MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Rick Larsen (2nd Congressional District Washington)

Larsen Releases Statement on Trump Administration Cancelling Thousands of Flights

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

Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries appeared on FOX News’ Special Report with Bret Baier where he outlined how Democrats from coast to coast are committed to lowering costs and making life more affordable for everyday Americans.

BRET BAIER: Well, even though Democrats won big in the off-year elections last night, there is a party divide. Here to talk about that, the government shutdown and response to President Trump, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York. Mr. Leader, thanks for the time. I want to start with what exactly I asked President Trump at the very beginning, which is how do you read the results from last night?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, it was a decisive win for the American people. Affordability was on the ballot, and affordability won throughout America. Donald Trump, of course, promised that costs would go down on day one. Costs haven’t gone down. Costs have gone up. Housing costs through the roof, child care costs through the roof, groceries through the roof, electricity bills skyrocketing across America. And now, because my Republican colleagues refuse to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits, we know that for tens of millions of Americans who are now in the open enrollment period, they are experiencing dramatically increased premiums, co-pays and deductibles. In some cases, working-class Americans being asked to absorb increases of $1,000 or $2,000 per month. America is too expensive, and something needs to be done about it decisively.

BRET BAIER: I want to talk to you about the government shutdown in just a minute. Is the incoming New York mayor, Mamdani, going to drag down moderates in your party next year?

LEADER JEFFRIES: I think the connective tissue that we saw across the country, including as it relates to the Mayor-elect’s campaign, in New Jersey and in Virginia, was the notion that, as Democrats, we are going to fight hard to make life more affordable. Far too many people are struggling to live paycheck to paycheck. They’re working hard and they’re playing by the rules, but they can’t get ahead. In fact, they can barely get by. And that should not be the case in this country, the wealthiest country in the history of the world.

BRET BAIER: Here’s what Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said about Mayor-elect Mamdani and his race.

RECORDING OF REP. ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ: He had to not just defeat a Republican. He had to defeat a Republican and the old guard of the Democratic Party at the same time. The Democratic Party cannot last much longer by denying the future, by trying to undercut our young, by trying to undercut the next generation.

BRET BAIER: So there is a divide there, and I guess the question to you, Mr. Leader, is, are you part of the old guard or the future that Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez talks about, about her and Mayor-elect Mamdani?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, ultimately, I think that’s a question, Bret, that the people that I represent are going to have to decide. In the House, as you know, we have a two-year employment contract, and every two years we have to go back to the voters and make our case as to whether we are continuing to deliver for the American people, the people we’re privileged to represent, in ways that improve their quality of life. That’s what Democrats are all about at this moment, House Democrats in particular. We recognize that America deserves better than where things are at right now, that we need to drive down the high cost of living, we need to fix our broken healthcare system and we also need to clean up corruption across the board—in Congress, at the Supreme Court and, of course, as it relates to this administration.

BRET BAIER: You’ve had Democratic Socialists like Mamdani win, though, and there have been supporters, including yourself, who endorsed him. But the Democratic Socialists of America, this is what their platform is: abolish mandatory minimums and cash bail, establish universal rent control, greatly reduce U.S. military budget, amnesty for all immigrants, full voting rights to non-citizens and national popular vote for President. So do you sign on to that new side of your party with those stipulations?

LEADER JEFFRIES: It’s very interesting that you asked that question. Here’s what Democrats stand for. We believe in a country with a strong floor and no ceiling. In this great country of ours, when you work hard and play by the rules, there should be no ceiling to the success that you can achieve for yourself, for your family and for your children. At the same period of time as Democrats, we do believe in a strong floor and that includes Social Security and Medicare and Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act, veterans benefits and nutritional assistance. Things that, unfortunately, my Republican colleagues are cutting right now as we speak, with an agenda that’s designed just to benefit the wealthiest amongst us, and that’s what was done in their One Big Ugly Bill.

BRET BAIER: I want to talk about healthcare in just a second, but this is the last thing about Mamdani. How did you come to endorse Zohran Mamdani? And contrast that with the Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who not only didn’t endorse him, he didn’t say how he voted. Take a listen.

RECORDING OF REPORTER: Today is Election Day in New York City. Did you vote for Mamdani or Cuomo?

RECORDING OF CHUCK SCHUMER: Look, I voted, and I look forward to working with the next mayor to help New York City.

BRET BAIER: I mean, you guys live blocks away from each other in Brooklyn. How did you come to the different calculus as far as your endorsement than Senator Schumer did?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, I issued a statement. That statement certainly speaks for itself. And as Leader Schumer said—and he of course speaks for himself as well—we have to all collectively now make sure that everyone who was elected, that Zohran is a successful mayor for the good of everyone, people who voted for him and people who voted against him. We certainly have to make sure, of course, that Mikie Sherrill, who had a decisive victory in New Jersey, crushed the Republican opposition, that she’s successful. She ran on affordability. And we all have to work to make sure that, of course, Abigail Spanberger, who had an incredibly decisive victory—I think it was 14 or 15 points, nobody apparently saw that coming on the other side of the aisle—that she’s successful because everyone is focused on making life more affordable for the American people.

BRET BAIER: And I talked about the massive spreads today on air, and it was significant in those two states. I want to talk to you about the government shutdown. There is talk of deals up on the Hill, possibly appropriations bills as well as a continuing resolution passing before Veterans Day, including paying veterans before Veterans Day. Would you be open to any of that at this point? And what happens if moderate Democrats kind of undercut this standoff like they did last year, last March?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, what we’ve indicated as House Democrats is that we will be open to any bipartisan agreement that emerges from the Senate in good faith as long as it, of course, reopens the government, that it enacts a spending agreement that is actually designed to make life better for working-class Americans, middle-class Americans and everyday Americans, while at the same time decisively addresses the Republican healthcare crisis, which includes but is not limited to the largest cut to Medicaid in American history. That hurts people all across the country, regardless of whether they’re a Republican, a Democrat or an Independent. We’re fighting for the American people. Hospitals, nursing homes and community-based health centers are closing all throughout America, including in Louisiana or in Alabama. And these are states that cannot absorb what, unfortunately, has come out of the One Big Ugly Bill, and we think this needs to be decisively addressed.

BRET BAIER: And Republicans are saying they’re willing to negotiate on that. They’ll put it in the bill, in this negotiation, but they want to open the government first. They want a deal with air traffic controllers, they want to pay veterans, they want to do it this weekend. So that’s why I asked that question. I want to ask you one more thing. You’ve called former Speaker Nancy Pelosi your mentor. She said this about the President of the United States the other day.

RECORDING OF SPEAKER EMERITA NANCY PELOSI: It’ll sound like I’m awful about Trump, because he’s just a vile creature. The worst thing on the face of the earth, but anyway.

RECORDING OF ELEX MICHAELSON: You think he’s the worst thing on the face of the Earth?

RECORDING OF SPEAKER EMERITA NANCY PELOSI: I do, yeah. I do. Because he’s the President of the United States, and he does not honor the Constitution of the United States.

BRET BAIER: A vile creature, the worst thing on the face of the earth. Do you stand by what your mentor, Congresswoman Pelosi, said about the President?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Nancy Pelosi, Speaker Emerita Pelosi, is a legendary figure, a hero. She’s done so much for so many over so many years. She speaks powerfully. She speaks authentically. She speaks eloquently on issues of importance to the American people.

BRET BAIER: Even in that moment?

LEADER JEFFRIES: As I indicated, Nancy Pelosi is a legend. She has done more for people here in this country than almost every single American who has served in the House of Representatives. She’s a force of nature. She’s made a difference in the lives of millions of people, and it’s been an honor and a privilege to serve with her over these years that I’ve spent in Congress.

BRET BAIER: Leader Jeffries, we appreciate you coming on. We welcome you back to Special Report.

LEADER JEFFRIES: Thank you.

Full interview can be watched here.

###

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

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04), and Rep. Jerrold Nadler (NY-12), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Antitrust Subcommittee, led a letter with 22 of their colleagues demanding answers from Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian after the company indicated it is partnering with the Israeli company Fetcherr to expand its use of generative artificial intelligence and move towards individualized, surveillance-based pricing.

The Members’ letter follows up on a letter sent by Senators Gallego, Blumenthal, and Warner, to which Delta failed to adequately respond.

 “At a time when Americans are struggling to afford basic necessities, the airline industry is already highly concentrated, and generative AI is being deployed throughout the economy with limited transparency, this move could drive up prices for consumers and result in individualized, surveillance-based price discrimination,” the Members wrote.

“And while Delta claims it has ‘strict safeguards to ensure compliance with federal law, it has not explained what those safeguards are, provided any meaningful transparency into its agreement with Fetcherr or the data that is being used to train the generative AI-powered algorithms, or otherwise provided evidence that it is not moving towards surveillance pricing,” the Members continued.

The Members asked a series of questions to Delta about its plans to expand generative AI in its ticket pricing and requested a response by November 18. 

Read the full text of the letter here.

The letter was cosigned by Representatives Becca Balint (VT-00), André Carson (IN-07), Greg Casar (TX-35), Judy Chu (CA-28), Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Danny Davis (IL-07), Chris Deluzio (PA-17), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), Dwight Evans (PA-03), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Dan Goldman (NY-10), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), Summer Lee (PA-12), Morgan McGarvey (KY-03), Jim McGovern (MA-02), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-00), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Mark Takano (CA-39), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Paul Tonko (NY-20), and Nydia Velázquez (NY-07).

# # #

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Don Bacon (2nd District of Nebraska)

Bacon Hosts Tele-Townhall on November 4, 2025

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Norma Torres (35th District of California)

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

Headline: Carter volunteers in Gainvesville to assist residents struggling with Democrat-led government shutdown

Carter volunteers in Gainvesville to assist residents struggling with Democrat-led government shutdown

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Don Beyer (D-VA)

Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA) today issued the following statement on the results of yesterday’s general elections in Virginia:

“It is hard to overstate the magnitude of Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger’s victory yesterday. She won by the largest margin of any Democratic gubernatorial candidate in Virginia since the parties realigned during integration, with broad support that overcame differences of age, race, gender, and political affiliation. She flipped rural counties that haven’t supported Democratic candidates in years, and her success helped deliver the biggest Democratic wins in the House of Delegates in nearly four decades. She also shattered Virginia’s glass ceiling at long last, and I cannot wait to address my friend as ‘Madam Governor.’

“Virginia voters sent a clear message that they are not happy about rising prices, rising unemployment, and the state of the economy. President Trump ran on the promise to fix these problems quickly, but with his Republican allies he has instead made them worse: raising the costs of groceries and goods with crazy tariffs, and raising electricity prices and health care costs with their Big Bill. The concerns about high costs are not isolated to Virginia, this is a huge, nationwide problem that demands solutions which Republicans are failing to offer.

“I am proud and not surprised that some of the most enthusiastic voters were Northern Virginians, who have been treated so awfully by this Administration and its Republican allies. I have warned all year that DOGE, the illegal funding freezes and cancellations, the illegal destruction of agencies and attacks on the civil servants who work on them were deeply unpopular – and that is clearly reflected in these results. This is a broader economic and governance issue that activated and energized many people who are not employed by the federal government, and continues to reverberate in places far from Washington.

“Rather than address these issues, Republicans have chosen to run cover for a deeply unpopular president as he makes life worse for average Americans and engages in some of the most blatant corruption ever seen in this country. We have made clear that they will not do so unopposed, and the opposition will only gain strength and momentum from these powerful results. The American people do not want a king, they want leaders who care about them and solve their problems, which is the kind of governor Virginians see in Abigail Spanberger.

“I congratulate and thank our candidates, their staffs and volunteers, and all whose tireless efforts led to this incredible result.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ted Lieu (33 District of California)

LOS ANGELES – Today, Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D-Los Angeles County) issued the following statement after California voters passed Proposition 50, which requires temporary use of new congressional district maps through 2030.  The passage means California will use new, legislatively drawn congressional district maps starting in 2026. 

“Trump and his Republican acolytes have made it their mission to attack hardworking Californians and our Democratic principles. Last night, Californians told Trump that we will not yield. The resounding support for Prop 50 shows that there are political consequences to politicizing fire aid, sending troops to our neighborhoods, and terrorizing immigrant communities. California is the fifth-largest economy in the world and makes our country great. People here and across the country are sick of inflation and they’re sick of the Republican cruelty. Californians joined the chorus of Americans who made their voices heard yesterday to simply say: Republicans, stop attacking our communities and driving up the cost of everything.

###

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

WASHINGTON — On Day 36 of the Democrat Shutdown, Speaker Johnson hosted a press conference alongside members of the sophomore class and House GOP Leadership to discuss how Democrats have handed the keys of their party to avowed socialists and leaders who fantasize about the death of their political opponents. Speaker Johnson also reminded Democrat Rep. Chrissy Houlahan – who embarrassingly tried to interrupt the press conference – that she voted against funding for SNAP and pay for US troops.

“We talk about Mamdani for two reasons. It’s a bellwether because House Democrats, many of whom represent districts much less blue than New York City, have embraced him with open arms. And because his brand of Marxism is truly a bellwether for the Democrats nationwide,” Speaker Johnson said. “We’ve pointed out that other major metropolitan areas in the country are facing the same threat with candidates similar to Mamdani. And we are going to continue to call out their effort to mainstream and normalize socialism and Marxism in America.”

Today officially marks the longest shutdown in American history.

Watch Speaker Johnson’s full remarks here.

On Democrats embracing radical, Left-Wing candidates:

The new power center of the Left isn’t the moderates; it’s the AOC’s and the Bernie Sanders and the Mamdani’s of the party. It’s the activists who believe capitalism is evil, who disdain the founding principles of their own country, that claim that the salvation of our nation will be brought about by bigger government and more bureaucracy. Look what happened in New York City last night. For the first time in American history, an avowed, openly proclaimed socialist has been elected as the mayor of America’s largest city. Zohran Mamdani is without a doubt the biggest win for socialism in the history of the country. And it is the biggest loss for the American people.

He is truly a committed Marxist, and the results of that race tell you everything you need to know about where the Democrats and their party are headed. From the back bench to their leadership, Democrats have fallen in line behind the socialist candidates. Hakeem Jeffries, as you know, is the highest-ranking Democrat in the House. He gave his full blessing to Mamdani and his socialist agenda. Chuck Schumer, the highest-ranking Democrat in the Senate and the highest-ranking Jewish leader in America, flirted with endorsing Mamdani all the way to the bitter end. Never mind the fact that Zohran has embraced antisemitic rhetoric and promised to arrest the Prime Minister of Israel if he visits New York City again.

And then there’s President Obama who called Mamdani over the weekend to extend his praise and act as a sounding board for the young socialist. You can’t make this stuff up. The man who made health care unaffordable with his own socialist scheme is advising the man whose false promises will surely make life unlivable for millions of New Yorkers who cannot afford to flee the city.

On House Democrats owning the consequences of their embrace of socialism:

We talk about Mamdani for two reasons. It’s a bellwether because House Democrats, many of whom represent districts much less blue than New York City, have embraced him with open arms. And because his brand of Marxism is truly a bellwether for the Democrats nationwide. We pointed out that other major metropolitan areas in the country are facing the same threat with candidates similar to Mamdani. And we are going to continue to call out their effort to mainstream and normalize socialism and Marxism in America. Working families watching this play out have a right to know that socialism and communism are not just confined in New York City.

They’re quickly coming to a town near you, unless you stand up and let your voice of common sense be heard. While Democrats hitch their wagon to the socialist agenda, Republicans are going to continue to act in good faith on behalf of hardworking Americans, and we will remind a new generation of Americans about the painful and inescapable realities of history.

On Rep. Houlahan’s embarrassing press conference charade:

We went to the White House; we went and sat in front of the resolute desk. We brought Leader Jeffries and Leader Schumer in, and we had a discussion. The President said, please don’t shut the government down. It would cause all this pain to the American people. This has never happened before. It’s a clean, nonpartisan CR that every Democrat, including you, voted no on September 19. You voted to shut down the government. You voted to stop SNAP benefits. You voted to not pay the troops, not pay TSA, Border Patrol. You may regret it now, but that’s your vote. And it’s on the record. So, the President had them in and they didn’t want to have a dialogue or debate. They thumbed their nose at him.

###

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (1st District of Maine)

“USCIS’s own data makes clear that the agency continues to face severe delays in adjudicating EAD renewals. As a result, individuals who have already been deemed legally authorized to work will lose their jobs for no other reason than the government choosing not to process their paperwork in time,” the lawmakers said. “Ending automatic extensions under these conditions is effectively penalizing people for USCIS’s administrative shortcomings.

The lawmakers said the policy shift is both unfair and economically reckless, noting that immigrants with work authorization play critical roles in health care, education, agriculture, and other essential sectors. “Removing the ability from employers to employ those who are work authorized, tax-paying, and essential to our communities drastically undermines our economy and puts unnecessary burden on business owners who are already struggling to make ends meet.”

The lawmakers underscored that the new rule creates a bureaucratic trap for workers who are doing everything right. Current regulations encourage applicants to file renewal requests only up to 180 days—six months—before their work permits expire. Yet USCIS’s own data show that average processing times for many EAD categories now exceed six and a half months. 

“This gap ensures that, even when applicants submit renewals at the earliest possible date, their authorization will lapse before a new document can be issued,” the Members wrote. “In practice, this rule guarantees that lawfully employed individuals will be forced out of the workforce through no fault of their own.”

The lawmakers urged USCIS to immediately withdraw the rule or, at minimum, delay implementation until the agency can demonstrate that renewal applications will be processed within a timeframe that prevents lapses in work authorization.

Last year, Pingree and King led a push to codify a temporary rule granting a 540-day automatic extension to expiring work authorizations for immigrants and asylum seekers.  

+++

Dear Director Edlow,

We write to express deep concern regarding USCIS’s recently announced interim final rule ending the automatic extension of employment authorization documents (EADs) for individuals who have filed timely renewal applications. This change, to be implemented while significant processing backlogs persist, will have devastating consequences for workers, families, and employers across the country.

USCIS’s own data makes clear that the agency continues to face severe delays in adjudicating EAD renewals. As a result, individuals who have already been deemed legally authorized to work will lose their jobs for no other reason than the government choosing not to process their paperwork in time. Ending automatic extensions under these conditions is effectively penalizing people for USCIS’s administrative shortcomings.

Compounding this problem, current regulations only allow applicants to file for a renewal up to 180 days – six months – before their work permit expires. Yet, at the time of the rule’s publication, the agency’s average processing time for many the EAD categories covered by the extension exceeds six and a half months. This gap ensures that, even when applicants submit their renewals at the earliest possible date, their authorization will lapse before a new document can be issued. In practice, this rule guarantees that lawfully employed individuals will be forced out of the workforce through no fault of their own.

 This policy shift is not only unfair, but economically reckless. Employers in practically every sector–from health care and education to agriculture and food services–are all seeking to fill open positions. Removing the ability from employers to employ those who are work authorized, tax-paying, and essential to our communities drastically undermines our economy and puts unnecessary burden on business owners who are already struggling to make ends meet.

 We strongly urge USCIS to withdraw this rule and instead focus on addressing the underlying backlogs that have caused these delays. If the agency proceeds, it must at-minimum delay implementation until it can demonstrate that renewal applications will be processed within a timeframe that prevents lapses in employment authorization. Anything less will cause significant harm to workers, businesses, and the U.S. economy.

 Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter. We look forward to your response outlining the steps USCIS intends to take to ensure that employment-authorized individuals are not stripped of their ability to work due to agency inaction.

Sincerely,

###