MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Al Green (TX-9)

(Houston, TX) — On Friday, February 13, 2026, Congressman Al Green marked National Salute to Veteran Patients Week by distributing 1,000 Valentine’s Day cards created by students in local after-school programs and 1,000 Congressional Certificates to honor veterans. The distribution was held at the Michael E. DeBakey Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center (MEDVAMC). This event served as a tribute to courageous individuals dedicated to serving and safeguarding our country. 

National Salute to Veteran Patients Week is an annual event that allows the public to show love and appreciation for our veterans. These Valentine’s Day cards and certificates will be presented to both inpatient and outpatient Veterans at MEDVAMC, as well as the nearby Veterans Benefits Administration Houston Regional Office. 

Congressman Al Green stated that, “National Salute to Veteran Patients Week gives us the opportunity to honor the men and women who were willing to sacrifice their lives in service to our nation. What makes this distribution especially meaningful is that the Valentine’s Day cards come from our young people in the Congressional District. They remind our veterans that we honor their service and the support system their families provide them as they serve our nation.  Moments like this affirm that their courage continues to be honored and appreciated.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative for Western Samoa Congresswoman Aumua Amata

Headline: Amata Cosponsors Bipartisan SUSHI Act to Safeguard U.S. Fishing

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata is a cosponsor of the Standards for Understanding Source and Habitat Identification (SUSHI) Act, H.R. 3706, passed by unanimous consent on Wednesday by the House Natural Resources Committee. 

The bill works to secure American seafood against Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, which unfairly competes with the American tuna industry, along with other seafood. Among other provisions, the bill requires the Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and the Administrator of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to develop a standard methodology for identifying the country of origin of seafood to support enforcement against IUU fishing.

“Food security is national security, and in the Pacific we’ve consistently raised the alarm over IUU fishing. The U.S. has been doing more to signal a growing commitment to these priorities, and this legislation will strengthen efforts to add protections regarding our seafood sources and keep our U.S. fishing competitive and supplying American households with tuna, which ultimately strengthens American Samoa.”

Women’s History Museum

In other congressional activity this week, Congresswoman Amata is an original cosponsor of the bipartisan bill directing the National Women’s History Museum and its site selection along the National Mall in Washington, D.C. On Tuesday, this bill was examined in a legislative hearing by the Subcommittee on Federal Lands, within the House Natural Resources Committee, providing the next step forward for the legislation. 

The Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum Act, H.R. 1329, led by Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), authorizes the selection of a prominent location on the National Mall for the American Women’s History Museum and ensures its exhibits accurately reflect the history and contributions of women in the United States as the nation approaches its 250th anniversary.

###

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23)

“No family should endure the heartbreaking agony of losing a loved one to gun violence. Yet every day, families across America still endure this torment, and the lifetime of anguish it brings. Thankfully, more of those impacted by it are joining courageous parents like Fred Guttenberg and other gun safety advocates, to demand that Congress confront this public health crisis,” said Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz. “That’s why I’m proud to reintroduce Jaime’s Law, named in honor of Fred’s talented and compassionate daughter. This crucial legislation is part of the multifaceted legal approach we need to finally end the gun violence epidemic. A required background check to buy ammunition is already in place. But closing this loophole, to actually enforce that law, can and will save lives.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman John Garamendi – Representing California’s 3rd Congressional District

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

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Betty McCollum (D, MN-04), the Dean of the Minnesota Congressional Delegation, issued the following statement on Thursday in response to White House Border Czar Tom Homan’s announcement that Operation Metro Surge will soon come to an end: 

“For months, the Trump administration has inflicted a reign of terror and chaos through Operation Metro Surge. The fact that the administration says that it ‘yielded the results they came for’ is a flashing red light warning to our entire nation. What are their results?

“Renee Good and Alex Pretti were shot dead by federal agents. A 5-year-old boy was snatched from his own driveway — despite his family’s pending asylum case and no prior orders for deportation. A Saint Paul Hmong elder who is a U.S. citizen was dragged out of his home into the cold by masked agents in front of a frightened child because federal agents acted on erroneous information. A 23-year-old Saint Paul woman and U.S. citizen was taken from her car as she was warming it up in front of her house and detained for two days — shackled by her wrists and ankles, called a racial slur, and suffering a concussion and a seizure. Just days later, she was rearrested on baseless charges, then released. A Saint Paul man suffered eight skull fractures after being unlawfully arrested by federal agents. Just yesterday, federal agents forced a highspeed chase through Saint Paul’s Cathedral Hill neighborhood that resulted in injuries and extreme danger to residents.  

“For months, Minnesotans’ constitutional rights have been violated. Thousands have been detained unlawfully. Children are afraid to go to school. Businesses are closing — some permanently. Local communities are facing mounting bills as their public safety budgets are stretched to the breaking point. The damage inflicted by this devastating surge in Minnesota is clear proof that President Trump’s immigration policy is nothing but a campaign of terror and retribution against Americans he doesn’t like, and it is being implemented by an inept, out of control, and cruel Department of Homeland Security.

“Minnesotans have suffered the reality of thousands of incompetent, undertrained, and unidentifiable federal agents who have been roaming our neighborhoods and acting with brutality and impunity. In the face of these extraordinary challenges, Minnesotans have responded admirably by caring for our neighbors and looking out for one another. 

“It’s up to Congress and the courts to stop these operations. It’s up to Congress to fix the mess that Trump has created. No community in America should have to face the carnage and lasting damage inflicted on Minnesota communities by the Trump administration for years to come.”

 

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

WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Wednesday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed S. 1383, the SAVE America Act. Congresswoman Betty McCollum voted no on the legislation. After the vote, Congresswoman McCollum issued the following statement: 

“Under the United States constitution, states are responsible for conducting elections. To date, American elections are safe, secure, and fair. As we celebrate 250 years of American democracy, Congress should be following Minnesota’s lead and working to encourage more Americans to vote rather than putting up roadblocks to the ballot box.

“Republicans’ so-called SAVE America Act would disenfranchise millions of Americans – especially women – through a federal takeover of state election administration that makes it more difficult to vote. Under the guise of election integrity, this bill would require every American to provide burdensome ‘documentary proof of citizenship,’ similar to what Minnesotans already rejected, in order to participate in federal elections. REAL IDs, Tribal IDs, and military IDs alone do not meet this bill’s extreme criteria. This creates an indirect poll tax, because nearly half of Minnesotans don’t have a passport. Almost seventy million American women – one out of four Americans – would face an additional burden to register to vote simply because they changed their last name after marriage. Simply put, this Republican bill is about voter suppression.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Frank Pallone (6th District of New Jersey)

Long Branch, NJ – Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) today launched his 11^th Annual Poetry Showcase in honor of National Poetry Month. As a long admirer of poetry, Pallone looks forward to seeing the creativity of students across New Jersey’s Sixth Congressional District.

  

K-12 students enrolled in New Jersey’s Sixth Congressional District Schools are encouraged to participate. Thematic categories include District Pride (local history, landmarks, culture), Voice of Change (social issues and hope for the community) and Our Common Ground (environment). Students should submit their original poems by email to Pallone.poetry@mail.house.gov by March 13, 2026.

“As we become more accustomed to the digital age, it is more important now than ever to highlight the value of poetry so that the younger generation understands the beauty of it,” said Congressman Pallone. “I am looking forward to celebrating National Poetry Month by reading the creative works of students across New Jersey’s Sixth Congressional District.”

 

Winners will be selected in April by panels of local expert judges and honored at the Congressman’s Sixth Congressional District Spring Awards Ceremony. Additionally, selected poems will be featured on the Congressman’s social media.

 

For more information, please contact Pallone.poetry@mail.house.gov or call 

(732) 249-8892.

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

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Representatives Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO), and Lizzie Fletcher (D-TX) alongside Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Bernie Sanders (D-VT), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) led a coalition of over 80 Members in the House and Senate in filing an amicus brief urging the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to vacate the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) unlawful termination of the Inflation Reduction Act’s (IRA) Solar for All program.

The $7 billion Solar for All program was designed to help low-and moderate-income communities invest in residential and community solar projects – lowering energy costs for working families while creating jobs in the clean energy economy. The program was expected to deliver solar access to more than 900,000 households nationwide and save participating families an estimated $350 million annually on utility bills. 

“The Solar For All program was created by Congress, funded by Congress, and signed into law to lower energy costs for working families while accelerating the transition to clean energy,” said Congressman Cleaver. “This administration does not have the authority to unilaterally dismantle a program established by statute. That’s not how our Constitution works. This amicus brief defends both the rule of law and the communities – like those across Missouri – that were counting on these investments to reduce utility bills, create jobs, and confront the climate crisis. I am grateful to Congresswoman Fletcher and Senator Whitehouse for the collaboration on this effort and to all of my colleagues who joined us.”

“Solar for All is one of the most important affordable energy programs in our country’s history,” said Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher. “The Trump administration’s decision to terminate Solar for All was not just reckless — it was unlawful. Congress established the Solar for All program. Congress appropriated the funds for it. No president or political appointee can unilaterally eliminate a program Congress has created. We created this program to serve every American, in red states and blue states alike. We wanted to make sure that families from El Paso to Elkhart, Amarillo to Austin, and Houston to Harlingen could all share in the prosperity of America’s energy future. That is why Harris County is suing — not for politics, but for principle — and why I am glad to join Congressman Cleaver and Senator Whitehouse in this effort to support Harris County.

“I am grateful to all of my colleagues who joined us, especially our newest, Congressman Christian Menefee, who filed this lawsuit as Harris County Attorney,” concluded Congresswoman Fletcher.

During the Biden Administration, EPA awarded Solar for All grants to 60 state agencies, nonprofit organizations, and Tribal governments across all 50 states. The program is part of the IRA’s $27 billion Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. Rep. Cleaver is leading the amicus brief alongside colleagues in the House and Senate to defend Congress’s constitution power of the purse and ensure communities receive the clean energy investments promised under the law. 

The amicus brief was signed by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Edward Markey (D-MA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Cory Booker (D-NJ) as well as Representatives Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA), Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Danny K. Davis (D-IL), Diana DeGette (D-CO), James P. McGovern (D-MA), Adam Smith (D-WA), John B. Larson (D-CT), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Betty McCollum (D-MN), Stephen F. Lynch (D-MA), Kathy Castor (D-FL), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Joe Courtney (D-CT), André Carson (D-IN), Paul D. Tonko (D-NY), Mike Quigley (D-IL), Judy Chu (D-CA), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Suzan K. DelBene (D-WA), Dina Titus (D-NV), Julia Brownley (D-CA), Joaquin Castro (D-TX), Jared Huffman (D-CA), Juan Vargas (D-CA), Marc Veasey (D-TX), Ed Case (D-HI), Donald S. Beyer, Jr. (D-VA), Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Ted W. Lieu (D-CA), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), Nanette Barragán (D-CA), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Ro Khanna (D-CA), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Darren Soto (D-FL), Madeleine Dean (D-PA), Veronica Escobar (D-TX), Sylvia R. Garcia (D-TX), Susie Lee (D-NV), Kim Schrier, M.D. (D-WA), Greg Stanton (D-AZ), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Deborah K. Ross (D-NC), Marilyn Strickland (D-WA), Troy A. Carter Sr. (D-LA), Melanie Stansbury (D-NM), Shontel M. Brown (D-OH), Becca Balint (D-VT), Greg Casar (D-TX), Jasmine Crockett (D-TX), Valerie P. Foushee (D-NC), Daniel Goldman (D-NY), Summer L. Lee (D-PA), Seth Magaziner (D-RI), Morgan McGarvey (D-KY), Robert J. Menendez (D-NJ), Kevin Mullin (D-CA), Brittany Pettersen (D-CO), Andrea Salinas (D-OR), Eric Sorensen (D-IL), Shri Thanedar (D-MI), Jill Tokuda (D-HI), Wesley Bell (D-MO), Janelle S. Bynum (D-OR), Herb Conaway (D-NJ), Laura Friedman (D-CA), Sara McBride (D-DE), Dave Min (D-CA), Emily Randall (D-WA), Christian Menefee (D-TX).

See full amicus brief here. 

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 – Representative Jesús Chuy García (IL-04)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04) announced $13,591,865.00 in direct federal funding for Community Project Funding for Illinois’ 4th District, benefitting 15 organizations. This funding represents the latest installment in more than $63 million across 54 projects in targeted federal investments delivered to IL-04 since 2022—resources centered on the district’s urgent needs.

“I am pleased to have secured $13,591,865.00 in Community Project Funding to address vital needs in our district,” Congressman García said. “Over the years, we’ve focused on investments that address the district’s urgent concerns. This round includes funding for lead pipe replacement, bus service improvements, updates to classrooms for students with disabilities, and upgraded radios for police departments. I am proud to have delivered these investments to improve the health and safety of my district. 

• $2,000,000 for the Village of North Riverside to replace eight blocks of deteriorated plain cement concrete public alleys with a new permeable pavement that is designed to naturally drain and redirect rainwater away from the Village’s collection system and into the soil underneath.
• $2,000,000 for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Chicago District, to rehabilitate the Village of Forest View’s water system, which includes an elevated tank that holds 250,000 gallons of water. This project will also rehabilitate their underground reservoir, holding approximately 500,000 gallons of water. 
• $1,092,000 for Leyden Township to replace its water main. This project will also replace lead water pipes that are harmful to human health. 
• $1,092,000 for the Town of Cicero to construct a new water pumping station that includes a finished water reservoir. This project will improve the water quality and supply for the region.
• $1,092,000 for the Village of Hinsdale to reduce sewer flow into Flagg Creek. The reconstruction includes a sewer separation project that will replace the water main and sanitary sewer lining. 
• $1,092,000 for the Village of Melrose Park to replace existing deteriorated water mains. The condition of the current system is causing service interruptions to residents. 
• $1,024,207 for the Village of Berkeley to begin replacing lead service lines in accordance with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency’s mandate for the provision of safe, lead-free drinking water to the residents of Illinois.
• $1,000,000 for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Chicago District, to support sewer infrastructure improvements in the Village of Riverside that will reduce flooding and prevent sewer backups in homes and buildings during heavy rain. This project will improve system capacity and reliability while reducing pressure on regional sewer infrastructure. 
• $623,000 for the Village of Brookfield, to modernize police communications and safety infrastructure, improving coordination, reliability, and training for officers serving the community.
• $750,000 for the City of Elmhurst to modernize police communications and safety equipment, including portable radios, officer training tools, and updated response technology. 
• $452,408 in funding for building updates and rehabilitation to the Summit Public Library District. The needed facility improvements to the roofing and HVAC will ensure that the library remains a functioning space and conserves valuable books, documents, and technology. 
• $446,250 to modernize classrooms at Richard J. Daley College, expanding accessible career training for adults with intellectual, sensory, developmental, and physical disabilities and strengthening pathways to employment. 
• $428,000 for the Village of Stickney to modernize police communication equipment.
• $250,000 for Pace, to implement transit signal priority (TSP) on North Avenue, one of the busiest corridors between Melrose Park and Northlake. The project will update traffic signals to improve bus reliability, improve travel times, and promote access to public transportation. 
• $250,000 for infrastructure needed to support the Village of Franklin Park’s downtown expansion by funding streetscape and landscaping improvements on Franklin Avenue from 25th Avenue east to Edgington Street. The project will allow safer access to downtown businesses, public transportation, and park facilities for residents and visitors.

The Community Project Funding (CPF) process allows Members of Congress to request direct funding for projects that benefit the communities they represent. CPF is separate from federal grants, and funding is apportioned by formula. CPFs are also not regular appropriations requests, which deal with overall funding levels for federal programs.

 # # #

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Maxine Waters (43rd District of California)

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Maxine Waters (CA-43), Ranking Member of the Committee on Financial Services, introduced the Food for Palestinian Children and Families in Gaza Act in the House of Representatives today.

“The children and families of Gaza have been devastated by the war, and the food assistance being provided is far from sufficient,” said Congresswoman Waters. “The children of Gaza deserve three meals a day to begin to recover from the war and to grow up healthy and strong. My bill requires the State Department to ensure this minimum standard for children and families in Gaza.”

According to United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, 1.6 million people in Gaza – more than 75 percent of the population – “are projected to face extreme levels of acute food insecurity and critical malnutrition risks^[1].” Furthermore, nearly 101,000 children aged 6 to 59 months are expected to suffer from acute malnutrition through mid-October of 2026, and that is expected to include more than 31,000 severe cases^[2].

“More than three-quarters of the people of Gaza are facing acute hunger and malnutrition, and this is clearly unacceptable,” said Congresswoman Waters. “Children and families in Gaza deserve better.”

While food assistance has begun to enter Gaza since the October 10^th ceasefire, it is far from sufficient to meet the tremendous needs of the people. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that as of January 4^th, their partners were able to resume distribution of monthly food rations for the first time since October of 2023, but these rations were only able to reach 100,000 people^[3].

“I introduced the Food for Palestinian Children and Families in Gaza Act to require the State Department to certify that policies, processes, and procedures have been established and are in use to ensure that sufficient food assistance is being provided to ensure that all children in Gaza are able to eat at least three nutritious meals a day, and all other civilians in Gaza are able to eat at least two nutritious meals a day,” said Congresswoman Waters.

The policies, processes, and procedures required by the bill must be developed in coordination with the World Food Program (WFP), the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), and other appropriate United Nations agencies, other bilateral, multilateral, and independent donors, the Government of Israel, and representatives of the Palestinian people. The bill will also require the State Department to report to Congress on how much food assistance is being distributed in Gaza and promptly inform Congress of instances in which food assistance that is made available for the people of Gaza has been denied entry into Gaza or has been diverted or misused in Gaza along with a description of each incident and the parties involved.

Congresswoman Waters’ bill is endorsed by the Center for International Policy Advocacy, Foreign Policy For America (FP4A), Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL), J Street, New Israel Fund, New Jewish Narrative, Partners for Progressive Israel, T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights, and Win Without War.

Congresswoman Waters’ bill is cosponsored by Representatives André Carson (IN-07), Troy A. Carter Sr. (LA-02), Steve Cohen (TN-09), Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Cleo Fields (LA-06), Valerie Foushee (NC-04), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Jahana Hayes (CT-05), Jonathan L. Jackson (IL-01), Henry C. “Hank” Johnson, Jr. (GA-04), Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), Stephen F. Lynch (MA-08), Betty McCollum (MN-04), James P. McGovern (MA-02), and Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC).

###