MIL USHOR-2b Engine

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

Today, High Court Hears Oral Arguments in Trump Administration’s Effort to End TPS for Haiti, Venezuela, Syria, and Other Nations in Crisis

House Recently Passed Pressley Petition to Extend Haiti TPS

Press Conference (YouTube)

WASHINGTON – In case you missed it, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) held a press conference alongside colleagues and a coalition of seniors, care workers, advocates, and allies to demand the Supreme Court defend Temporary Protected Status (TPS). Today, the Supreme Court is hearing oral arguments in a case involving the Trump Administration’s efforts to end TPS for Haiti, Venezuela, Syria, and other nations grappling with layered crises.

Earlier this month, the House adopted a discharge petition led by Congresswoman Pressley to extend TPS for Haiti for three years.

“TPS holders serve as a backbone for families and our economy—caring for our elders and loved ones through illness, strengthening our communities, and making innumerable contributions daily,” said Congresswoman Pressley in a statement. “That’s why we we’re using every tool available to defend Temporary Protected Status and affirm the dignity, humanity, and due process of our immigrant neighbors from Haiti, Venezuela, Syria, and other nations in crisis. Our message to the Supreme Court today is simple: do your job, uphold the law, save lives, and protect our communities. I’m grateful to my colleagues and our advocates for their ongoing partnership.”

Footage from the press conference is available here and a transcript of her remarks is available below.

Transcript: Rep. Ayanna Pressley Demands Supreme Court Defend Temporary Protected Status
House of Representatives
April 28, 2026

I’m grateful to be joined by incredible leaders and advocates in our fight to protect immigrant families. 

Thank you Senator Blunt Rochester, thank you Senator Markey, thank you Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz, and to our movement siblings at Care for 

Seniors and Care for America for your partnership on this urgent priority. 

The fact that so many of you have made the trip to Washington, DC to join us in this fight is a testament to the strength of our movement.

I know that there are many at work who seek to, with each passing day, to advance a country where people are indifferent to the suffering of its neighbors, and each time we move in ways that are deeply empathetic and practice radical love and solidarity, we resist that force. So I thank you all for caring. 

We are here today in defense of our neighbors with Temporary Protected Status, who are deeply rooted in our communities and essential to our economy. In my opinion, they are already home. 

At this moment, over 1 million people are at risk of being removed from their homes, separated from their families, having their lives uprooted because of Trump’s cruel and unlawful attempt to terminate their Temporary Protected Status. 

Tomorrow, the Supreme Court will hear arguments on this critical case. We are demanding the Supreme Court uphold the law, save lives and protect our communities.

To send vulnerable families to countries like Haiti, Venezuela, and Syria that are enduring horrific humanitarian crises is unconscionable, shameful, unlawful, and preventable. 

I want to be clear, this is not an appeal for charity or even benevolence. This is simply the right thing to do, the smart thing to do, the responsible thing to do, but not from a place of generosity, but instead from a place of reciprocity. 

A strong, vibrant nation is what we owe to the TPS holders who make innumerable contributions to our communities daily. These are folks who have fled violence, who are patriots, who love this country, who take pride in their work, who have families and businesses, who have strengthened our communities. 

Many TPS supporters serve as backbones for families in need and a guide through our hardest of times. These are the people caring for parents and grandparents in the twilight of their lives, or supporting your loved ones through an illness. 

Let me be clear, an attack on TPS holders is an attack on all of us, and we won’t back down. We will be exhaustive in leveraging every tool available to safeguard TPS. 

Earlier this month, we built a broad, diverse, bipartisan coalition to force a vote in the House and pass legislation to extend TPS for Haiti for three years, that work continues. 

Today, we are pressing the Supreme Court to uphold the law. 

My colleagues and I filed an amicus brief urging the court to preserve TPS, to uphold the existing law for this necessary program. For months, we have uplifted the stories of the dedicated TPS holders who stand to be harmed and our communities who would suffer without them. 

Terminating TPS is not only bad policy that would have catastrophic consequences for our communities, our seniors and our economy. In this case, it is also unlawful. 

As I close, I’ll just share my own story. It’s not a unique one. This is deeply personal. It is not political. 

In the final weeks of my mother’s life and her CLL cancer battle, it was Haitian nurses, Haitian nurses who prayed over my mother, who sang songs to my mother, who oiled her scalp lovingly and braided her hair. 

Everyone who calls this country home benefits from TPS and stands to be harmed by this termination. 

So together, we will continue to defend our TPS holders and their families, to center their humanity and dignity and to fight for what is just. 

Thank you again to everyone who traveled to Washington to make the case directly to Congress and to the Supreme Court, our freedoms and our destinies are truly tied and it’s going to take every last one of us to get this done.

—

Immigrants make up roughly 28% of the U.S. direct care workforce and as many as one in three home care workers. Any loss of work authorization, advocates say, would disrupt continuity of care, intensify staffing shortages, and put the health, safety, and stability of millions of American families, many of whom also consider their caretakers family.

Earlier this month, the House of Representatives passed Congresswoman Pressley’s bipartisan discharge petition by a vote of 220-207 to extend Haiti TPS for three years. Congresswoman Pressley won a key procedural vote on the discharge petition and managed debate on the House floor prior to the successful final passage vote. Last month, Rep. Pressley’s discharge petition successfully met the 218-signature threshold to move forward with bipartisan support—only the 15^th discharge petition to do so in the last 40 years.

Congresswoman Pressley serves as Co-Chair for the House Haiti Caucus and represents one of the largest Haitian diaspora communities in the country. She has stood in vigorous defense for Haitian communities and all immigrant neighbors amid Trump and ICE’s attacks against immigrant communities.

Congresswoman Pressley has been a leading voice in Congress pushing back against Trump’s threats to terminate Temporary Protected Status for Haitians.

This week, Rep. Pressley, alongside Rep. Wasserman Schultz and Senators Ed Markey and Chris Van Hollen, led 26 Senators and 157 Representatives in filing an amicus brief in the U.S. Supreme Court in Miot v. Trump, a consolidated case challenging the Trump administration’s unlawful termination of Haiti and Syria Temporary Protected Status (TPS).

On March 28, 2026, Rep. Pressley’s discharge petition to force a House vote on extending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti successfully met the 218-signature threshold to move forward with bipartisan support.

In March 2026, Rep. Pressley joined Haitian faith leaders and advocates to urge the Supreme Court to affirm the lower courts’ rulings that deemed Trump’s push to terminate Haiti TPS unlawful.

In February 2026, Rep. Pressley applauded a federal judge’s ruling to temporarily block Trump’s move to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians. Ending TPS for Haitians would leave over 350,000 Haitian nationals at risk of deportation, many of whom reside in the Massachusetts 7th congressional district.

In January 2026, Congresswoman Pressley, alongside Senator Markey, held a field hearing on the importance of extending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti. She documented this testimony in the legislative record. Footage from the hearing is available here and photos here.

In January 2026, Rep. Pressley also organized a press conference in D.C. in January to sound the alarm on the harm of terminating TPS for Haiti on seniors and the U.S. care economy.

• On June 28, 2025, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) issued the following statement condemning the Trump Administration’s abominable termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti effective September 2nd, 2025.
• On June 5, 2025, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) and Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09) issued the following statement on Donald Trump’s executive order that bans citizens of 12 countries, including Haiti, from traveling to the United States, and places partial restrictions on citizens of seven more nations.
• On March 18, 2025,  Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Congresswoman Yvette Clarke (NY-09), and Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) led 62 of their colleagues in the House and 23 of their colleagues in the Senate in a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem demanding the Trump Administration redesignate and extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti, which the administration recently canceled on questionable legal authority.
• On February 20, 2025, Congresswomen Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Yvette Clarke (NY-12), and Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20) issued the following statement condemning the Trump Administration’s decision to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti.
• On April 23, 2024, Rep. Pressley, alongside Co-Chairs Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09) and Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), led a group of 50 lawmakers urging the Biden Administration to redesignate Haiti for Temporary Protected Status (TPS), pause on deportations back to Haiti, extend humanitarian parole to any Haitians currently detained in Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s detention centers, end detention of Haitian migrants intercepted at sea, and provide additional humanitarian assistance for Haiti.
• On April 18, 2024, Rep. Pressley and Haiti Caucus Co-Chairs led a letter to House Ways and Means Committee leadership emphasizing support for the early renewal of the Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership Encouragement (HOPE) and the Haiti Economic Lift Program (HELP) Acts, commonly known as HOPE/HELP.
• On April 12, 2024, Rep. Pressley joined Haitian-led activists, organizations, and a directly impacted person in Haiti for a press call urging federal action to address the worsening humanitarian crisis in Haiti.
• On March 27, 2024, Rep. Pressley joined Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and her colleagues on the Massachusetts congressional delegation in urging the Biden Administration to expedite visa processing for Haitians, particularly  for relatives of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents.
• On March 12, 2024, Rep. Pressley and Haiti Caucus Co-Chairs Reps. Cherfilus McCormick and Yvette Clarke issued a statement on the resignation of Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry.
• On March 6, 2024, Rep. Pressley issued a statement on the recent jailbreak and State of Emergency in Haiti.
• On December 8, 2023, Rep. Pressley and Congresswoman Yvette Clarke urged the U.S. Department of State to withdraw U.S. support for an armed foreign intervention in Haiti and encourage negotiations for a Haitian-led democratic political transition.
• On December 6, 2022, Rep. Pressley issued a statement applauding the Biden Administration’s extension and re-designation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti.
• On December 1, 2022, Rep. Pressley, Rep. Cori Bush, and Rep. Mondaire Jones led 14 of their colleagues on a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas urging the Department to extend and redesignate Haiti for Temporary Protected Status (TPS).
• On August 17, 2022, Rep. Pressley, along with Haiti Caucus Co-Chairs Reps. Val Demings, Yvette Clarke, and Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), called on President Biden to appoint a new Special Envoy to Haiti, a position that has remained unfilled since September 2021.
• On May 31, 2022, Rep. Pressley and Reverend Dieufort Fleurissaint, chair of Haitian Americans United, published an op-ed in the Bay State Banner in which they called on the Biden administration to withdraw support for de facto ruler of Haiti, Ariel Henry, and instead support an inclusive, civil society-led process to restore stability and democracy on the island. 
• On May 26, 2022, Rep. Pressley, along with with Representatives Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Andy Levin (MI-09), Jim McGovern (MA-02), and Frederica Wilson (FL-24), led a letter to United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Power urging her to act to ensure food security in Haiti.
• In February 2022, Reps. Pressley, Judy Chu (CA-27), and Nydia Velázquez (NY-07) led 33 other House Democrats on a letter to CDC Director Walensky demanding answers about the agency’s justification for treating asylum seekers as a unique public health threat, how these expulsions are being coordinated, how asylum seekers being returned to dangerous situations are being cared for, and more. Days later, Rep. Pressley once again called on the Biden Administration to reverse the Title 42 Order and other anti-Black immigration policies.
• On March 16, 2022, Rep. Pressley and Rep. Mondaire Jones called on Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Rochelle Walensky to fully end Title 42, cease deportations of people to Haiti and affirm their legal and fundamental human right to seek asylum.
• On February 16, 2022, Rep. Pressley joined Congresswoman Cori Bush (MO-01), Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), and 100 House and Senate colleagues in urging President Biden to reverse inhumane immigration policies – such as Title 42, originally introduced under the Trump Administration – that continue to disproportionately harm Black migrants.
• On February 14, 2022, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), alongside Representatives Judy Chu (CA-27) and Nydia Velázquez (NY-07), led 33 other House Democrats on a letter to Rochelle Walensky, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, demanding answers about the agency’s justification for treating asylum seekers as a unique public health threat, how these expulsions are being coordinated, how asylum seekers being returned to dangerous situations are being cared for, and more.
• In April 2022, she joined her colleagues at a press conference reaffirming her support for President Biden’s decision to end Title 42. Full video of her remarks at the press conference is available here. Rep. Pressley applauded the Biden Administration’s end of Title 42 in a statement in April 2022.
• In September 2022, Rep. Pressley and Rep. Velázquez led 54 of their colleagues on a letter calling on the Biden Administration to immediately halt deportations to Haiti and provide humanitarian parole protections for those seeking asylum. The lawmakers’ letter followed the Administration’s resumption of deportation flights to Haiti as thousands of Haitian migrants continue to await an opportunity to make an asylum claim at the border. 
• In September 2022, Rep. Pressley joined her colleagues on the House Oversight Committee in demanding answers regarding the inhumane treatment of migrants in Del Rio, Texas, by Border Patrol agents on horseback and pushing to Biden Administration to end the ongoing use and weaponization of Title 42.
• On July 7, 2022, Rep. Pressley and Haiti Caucus Co-Chairs Reps. Andy Levin (MI-09), Val Demings (FL-10) and Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09) released a statement marking the one-year anniversary of the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse.
• On November 21, 2021, Rep. Pressley and Senator Elizabeth Warren led the Massachusetts congressional delegation on a letter to the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) calling on them to coordinate with the government agencies of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to assist newly arrived families from Haiti. 
• On October 18, 2021, Rep. Pressley, and Haiti Caucus Co-Chairs Reps. Val Demings (FL-10), Yvette Clarke (NY-09), and Andy Levin (MI-09) issued a statement following the kidnapping of American and Canadian missionaries in Haiti.
• On October 18, 2021, Rep. Pressley issued a statement on the civil rights complaint filed by Haitian families demanding a federal investigation into the heinous actions perpetrated by federal officials at the border.
• On October 22, 2021, Rep. Pressley, along with Oversight Chairwoman Carolyn B. Maloney, Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD), and Reps. Rashida Tlaib (MI-13), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), sent a letter to Troy A. Miller, the Acting Administrator of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), demanding a briefing and answers regarding press reports of the inhumane treatment of migrants in Del Rio, Texas, by Border Patrol agents on horseback. 
• On September 17, 2021, Rep. Pressley and Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez (NY-07) led 52 of their colleagues calling on the Biden Administration to immediately halt deportations to Haiti and take urgent action to address the concerns of the Haitian Diaspora after a 7.2 magnitude earthquake devastated Haiti.
• On August 14, 2021, Rep. Pressley Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Andy Levin (MI-09) and Val Demings (FL-10) and Mondaire Jones (NY-17) released a statement regarding the recent earthquake in Haiti.
• On July 14, 2021, Rep. Pressley and Haiti Caucus Co-Chairs Reps. Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Andy Levin (MI-09) and Val Demings (FL-10) sent a letter to U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas calling on him to take a series of steps to support the Haitian diaspora amid ongoing political turmoil in Haiti.
• In July 2021, the Reps. Pressley, Clarke, Demings and Levin issued a statement condemning the assassination of President Moïse and calling for swift and decisive action to bring political stability and peace to Haiti and the Haitian people.
• In May 2021, on Haitian Flag Day, Reps. Pressley, Levin, Clarke and Demings announced the formation of the House Haiti Caucus, a Congressional caucus dedicated to pursuing a just foreign policy that puts the needs and aspirations of the Haitian people first.

###

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

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (IL-02) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced a bicameral bill that would increase access to broadband service for low-income urban and rural Americans. The Promoting Access to Broadband Act would help states increase awareness and enrollment in the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Lifeline program, which provides a monthly subsidy to help low-income households pay for their broadband and telephone service. Specifically, the legislation would establish a competitive grant program through the FCC that would allow states to inform eligible recipients of the Lifeline program.

“Access to affordable and reliable internet is no longer a luxury but a necessity. Americans rely on broadband connection to complete school assignments, see their medical professionals, and talk to their loved ones, but for many families, the cost of internet access is just too high,” Durbin said. “The Promoting Access to Broadband Act would increase awareness and enrollment in the FCC’s Lifeline program, giving more Americans access to the internet.”

“Families are facing higher costs for gas, groceries, rent, and basic necessities. The Lifeline program can alleviate some of the burden and cover internet costs for families,” said Kelly. “I’m proud to introduce this bill with Senator Durbin to help families cut through the red tape and increase enrollment in the Lifeline program.  My district covers urban, suburban, and rural areas, and they all deserve to have access to the internet, which is a necessity in this day and age.”

“The Lifeline program was designed to help low-income people get and remain connected to communications services, yet it remains extremely underutilized, not because eligible households lack interest, but because they are unaware the program exists or face burdens navigating the enrollment process on their own. The Promoting Access to Broadband Act seeks to make a strategic investment in the human infrastructure needed to ensure the nation’s most vulnerable communities are aware of and know how to enroll in the Lifeline program at a time when affordability remains the number one barrier keeping people on the wrong side of the digital divide,” said Alisa Valentine, Broadband Policy Director at Public Knowledge.

Along with Durbin, the Promoting Access to Broadband Act is also cosponsored by U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ed Markey (D-MA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL).

In 2021, the federal government took bold, bipartisan action to invest in our nation’s broadband infrastructure through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021. Yet, with the expiration of the Affordable Connectivity Program and delays in investment, there is still much progress to be made in connecting families to broadband.  According to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, as many as 25 million Americans lack access to broadband. A 2023 survey from Consumer Reports found that 27 percent of broadband users found it difficult to afford their monthly internet costs. 

Further, participation in the Lifeline program remains extremely low nationwide. The Universal Service Administrative Company estimates the number of eligible households participating in Lifeline nationwide is just 22 percent, and only 14 percent in Illinois.

The Promoting Access to Broadband Act would:

• Award grants to at least 25 percent of states;
• Direct the FCC to consider several factors in evaluating applications, including states with a higher number of covered individuals, states with plans with the potential to reach a higher percentage of eligible-but-not-enrolled households, and geographic diversity;
• Allow states to use the funds to inform eligible individuals that are not enrolled, provide information on how to apply for Lifeline, and partner with non-profit and community-based organizations with a proven track record of implementing digital inclusion initiatives to assist individuals applying for Lifeline; and
• Require the FCC to issue a report to Congress within a year of establishing the grant program evaluating the grant’s effectiveness.

To be eligible for these programs, an individual must have an income at or below 135 percent of the federal poverty guidelines for the Lifeline program. Enrollees also are eligible if they qualify for a needs-based program, such as Medicaid or SNAP, or receive Supplemental Security Income, federal public housing assistance, or Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefits.

The bill has earned endorsements from National Digital Inclusion Alliance, Public Knowledge, Third Way, and ACLU.

Full text of the bill is available here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Adriano Espaillat (NY-13)

NEW YORK– Rep. Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) issued the following statement on the release of Elaina Aghayeva: 

“Throughout today, my office worked closely with Ms. Aghayeva’s loved ones, attorneys, Mayor Mamdani’s team and countless others to collect information and escalate our shared efforts to secure her release. We are pleased to share that Ms. Aghayeva is now at home with her closest friends.   

The agents who apprehended Ms. Aghayeva blatantly abused the public trust by using a ruse to execute her detention. Their actions are a clear example of why state and local law enforcement agencies refuse to work with ICE. Community trust and partnership are essential to effective and safe policing, both for residents and officers — federal immigration enforcement has once again violated that trust.  

Naturally, Ms. Aghayeva has been shaken by today’s events. This most recent episode of Trump’s America trauma campaign is merely another snapshot of the consequences that their breathless, illegal targeting has on goodhearted, innocent individuals like Ms. Aghayeva — and our communities at large. These actions by the administration fail to uphold the values of our nation and must stop immediately.”

# # #

Representative Espaillat is the first Dominican American to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives and his congressional district includes Harlem, East Harlem, West Harlem, Hamilton Heights, Washington Heights, Inwood, Marble Hill and the north-west Bronx. First elected to Congress in 2016, Representative Espaillat is serving his fifth term in Congress. Representative Espaillat currently serves as a member of the influential U.S. House Committee on Appropriations responsible for funding the federal government’s vital activities and serves as Ranking Member of the Legislative Branch Subcommittee of the committee during the 119th Congress. He is Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC), and serves as a Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus. To find out more about Rep. Espaillat, visit online at https://espaillat.house.gov/.

Media inquiries: Candace Person at Candace.Person@mail.house.gov

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Adriano Espaillat (NY-13)

NEW YORK– Rep. Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) issued the following statement on reports of ICE agents on the campus of Columbia University: 

“My office has been made aware of the incident on Columbia University’s campus this morning, when federal agents used misleading pretenses to gain access to the interior of a dormitory and detain a student.  We are in contact with Columbia leadership and are working to get more information.  Students and faculty should not fear for their safety in their dorm rooms, the classroom, or anywhere else on campus.  

“This exhibit of the Trump Administration’s lawless actions — which are rarely supported by legitimate warrants or subpoenas — is yet another reminder that Columbia University and other institutions must enhance the protections and policies they utilize to create a safe environment for those they serve and employ.” 

# # #

Representative Espaillat is the first Dominican American to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives and his congressional district includes Harlem, East Harlem, West Harlem, Hamilton Heights, Washington Heights, Inwood, Marble Hill and the north-west Bronx. First elected to Congress in 2016, Representative Espaillat is serving his fifth term in Congress. Representative Espaillat currently serves as a member of the influential U.S. House Committee on Appropriations responsible for funding the federal government’s vital activities and serves as Ranking Member of the Legislative Branch Subcommittee of the committee during the 119th Congress. He is Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC), and serves as a Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus. To find out more about Rep. Espaillat, visit online at https://espaillat.house.gov/.

Media inquiries: Candace Person at Candace.Person@mail.house.gov

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Adriano Espaillat (NY-13)

NEW YORK, NY— On Thursday, February 26, Representative Adriano Espaillat, in collaboration with New York Governor Kathy Hochul and Jesús (Chu) Vásquez Martínez, Consul General of the Dominican Republic in New York, will gather at the Juan Pablo Duarte Foundation to commemorate Dominican Independence Day and celebrate the rich history, culture, and contributions of the Dominican community to the state. 

The event will recognize the 182nd anniversary of the Dominican Republic’s independence. 

WHO: 
Rep. Adriano Espaillat 
Gov. Kathy Hochul
Consul General, Jesús (Chu) Vásquez Martínez
Community Leaders
Members of the Dominican American Community

WHAT: 
Dominican Independence Day Recognition & Proclamation Ceremony

WHEN: 
Thursday, February 26 at 9:00 a.m. (EDT)

WHERE: 
Media interested in attending should RSVP HERE.

###

Representative Espaillat is the first Dominican American to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives and his congressional district includes Harlem, East Harlem, West Harlem, Hamilton Heights, Washington Heights, Inwood, Marble Hill and the north-west Bronx. First elected to Congress in 2016, Representative Espaillat is serving his fifth term in Congress. Representative Espaillat currently serves as a member of the influential U.S. House Committee on Appropriations responsible for funding the federal government’s vital activities and serves as Ranking Member of the Legislative Branch Subcommittee of the committee during the 119th Congress. He is Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC), and serves as a Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus. To find out more about Rep. Espaillat, visit online at https://espaillat.house.gov/. 

Media inquiries: Candace Person at Candace.Person@mail.house.gov 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Adriano Espaillat (NY-13)

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Representative Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) will host Fernando Hernández García* as his guest for the State of the Union, elevating the story of a 10-year-old U.S. citizen with rare brain cancer who was deported while seeking urgent medical care. 

Fernando, a United States citizen, was just 18 years old when his family was torn apart during a medical emergency. His younger sister, Sara*, was only 10 years old and battling a rare and life-threatening form of brain cancer when she was detained and deported while the family was traveling in search of specialized treatment. Instead of receiving the care she needs in the United States, Sara has been forced to continue her fight for survival from Mexico, where critical medications and specialized care remain impossible to access. 

“I am honored to bring Fernando Hernandez as my guest to tonight’s State of the Union in honor of his sister, Sara, and their family,” said Rep. Espaillat. “As one of six children, Fernando was forced into adulthood at 17 when his entire family was removed to Mexico while seeking medical care for his younger sister, Sara, who suffers from a rare brain cancer. Their family has been put through a harrowing ordeal as Fernando has lived on his own, finished high school, and worked to maintain his family’s home and keep up with bills, while helping cover the cost of life saving medication his sister. His presence today is a powerful reminder that behind every policy debate are real families who deserve compassionate and commonsense solutions that keep loved ones together and ensure children can access critical care.” 

“The situation has been a nightmare that I can’t wake up from, that my family can’t wake up from. My baby sister needs to see her doctors: but she needs to get care alongside her family. I need my family to come home. I’m 18 years old; I still need the support of my parents, I need to be around for my siblings. I’ve been dreaming of going to college or trade school, but that isn’t something I can do without my support system- both financially or emotionally. You can say all you want that these awful immigration policies don’t impact US citizens, but that’s a lie. My family was torn apart from me, and my future along with them. If my parents were still here, they would have pushed me to go to college, to dream big, and they would have helped me make it happen. Now, I don’t even have time to think about that. My baby sister could die as a result of this. I need my family to come home: save my sister’s life, end this nightmare for me and for all the other families like mine, who just want to live an honest life and work hard for a better future,” said Fernando Hernández García. 

Fernando’s presence at the State of the Union underscores the urgent need for humane, common sense immigration solutions that protect U.S. citizen children and families facing medical crises. 

In May 2025, Espaillat, in his capacity as Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, led a delegation to Monterrey, Mexico, to meet directly with the Hernández family and witness firsthand the devastating impact of Sara’s deportation. In June 2025, the Texas Civil Rights Project (TCRP), in partnership with a local immigration attorney, filed humanitarian parole applications for Fernando’s parents and his Mexican national sister. As of February 2026, those applications remain pending. 

*Aliases are used to protect the Hernández family’s safety in Mexico.

# # #

Representative Espaillat is the first Dominican American to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives and his congressional district includes Harlem, East Harlem, West Harlem, Hamilton Heights, Washington Heights, Inwood, Marble Hill and the north-west Bronx. First elected to Congress in 2016, Representative Espaillat is serving his fifth term in Congress. Representative Espaillat currently serves as a member of the influential U.S. House Committee on Appropriations responsible for funding the federal government’s vital activities and serves as Ranking Member of the Legislative Branch Subcommittee of the committee during the 119th Congress. He is Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC), and serves as a Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus. To find out more about Rep. Espaillat, visit online at https://espaillat.house.gov/.

Media inquiries: Candace Person at Candace.Person@mail.house.gov

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Adriano Espaillat (NY-13)

Espaillat will hold a check presentation Monday, February 23rd at 11:00 a.m. at P.S. 171 Patrick Henry Preparatory located at 19 E. 103rd Street, New York, NY 10029.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi Representing the 12th District of California

Washington D.C. – Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement on the Supreme Court’s ruling in Louisiana v. Callais:

“Today, the Supreme Court has dealt a devastating new blow to the Voting Rights Act and against the sacred right to vote.

“The consequences will be felt across the country: fewer voices heard, fewer communities represented and a democracy diminished.

“Congress must urgently pass the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act to restore the full strength of the Voting Rights Act before this latest blow becomes fatal.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ben Cline (VA-06)

“Members of Congress should be equipped with all the necessary resources to make informed financial decisions,” said Rep. Cline. “As faithful stewards of American’s tax dollars, the federal government should be supporting policies that ensure excessive spending isn’t left on autopilot. This legislation is critical to ensuring Congress has the ability and transparency needed to make budget deliberations with a commitment to prioritizing the needs of the American people.”

If enacted, these bills would:

Return Decision Making Back to Congress: Because these assumptions are baked into the baseline by law, CBO currently operates under the conclusion that Congress will continue increasing discretionary spending to match the Biden Administration’s inflationary agenda. That, along with the statutory presumptions that Congress will automatically continue any program over $50 million, use debt to bail out insolvent trust funds, and renew excise taxes at their current clip. 

The responsibility to make these financial decisions is ultimately that of Congress, and CBO should be giving Members resources that help them to make informed decisions rather than having their primary product assume they choose the most expensive option as a starting point.

Remove Spending Biases from the Baseline: Budget negotiations can be a game of ranges. These bills would restore the baseline to reflect current law, so that future negotiations won’t begin at an already inflated starting point.

Realistically Score Legislation: Since the Current Law Baseline is used for scoring, it is important that there are no distortions that automatically price in expensive programs beyond their expiration date. 

Background: CBO incorporates assumptions required by statute into its baseline in a way that deviates from what projections should be under current law. In fact, about 25 percent of spending in the baseline is just assumed:

• Discretionary: $19 trillion in outlays for discretionary appropriations that have not yet been enacted;
• Trust Fund Programs: Assumes $1.8 trillion in outlays for programs funded by trust funds that will be exhausted;
• Mandatory Programs that Expire: $2.7 trillion in outlays for mandatory spending programs that expire under current law;
• Expiring Trust Fund Taxes: Assumes $546 billion in revenues that expire under current law; and
• Net Interest: $4 trillion in resulting interest costs from the aforementioned assumptions.

These bills were drafted with the technical support and expertise of the Economic Policy Innovation Center.

 

Congressman Ben Cline represents the Sixth Congressional District of Virginia. He previously was an attorney in private practice and served both as an assistant prosecutor and a Member of the Virginia House of Delegates. Cline and his wife, Elizabeth, live in Botetourt County with their two children.

###

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Earl L Buddy Carter (GA-01)

Headline: Carter leads bipartisan effort to support family forest landowners

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rep. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA), alongside Reps. Terri Sewell (D-AL), Aaron Bean (R-FL), Mike Thompson (D-CA), Greg Steube (R-FL), Greg Murphy (R-NC), and Nathaniel Moran (R-TX), this week introduced the bipartisan Save America’s Family Forests Act of 2026, a bill to help family forest landowners recover more quickly from natural disasters and keep working forests productive.

Under current law, landowners may deduct only up to $10,000 in reforestation expenses upfront, with the remaining costs recovered over seven years. The Save America’s Family Forests Act of 2026 would modernize this treatment by allowing faster cost recovery following natural disasters, helping ensure timely replanting and continued forest productivity.

This legislation builds on the success of expensing provisions such as bonus depreciation and Section 179 equipment expensing included in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Applying these same principles to reforestation helps ensure forest landowners can reinvest quickly and keep working forests productive.

This Save America’s Family Forests Act of 2026 would:

• Fully and immediately expense reforestation costs following a federally declared natural disaster.
• Remove the $10,000 cap and eliminate long recovery periods under the current law.
• Improve access to the capital needed to quickly replant and restore forests.

“Georgia’s family forest landowners are essential to our economy and our way of life,” said Rep. Carter. “It’s the number one state for forestry, supporting rural jobs, strengthening supply chains, and keeping our environment healthy and resilient. Foresters need our support; right now, in my district, wildfires in Brantley County have burned over 20,000 acres. By building on proven expensing policies, this bill ensures they can recover quickly after disasters and continue managing healthy, productive forests.”

“Alabama’s Black Belt and rural communities depend on healthy, working forests for jobs and economic opportunity. As wildfires and severe weather events become more frequent, we must help landowners recover and rebuild. I’m honored to join my colleagues in advancing this bipartisan effort to support family forest landowners,” said Rep. Sewell.

“Floridians are seeing the impact of wildfires right now, with thousands of acres burning across Northeast Florida and nearby communities. Family forest landowners need the ability to recover quickly and keep their land productive,” said Rep. Bean. “I’m proud to join this effort to support Florida’s forestry families and strengthen our natural resources.”

“After catastrophic wildfires and other natural disasters, forest landowners face unnecessary delays in reforesting due to outdated tax policy,” said Rep. Thompson. “The Save America’s Family Forests Act provides the certainty landowners need to reinvest quickly, restore forest cover, and keep these landscapes healthy. Proud to serve as a co-lead of this bipartisan legislation to strengthen our natural resources.” 

“In Florida, our family forests face constant threats from hurricanes and severe flooding that can wipe out years of timber production overnight. When disaster strikes, family forest landowners need tax relief when replanting costs hit, not years later,” said Rep. Steube. “That’s why I’m co-leading the Save America’s Family Forests Act. This bill extends proven expensing policies to family forests in the wake of natural disasters so can recover faster, supply affordable timber, and support rural economies.” 

“North Carolina’s family forest landowners face growing risks from storms and natural disasters, especially after the devastation of Hurricane Helene, and they need commonsense tax policy that supports recovery,” said Rep. Murphy. “The Save America’s Family Forests Act helps keep working forests productive and in family hands by accelerating reforestation investment when it matters most, while also supporting efforts to expand domestic timber production and strengthen our rural economies.”

“Rural communities across America need champions who understand what’s at stake. This legislation gives forest landowners the tools to act fast, protect their investment, and keep their land productive for generations to come,” said Rep. Moran. “America’s timber industry needs parity when it comes to relief and recovery from natural disasters. This bill ensures the tax code is working for them, not against.” 

“Georgia’s forestry sector is one of the strongest in the nation, driven by family forest landowners who are committed to keeping their land productive. After a natural disaster, the ability to quickly recover and replant is critical not only for landowners, but for the entire forest products supply chain. This legislation builds on proven expensing policies to provide the certainty needed for timely reinvestment,” said Tim Lowrimore, President, CEO, Georgia Forestry Association. “We thank Congressman Buddy Carter and Senator Raphael Warnock for their leadership in advancing solutions that keep Georgia’s working forests healthy and productive.”

“Georgia’s agricultural community, including timber producers, has faced major losses from Hurricanes Michael and Helene. These disasters highlight the vulnerability of our working lands and the need for policies that enable faster recovery. The Save America’s Family Forests Act offers a practical solution, by allowing full and immediate expensing of reforestation costs,” said Tom McCall, President, Georgia Farm Bureau Federation. “This bill enables farmers, timber producers, and forest landowners to reinvest without delay, strengthen rural economies, and keep working forests productive for future generations.”

“Family forest landowners play a vital role in keeping America’s working forests healthy, resilient, and productive, but recovering from natural disasters can create significant financial challenges. The Save America’s Family Forests Act provides a commonsense solution by allowing landowners to reinvest more quickly in reforestation when it matters most,” said Scott Jones, CEO, Forest Landowners Association. “By building on proven expensing policies, this legislation will help ensure our forests remain a strong foundation for rural economies, domestic timber production, and long-term environmental stewardship.”

“America’s farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners care deeply for the land they’ve been entrusted with. When natural disasters strike, recovery is not just about rebuilding, it’s about continued improvement to ensure sustainability. We appreciate members of Congress who have worked in a bipartisan manner to create the Save America’s Family Forests Act,” said Dr. John Newton, VP of Public Policy, American Farm Bureau Federation. “It builds on proven policies to give forest landowners the flexibility they need to replant and recover without unnecessary delay.”

“Private working forests play a vital role providing wildlife habitat and access for sportsmen and women, but as recent natural disasters have shown, recovery costs can impede forest restoration,” said John Culclasure, Director of Forest Policy, Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation. “We thank the bill sponsors for introducing the Save America’s Family Forests Act to modernize federal tax policy to help landowners keep forests working sustainably for wildlife, rural communities, and opportunities for hunters and anglers.”

Read bill text here.

###