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

Pressley, Markey, McGovern Conducted Check In with Öztürk at Louisiana ICE Facility in April 2025, Welcomed Her Home Following Release from ICE Detention

Pressley Has Stood in Vigorous Defense of Immigrant Communities in MA 7^th and Nationwide, Fighting to Bring Detained Neighbors Home

Rep. Pressley’s Social Media Post

WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) issued a heartfelt message saying goodbye to her constituent, Rümeysa Öztürk, a Somerville resident and PhD graduate who has chosen to return to her home country, Turkey, after being unlawfully detained and subjected to inhumane conditions by the Trump Administration in retaliation for her protected speech.

In April 2025, Congresswoman Pressley, Sen. Markey, and Rep. James P. McGovern traveled to ICE facilities in Basile and Jena, where Rümeysa Öztürk and Mahmoud Khalil were being unlawfully detained. In May 2025, at her request, the lawmakers welcomed Ms. Öztürk at Logan Airport following her release from Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention in Louisiana.

The Congresswoman’s social media post is here and the text of her message is available below:

“Rumeysa, saying goodbye is deeply bittersweet. From the moment we met behind the wall, I felt an immediate kinship with you. Even in the midst of trauma, fear, and uncertainty, your light shone through. You spoke first not about yourself, but about the women detained alongside you—carrying their stories in your heart and in carefully written notes, like the brilliant researcher you are.

What Donald Trump and his administration subjected you to is a shameful injustice, and it will always be a stain on American history. Like so many, you were criminalized for exercising your First Amendment rights. You were incarcerated for seeing the dignity and humanity of the Palestinian people. And you were forced to endure unspeakable trauma as part of their coordinated attempt to intimidate, instill fear, and rip away the fundamental rights of everyone who calls this country home.

But despite it all, you persevered. You pressed forward, finishing your studies and contributing to our community through your scholarship, advocacy, and humanity.

You deserved so much better.

Thank you for everything you gave to our Commonwealth and country, and for the courage and compassion you showed in even the darkest moments. Please know that the Massachusetts 7th will always be your home, and I will be forever proud to call you my constituent and fight for your rights.”

Photo credit: Rep. Ayanna Pressley’s Office

Following Öztürk’s abduction and detention, Congresswoman Pressley, along with Senator Markey, Ranking Member Bennie Thompson, Congressman Jim McGovern, and Congressman Troy Carter sent a letter to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) seeking more information on the detention conditions of immigrants held at the Central Louisiana ICE Processing Center (CLIPC) and the South Louisiana ICE Processing Center (SLIPC) after an oversight trip to the facilities.

On May 7, 2025, Pressley, Markey, and McGovern applauded the Second Circuit for ordering Rümeysa’s transfer from ICE custody in Louisiana to Vermont and rejecting the Trump administration’s attempt to delay complying with a lower court order to do so.

In a powerful New York Times op-ed, Pressley, Markey, and McGovern discussed their meeting with Ms. Öztürk in detention and warned the American people of the dangers posed by the Trump administration’s unlawful attacks on our constitutional rights to freedom of speech and due process. Full text of the op-ed is available here.

Rep. Pressley, along with Sens. Warren and Markey, have pushed for answers and action since Öztürk’s March arrest. In March 2025, they led over 30 lawmakers in writing to Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Acting Director for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Todd Lyons, demanding information about Öztürk’s arrest and detention as well as similar incidents across the country.

In April 2025, the lawmakers sounded the alarm on Öztürk’s medical neglect in DHS custody and renewed urgent calls for her release. Pressley, Warren and Markey demanded Secretary of State Rubio released any documents related to her arrest after a recent report indicated that an internal State Department memo concluded that the key premise underlying Tufts graduate student Rümeysa Öztürk’s arrest and detention was false. Congresswoman Pressley issued a statement condemning reports that ICE arrested and detained Rümeysa Öztürk, an international student with legal status in a graduate program at Tufts University. 

In the Massachusetts 7^th, Rep. Pressley has recognized and supported the many families torn apart and children suffering from the detention of a loved one—including harrowing attacks on Massachusetts families in their daily lives, abductions of dedicated workers at the Allston car wash, pushing to bring Rümeysa Öztürk home, and more.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Reprepsentative Kathy Castor (FL14)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL-14) this week pressed for stronger investments in MacDill Air Force Base and higher pay for MacDill civilians and service members, and military families in testimony before the House Armed Services Committee, outlining key priorities for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

Representing the Tampa Bay region—anchored by MacDill AFB, home to U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) and U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM)—Castor called for targeted investments to strengthen national security and improve quality of life for service members and their families.

I recommend investments “of critical importance to MacDill presently: the strength of SOCOM, the quality and accountability of base housing, and the retention of the civilian workforce,” said Rep. Castor. “I look forward to working with members and staff of this committee to advance the priorities I have presented in efforts to support MacDill’s personnel and families, and our military as a whole, within a strong NDAA for Fiscal Year 2027.”

Read her written testimony here and view her recorded remarks here.

In her testimony, Castor urged Congress to:

• Strengthen SOCOM by increasing resources and modernizing its aging headquarters at MacDill. 
• Improve military housing by holding private contractors accountable for unsafe conditions. 
• Address pay disparities affecting the civilian workforce caused by outdated locality pay designations. 

Castor emphasized how these priorities are critical to supporting the more than 16,000 personnel and thousands of military families across the Tampa Bay region.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Reprepsentative Kathy Castor (FL14)

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

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steve Scalise (1st District of Louisiana)

NEW ORLEANS, La. —Last week, Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) hosted Congressman Cleo Fields (D-La.), Congressman Craig Goldman (R-Texas), and Congressman Bob Onder (R-Mo.) for his annual Offshore Energy Tour. The trip included a tour of Occidental’s Holstein deepwater energy platform in the Gulf of America, a roundtable with Louisiana energy leaders, and a tour of Venture Global’s Plaquemines LNG facility. Thanks to President Trump and Republicans’ policies, America’s energy dominance is returning, and Louisiana energy producers are a key reason why.Below are photos from the tour.Leader Scalise and his colleagues depart for Occidental’s Holstein deepwater platform, which produces oil and gas in more than 4,000 feet of water.

Leader Scalise speaks with Occidental personnel after landing on the platform.

Leader Scalise and Representatives Onder and Fields on the Holstein platform, about 100 miles off the Louisiana coast.

Leader Scalise kicks off the Louisiana energy industry roundtable. Representatives from the Greater Lafourche Port Commission, South Central Industrial Association, and several energy companies operating in the Gulf of America join the discussion to highlight Louisiana’s critical role in our energy and national security. 

The group visits Venture Global’s Plaquemines LNG facility, which accounted for 65% of all new LNG capacity globally in 2025 and supports approximately 1,400 jobs in Louisiana.

Leader Scalise and his colleagues are briefed by Venture Global personnel during the tour.

The group gathers in front of an LNG vessel soon departing across the globe to deliver enough energy to power 45,000 homes in Poland for a year.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Greg Steube (FL-17)

April 17, 2026 | Press ReleasesWASHINGTON — U.S. Representatives Greg Steube (R-Fla.), Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.), Aaron Bean (R-Fla.), and Gus Bilirakis (R-Fla.) introduced the SEPTIC Act, legislation to create a uniform federal income-tax exclusion for financial assistance provided to homeowners for septic system replacement.
The SEPTIC Act ensures that grants, subsidies, or financial assistance provided by state and local governments for septic system repair, replacement, or connection to centralized sewer systems are not treated as taxable income under federal law. 
“Families shouldn’t be taxed for making critical upgrades that protect their health, water quality and their communities,” said Rep. Steube. “Florida represents 12% of the United States’ septic systems. Failing septic systems pose serious risk to our water supply and public health. In Florida alone, approximately 2.6 million households rely on septic systems, making this an issue that impacts millions of families across our state. The SEPTIC Act ensures homeowners can access assistance to fix these systems without being hit with an unexpected tax bill.”
“Families shouldn’t be taxed for doing the right thing,” said Congressman Tom Suozzi. “On Tax Day, Americans across the country were reminded of how much they already pay in taxes. Upgrading a septic system protects our drinking water, safeguards public health, and preserves our environment. The federal government should be encouraging that, not making it more expensive. This commonsense, bipartisan bill reduces the tax burden on homeowners who are trying to do the responsible thing for their families and their communities.”
“Florida’s 2.6 million septic system households shouldn’t be taxed for improving their wastewater systems and protecting our clean water. The SEPTIC Act ensures septic replacement grants aren’t treated as taxable income, helping families upgrade failing systems, protect public health, and safeguard local waterways without unnecessary financial burden. I am pleased to join Congressman Suozzi in this effort,” said Congressman Aaron Bean.
“Outdated septic systems in Hernando, Citrus, and Pasco Counties threaten the health of our waterways and communities,” said Congressman Gus Bilirakis. “I am proud to co-lead the SEPTIC Act to authorize septic replacement grants that will help modernize aging systems, reduce pollution, and protect Florida’s natural resources for future generations. This commonsense legislation supports homeowners, strengthens infrastructure, and helps preserve the waterways that are vital to our economy and way of life.”
Background: In Sarasota County, the Phillippi Creek Septic System Replacement Program has helped improve water quality by assisting homeowners transitioning from septic systems to centralized sewer service. 
While Sarasota’s program is structured to afford tax-exempt assistance, this bill creates a uniform federal income-tax exclusion for all septic system subsidies across the country. In Florida alone, nearly 30% of residents rely on septic systems, making this a critical issue for our communities. 
Americans rely on septic systems for wastewater treatment, especially in rural and coastal communities. In Florida, approximately 2.6 million households depend on septic systems, which represents nearly 12 percent of all septic systems in the United States. 
Over time, aging and failing septic systems can leak harmful contaminants into groundwater, rivers, and other coastal ecosystems, contributing to water quality degradation and public health risks.
To address these issues, many state and local governments have established programs that provide financial assistance to homeowners to repair or replace failing systems or connect to centralized sewer infrastructure. However, under current federal tax law, some of this is treated as taxable income, creating a financial burden for participating homeowners. 
Under current law, the tax code is unclear if these financial assistance programs are not subject to federal income tax. The SEPTIC Act creates a clear federal income-tax exclusion for septic replacement assistance, so families can access critical upgrades without unexpected tax assessments.
Read the full bill text here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Alma Adams (12th District of North Carolina)

Washington, D.C. — Tuesday, April 14, 2026, Representatives Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (NC-12), French Hill (AR-02), Richard McCormick (GA-06), and Shomari Figures (AL-02) introduced the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Research Capacity Act to creates a federal clearinghouse to ensure HBCUs can see what grants they are eligible for.

This legislation is a companion of S. 4167, led by Senators Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and Katie Britt (D-LA). 

“HBCUs have always punched above their weight. HBCUs contribute nearly $16.5 billion to the economy every year despite receiving less than 1% of federal research funding. That gap isn’t a reflection of merit, it’s a reflection of decades of systemic underfunding,” said Rep. Alma Adams, Founder and Co-Chair of the Congressional Bipartisan HBCU Caucus.  “The HBCU Research Capacity Act will help by giving our institutions a clear path to federal grant opportunities. I’m proud to champion this House companion with Representatives Hill, McCormick, and Figures and alongside Senators Warnock and Britt to ensure HBCUs receive the funding they have earned.”

“Historically Black Colleges and Universities, including the four we are blessed to have here in Arkansas, have been a source of opportunity and innovation for generations,” said Rep. Hill, Co-Chair of the Congressional Bipartisan HBCU Caucus. “Despite their outsized contributions, HBCUs receive a fraction of the federal research funding available to them. The HBCU Research Capacity Act takes a practical step toward changing that by ensuring these institutions have the information and tools they need to compete for federal dollars and continue fulfilling their vital mission for generations to come.”

“The time to act is now if we want to keep America leading in the world of STEM. Our nation’s HBCUs are producing some of the brightest minds in science and technology, even as they face real funding challenges,” said Congressman Richard McCormick. “I’m proud to co-sponsor the HBCU Research Capacity Act that ensures these students can stay ahead in the global technology race, which starts with investing in our own talent.”

“HBCUs have a long-standing track record of making significant contributions to our nation’s economy and workforce despite being consistently underfunded,” said Rep. Shomari C. Figures. “With Alabama being home to the most HBCUs in the nation, this bill is a game-changer for the institutions in my state at the forefront of research and development because it creates a one-stop shop for all federal research funding opportunities. I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing this bipartisan legislation, and I will continue fighting for HBCUs to receive the resources they need to continue training and educating the next generation of leaders, researchers, and scholars.”

Background

The HBCU Research Capacity Act would:

• Establish a federal clearinghouse to provide a centralized source of information on federal grant opportunities available to HBCUs.
• Ensure HBCUs receive consistent and timely updates on research and development funding opportunities across federal agencies.
• Provide best practices and guidance to help institutions strengthen research capacity and improve competitiveness for federal grants.
• Encourage coordination across key federal agencies to better align funding opportunities and reduce barriers to access.
• Promote transparency and accountability through regular reporting to Congress and participating institutions.
• Direct agencies to review grant programs and identify gaps in support for HBCU participation.

The text of the bill can be found here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Aumua Amata (Western Samoa)

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata took part in a Veterans town hall meeting on Wednesday at the Veterans Center, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3391, that included Chief Whitmore, VFW, and Department of Hawaii Commander Jason Seal. Representatives from AMVETS, and the enrollment team from VHA Pacific were there to assist with inquiries. The meeting was made possible through the work of Office of Veterans and Military Affairs Director Igafo Maria B. Togia and Deputy Director Arianna Auva’a, and included the panel listening to Veterans, as well as Amata’s legislative update of ongoing work as part of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee (HVAC), where she is Vice Chairman. 

Speaking with Veterans

The assembled Veterans spoke of their challenges and experiences with the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA), and Vice Chairman Amata passed along news of legislative packages to reform and update the bureaucracy, including programs that haven’t been legislatively updated in 30 years. 

“Thank you to our Veterans for your service, and your leadership and wisdom in our communities. Your service to our country made a difference and should be a lifelong source of pride and honor to you and your families,” said Aumua Amata. “Thank you to VFW Post 3391, Chief Whitmore, and Commander Seal, and with much appreciation to Office of Veterans and Military Affairs Director Igafo Maria B. Togia and Deputy Director Arianna Auva’a for all the good work they do for our Veterans.”

“The House Appropriations Committee just released the text of the 2027 Veterans Affairs Appropriations, so we’ll be thoroughly examining that funding,” continued Amata. “I take every opportunity to listen to our Veterans, and keep our people informed about developments in Washington.”

The 2027 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill, which is just beginning the legislative process, currently includes a three percent total increase, and a $2 billion in capital improvements for VA medical facilities and national cemeteries. 

Amata updated Veterans that there are packages of dozens of bills moving through the Committee, focused on better oversight, infrastructure, modernizing delivery of benefits, and updating VA programs. 

Veterans asked questions and expressed concerns about ongoing logistical and travel issues, due to the need to go back and forth to Honolulu, along with comments about the healthcare limitations and facilities, access to services and working with the VA, scheduling issues and various matters.  

“I appreciate our Veterans and often see some of them on my trips through Honolulu. These conversations are always helpful and important, as they shape my future statements and questions to witnesses in Committee hearings, or meetings with VA leaders, Tripler Clinic, or LBJ,” Amata concluded. “Our nation has a commitment to our Veterans, who deserve every benefit they are due, including the highest possible attention to their needs for travel and care standards.” 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mark Takano (D-Calif)

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

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05), Ranking Member of the Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) Appropriations Subcommittee, delivered opening remarks at the House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee Markup of the FY 2027 Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) bill. Below are a video and transcript of his remarks:

Click here to watch a video of his remarks.

“Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. This is an unusual process, to say the least. We have had essentially two hearings, and only one department had – other than GAO – to testify, and that was Mr. Kupor of the OMB – excuse me, OPM. This bill cuts from the previous fiscal year revenue. [In] this bill, we have no 302B allocations at this point in time. I’m not sure, Mr. Chairman, where the – our number came from, but, we have not adopted a 302B allocation, although I understand there is some plan to do so and that this bill is within the suggested. But we haven’t passed it. So, I’m going to be offering an amendment later today which funds an increase in the IRS enforcement. 

“The IRS budget in 2010 was $10.2 billion. If it were to be funded at the rate that it was funded in 2010, it would be $18.3 billion. Obviously, a lot of progress has been made in terms of mechanization. And that figure is probably not an accurate figure, but it’s clearly indicative of how robustly the IRS enforcement and other aspects of taxpayer service were funded during the course of 16 years ago. So, we believe that this budget substantially underfunds many of the objects which are critically important. Now, we don’t know because we have not had Secretary Bessent, which is the one large department that we fund. We fund a lot of other very important enterprises, including GSA, and OPM, and OMB, and the White House, none of whom have testified before our committee. So, we had no opportunity to ask questions, to determine what the priorities should be, to determine what is not being done by the cuts that have been suggested. And so, to some degree, we’re flying in the blind. Now, this is our bill, and I know all of us have read this and have taken it to heart. This is the report, the bill, and the – I’m not sure exactly what this is. What’s this? That’s a section-by-section analysis, which – just for me, apparently, the Chairman says.

“What is the point I’m making? The point I’m making is this process is backwards. What, theoretically, this subcommittee does – and I know our Chairman is here, and our Ranking Member said numerous times during the course of the passage of the budget for last year – which still hasn’t been completed, obviously – that they relied on the work of the subcommittee and the expertise of the subcommittee. Mr. Chairman, respect – the big Chairman – respectfully, this subcommittee, if its experts have not been given the information [they] need at this point in time, and I think you probably – well, I don’t want to speak for you, but we’re flying blind, because we have not had the overwhelming majority – 90 plus percent of the agencies we fund – testify before us to justify the expenditures that they’re asking for and tell us what the trade-offs are. As a result, this is essentially a pro forma session. And I raise that issue because I think it impacts the result, the substance. Yes, it’s process, but the substance is affected because we have not had the opportunity to question, to learn, to make a decision on what the tradeoffs are, what the alternatives are. And again, we have not adopted the 302B. 

“The problem without adopting 302B [with] this subcommittee in particular – and I’ve been on it for a very long time, as all of you know and Mr. Womack chaired this – okay, we get a very low – we’re on the bottom of the totem pole when it comes to resources necessary. And I’ll make this – when we have the real markup in the full committee – I’ll make this point that we are substantially underfunded in terms of what we expect the agencies under our jurisdiction to do. Now, the Chairman has gone through and given us the information and digest what this bill will do. And obviously we do fund the agencies at some level, but we don’t know whether that level is sufficient, and we haven’t asked questions of the people who we’ve assigned to run those agencies whether it is or not.  

“So, Mr. Chairman, as you know, as I’ve told you, at the end of the discussions that we’re having, I will offer an amendment to increase IRS enforcement so that whether it’s the Big, Bad Bill [or] Good Bill, depending upon your perspective, that we’ll know that people are, in fact, at least paying that which they owe under law, not any increases. But we have so decimated IRS enforcement, frankly, to some degree, on both sides of the aisle. We want to fund an enforcement that, as I’ve told you in the last year, 6/10 of a percent of the returns over $1 million are audited. 6/10. Which means if I have a return over $1 million, I am 99.4% sure that nobody’s going to look at it, because of the lack of personnel to affect that end. If that is true – and I believe it to be true – then I have no incentive to be very worried about paying what I owe, and particularly at that level. And we’re all concerned about the debt. I’m concerned about the debt. I think we look at a small percentage of the expenditures, and the Chairman has said that, Mr. Womack has said it, who chairs the Budget Committee. If that is true, we’re looking at 15% to solve a $38 trillion problem or $39 trillion problem. That’s unfair to the appropriators and it is dishonest with the American people. 

“So, Mr. Chairman, I’m concerned about a – and you and I have discussed this. We haven’t had the opportunity to have the hearings that we need to do the work that the Chairman and the Ranking Member talked about the subcommittee doing. I don’t think we’ve done that. I don’t think we’ve had the opportunity to do it. I don’t think it’s anybody’s – let me put it this way, I think it’s [somebody’s] fault, but not here. And I think, frankly, it is intentional. It is intentional to marginalize the work of the Congress generally and the Appropriations Committee specifically. So, Mr. Chairman, we’ll have this markup, we’ll report it out, and we’ll consider other amendments in the big committee. But I think it’s unfortunate that we’ve been put in this position. Thank you.”