, as well as controlling law,”wrote the Members.“As a result, the proposed changes in this rule would result in more regulatory confusion among stakeholders and provide more opportunities for lawbreaking employers to evade liability for robbing workers of their wage and other basic federal protections.”

“Despite the proposal’s claims, the reality is that Department’s proposal would lead to more widespread misclassification and more exploitation of workers,”the Members continued.

In the letter, the Members also asserted that the proposed rule would have a detrimental effect on the economy by giving an unfair advantage to employers who misclassify their workers. Rampant misclassification could also impose significant financial burden on federal, state, and local governments due to lost tax revenues.

The Members demanded that DOL withdraw its proposed rule to safeguard workers’ wages and protections.

To read the full letter, click here.

###

Source: {United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bobby Scott (3rd District of Virginia)

Headline: Scott Statement on Supreme Court Decision in Louisiana v. Callais

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03), Co-Chair of the Congressional Voting Rights Caucus, issued the following statement: 

“The Voting Rights Act has long protected minority communities from disenfranchisement, but over the years conservative Supreme Court justices have steadily weakened those protections. Section 2 remained one of the last major safeguards against maps that dilute minority representation in Congress.

“This latest decision by the Supreme Court sets voting rights back decades. By creating a nearly impossible standard to challenge racial gerrymandering, the Court has opened the door for Republican-led states to draw new maps that weaken the ability of minority communities to elect candidates of their choice.

“Attacks on voting rights have become a defining feature of the MAGA-controlled Republican Party and this Supreme Court. During the recent mid-decade redistricting, Republicans have so far created seven seats in Texas, Missouri, and North Carolina. Six of those seats are presently represented by African American and Hispanic Members of Congress. Using efforts to undermine voter registration and vote-by-mail, Republicans continue to weaken the foundations of our democracy in order to hold onto power. 

“Congress must respond by passing the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act to restore the full protections of the Voting Rights Act. We must remain committed to protecting a democracy that represents all Americans and ensuring that every voter has an equal voice in choosing their representatives.”

# # #

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

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The House Appropriations Committee passed the Fiscal Year 2027 National Security & Department of State funding bill on Tuesday by a vote of 35-27. Congresswoman Betty McCollum (D), the Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, voted no on the bill and spoke against what she called a “retreat from American diplomacy” during the committee hearing. Following the committee’s approval of the bill, Congresswoman McCollum issued the following statement:  

“It’s deeply unfortunate that this bill continues President Trump’s retreat from strong American diplomacy and support for development assistance. We know what happens when America retreats from the developing world: poverty, malnutrition, and disease take hold, transnational terrorism spreads, and our adversaries like Russia and China fill the void. This is a national security threat and a dark outlook for the world, and unfortunately Republicans’ bill embraces it.

“Democrats and Republicans used to stand together and say: America saves lives, and we do it because it reflects our values. But this bill cuts $532 million from global health programs. Fewer mothers will survive childbirth in sub-Saharan Africa. Fewer children will be vaccinated against dangerous diseases like tuberculosis. HIV clinics in Zambia, Uganda, and the Philippines shut their doors. COVID-19 didn’t knock on our door and ask permission to enter the United States. The next pandemic won’t either.

“American diplomats used to walk into negotiations with credibility because the United States had a track record of showing up and keeping its word. Sadly, that has changed. This bill not only reflects that reality, it endorses it.” 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II (5th District Missouri)

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) released the following statement after the Supreme Court released their decision in Louisiana v. Callais, effectively gutting the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

“For over sixty years, the Voting Rights Act has been a vital pillar of American democracy, ensuring fair representation and the protection of voting rights that are entitled to every citizen across this great nation. Passage of this landmark legislation, along with the Civil Rights Act, was the seminal moment of the Civil Rights Movement and another step in America’s march toward becoming a true multi-racial democracy, helping to fulfill the promise of our nation’s founding.

“Today’s appalling decision by the Supreme Court to unilaterally gut this historic law is not only wrong—it is deeply disrespectful of the generations of African Americans and civil rights advocates who gave their freedom, their blood, and even their lives to make it possible. With one fell swoop, this increasingly partisan and unaccountable court has turned the clock back decades to a time when state legislatures were legally allowed to silence the voices of entire communities based on the color of their skin.

“This decision reiterates that the current Supreme Court is out of step with the American people. And it was not done in a vacuum; state legislatures have already acted to redraw congressional maps in Missouri and Texas to disenfranchise voters, and this decision will only accelerate those efforts nationally.

“Now more than ever, it is incumbent on lawmakers who genuinely believe in the principles of American democracy to reject the court’s invitation to racially gerrymander our fellow citizens out of representation in the halls of power. Congress can, and must immediately, enact legislation that puts an end to these undemocratic practices and protects the voices and voting rights of all Americans. Failure to do so would be an everlasting stain on this chapter of American history.”

###

 

Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee’s Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Greenwood, Blue Springs, North Kansas City, Gladstone, and Claycomo. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee and Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance.

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

Congresswoman Renews Calls for Passage of John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and Supreme Court Reform, Including Expansion

WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) issued a statement condemning the Supreme Court’s harmful ruling in Louisiana v. Callais. Congresswoman Pressley is renewing her calls for passage of the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and major Supreme Court reforms, including court expansion.

“With this shameful ruling, the Supreme Court is once again complicit in Republicans’ assault on our democracy and Black political power. This decision will disenfranchise millions of people, further weaken the Voting Rights Act, and embolden racial discrimination in our elections,” said Congresswoman Pressley. “Congress must immediately pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and take action to restore the integrity and legitimacy of this far-right majority Supreme Court—including expanding the court, imposing term limits on Supreme Court justices, and passing a binding Supreme Court code of ethics. Every option should be on the table.”

Rep. Pressley has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to protecting and expanding the sacred right to vote for all people, including those who are currently and formerly incarcerated.

• In December 2023, Rep. Pressley and Senator Peter Welch (D-VT) unveiled the Inclusive Democracy Act, brand new, first-of-its-kind legislation that would end felony disenfranchisement in Federal elections and guarantee the right to vote for incarcerated citizens.
• In February 2022, Rep. Pressley, along with Whip Jim Clyburn and Congressman Mondaire Jones called on the Department of Justice to aggressively protect voting rights and fight against disenfranchisement, gerrymandering, voter purges, and other forms of voter suppression, vote dilution, and election subversion.
• Rep. Pressley has repeatedly urged the U.S. Senate to abolish the filibuster and pass the Freedom to Vote Act and John Lewis Voting Rights Act.
• In March 2021, Rep. Pressley led her colleagues in re-introducing an amendment to lower the federal election voting age from 18-years-old to 16-years-old.
• Rep. Pressley has called on the Massachusetts State Legislature to pass meaningful voting rights legislation that would boost voter turnout and expand access to the ballot box.
• As a Boston City Councilor, Rep. Pressley advocated for expanded access to the ballot box, supporting legislation requiring ballots be available in multiple languages, and filing a home rule petition to allow for early voting in Boston’s preliminary and general elections.

###