Posts

Posted on

Carbajal Statement on Iran War Powers Vote

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

U.S. Representative Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24) issued the statement below following the War Powers Resolution vote in the U.S House of Representatives.

“Trump’s reckless and illegal war in Iran needs to be stopped. Just over a week ago, he threatened to eliminate a ‘whole civilization’. These are heinous words for a President to say and is another clear signal that Congress must intervene before Trump escalates this conflict even further.

“For too long, this Republican-led Congress has been a mere bystander as Trump has continuously violated norms and laws. We’re now at the point where Republicans’ compliance could inflict serious damage to our national security, our economy, and our global standing. Republicans and Democrats, together, have a Constitutional duty to hold the President in check. Today, I voted ‘yes’ on the War Powers Resolution to stop Trump’s warmongering. The stakes are simply too high for continued inaction.” 

Posted on

Sánchez grills Health Secretary Kennedy on spike in measles cases, anti-vaccine rhetoric

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Linda Sanchez (38th District of CA)

Kennedy refuses to answer whether President Trump authorized cutting pro-vaccination public health campaigns

WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Linda T. Sánchez (D-Calif.) during a Ways and Means Committee hearing today questioned Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for the dramatic rise in U.S. measles cases after the Trump administration cut public health messaging campaigns promoting vaccinations.

In response to her question, Secretary Kennedy refused to answer whether President Trump authorized cutting the pro-vaccination campaigns.

“I think you don’t want to answer the question, because I think you know these are terrible, terrible decisions that impact very, very real lives, especially the lives of children,” said Congresswoman Sanchez in response. “Now, one thing that I find incredible is that you suspended this pro-vaccine messaging campaign, but somehow you’re spending taxpayer dollars to drink milk shirtless in a hot tub with Kid Rock, and somehow you think that’s a better public health message than informing the public about the importance of vaccines.”

Under Secretary Kennedy, measle cases in the United States spiked from 285 cases in 2024 to 2,286 in the first year of the Trump administration, a record high since the development of the lifesaving measles vaccine. This year, the United States is on track to shatter that record with 1,671 cases already reported in the first 3.5 months.

Video of the full exchange is available HERE and the text follows:

Sánchez: Thank you, Secretary Kennedy. We appreciate your appearance here today. To win the support of skeptical senators during your confirmation hearings, you claimed, and I’m quoting here, “I support vaccines. I support the childhood vaccine schedule.” I was skeptical about those comments, because prior to your nomination, you espoused numerous disproven theories that childhood vaccines, including the measles vaccines, were linked to autism, death, and other adverse effects. Not surprisingly, we were right to be skeptical of your promise to support the childhood vaccine schedule, because at your direction, the CDC removed its universal vaccine recommendations for children, covering seven immunizations, including things like flu, covid, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and rotavirus. On Fox News last year, you stated, and I’m quoting you again here, “There are adverse effects from the vaccine. It does cause deaths every year. It causes all the illnesses that measles itself causes.” A deadly measles outbreak in Texas killed an unvaccinated six-year-old, the first such death in a decade. So, simple yes or no question. It’s not that we don’t want to let you answer, it’s that we all have limited time, and you have plenty of time to answer questions, and you had plenty of time to give testimony at the beginning. So a simple yes or no answer will do here. Do you agree with the majority of doctors that the measles vaccine could have saved that child’s life in Texas?

Kennedy: It’s possible. Certainly.

Sánchez: Okay. Thank you. I want to look at some very important data. In 2024, under the Biden administration, which apparently seems to be responsible for every ill in the world, in 2024 under the Biden administration, there were 285 cases of measles. And in 2025, under your leadership at HHS, it ballooned to over 2,000. That’s a 675 percent increase. And we are now on track to surpass that this year, with over 1,600 confirmed cases in just three and a half months. If we project those numbers out for all of 2026, we can expect a whopping 6,400 cases of measles. That’s a 2,380 percent increase in a preventable disease. CDC data also shows that about 80 percent of children who died from flu this season were not vaccinated. The anti-vaccine rhetoric you ran on and the anti-vaccine actions you have taken over the last year clearly correlates with the dramatic increases, again, in preventable diseases. As a mother, this horrifies me. Stopping the spread of communicable diseases is one of HHS’s primary responsibilities, and a strong public health messaging campaign on the importance of vaccines could have stopped this surge of measles cases, as it had in past outbreaks. But I was appalled to learn that the CDC suspended public health messaging on vaccines last February. It ended a successful flu vaccine campaign as well. My question is, did President Trump approve your decision to end the CDC pro-vaccine public messaging campaign?

Kennedy: You got a lot of misinformation there. First of all…

Sánchez: No, I’m asking you a question. I’d appreciate a response to the question.

Kennedy: …to the misstatements that you’ve made.

Sánchez: No, you have other opportunities. I have limited time. I only have your answer.

Kennedy: You are my only opportunity. I have to respond…

Sánchez: Did President Trump approve your decision to end the CDC pro-vaccine public messaging campaign?

Kennedy: Let me, allow me to answer to respond to a lot of the misinformation.

Sánchez: No, answer my question. Please, sir. I have limited time.

Kennedy: There’s a global measles epidemic. We’ve done better than any country in the world.

Sánchez: There is no country that has seen a bigger percentage increase.

Kennedy: That’s not true. Mexico has three times our measles and one-eighth of our population.

Sánchez: Did President Trump approve your decision to end the CDC pro-vaccine public messaging campaign?

Kennedy: Canada has double the measles and they have one-eighth of our population.

Sánchez: Was that a decision that was made by Trump? Did he approve that?

Kennedy: We’ve done better preventing measles than any country in the world.

Sánchez: Did President Trump approve your decision to end the CDC pro-vaccine public messaging campaign?

Kennedy: We’ve done better at preventing…

Sánchez: That’s not answering my question, and I think you don’t want to answer the question, because I think you know these are terrible, terrible decisions that impact very, very real lives, especially the lives of children. Now, one thing that I find incredible is that you suspended this pro-vaccine messaging campaign, but somehow you’re spending taxpayer dollars to drink milk shirtless in a hot tub with Kid Rock, and somehow you think that’s a better public health message than informing the public about the importance of vaccines, really?

###
 

Posted on

Rep. Craig Joins Push to Prevent Trump Administration from Using Americans’ Personal Data to Carry out Reckless Immigration Agenda

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Angie Craig (MN-02)

In a letter to DHS and ICE, Rep. Craig presses Administration on use of Palantir tools to surveil the American public and fuel immigration enforcement operations

WASHINGTON, DC – This week, U.S. Representative Angie Craig (MN-02) joined 33 Members of Congress in demanding answers from the Trump Administration about its alleged use of surveillance and data analytics tools developed by Palantir to execute the President’s lawless immigration agenda. In a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Acting Director Todd Lyons, Rep. Craig and her colleagues expressed serious concerns following public reporting that DHS has been using such tools to aggregate personal data for the purpose of identifying and locating potential targets of immigration enforcement operations.

“Public reporting regarding DHS’ data analytics tools and software raise serious concerns about Palantir-developed technologies being used to compile, aggregate, and analyze large volumes of personal data and information,” the Members wrote. “These data-compiling systems reportedly allow DHS personnel to link individual profiles to addresses, phone numbers, devices, and other identifying information across multiple datasets in order to generate leads and identify potential locations of persons sought for immigration enforcement actions.”

“Even more troubling, Palantir-developed tools are not the only technologies being deployed by your department to fulfill the administration’s mass deportation campaign and daily arrest quotas. Public reporting further indicates that DHS has deployed a range of surveillance technologies that are provided by multiple private contractors,” the Members continued. “These tools contribute to a mass surveillance ecosystem that appears to operate in conjunction with Palantir-developed platforms and ultimately support enforcement operations conducted by DHS, some of which target U.S. Citizens.”

Rep. Craig and her colleagues also cited evidence of ICE using surveillance tools during Operation Metro Surge to identify protesters and constitutional observers in Minnesota.

“During the recent so-called Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota, immigration agents used facial recognition technology and other cellphone monitoring tools in public, including instances in which agents scanned the faces of individuals who were either observing or protesting enforcement activities,” they wrote.

“The combination of facial recognition tools, social media surveillance, and large-scale data aggregation systems and applications raise serious concerns about the operational use of personally identifiable information that belongs to individuals who are not suspected of any wrongdoing. Specifically, these technologies are seemingly being weaponized against citizens, journalists, and individuals engaged in constitutionally protected activities, which include lawful assembly and protest,” the Members concluded.

Finally, Rep. Craig and her colleagues demanded answers from the Administration by the end of the month about how they are using surveillance tools, such as the ones developed by Palantir, to carry out immigration enforcement operations like Operation Metro Surge.

You can read the full text of the letter HERE.

###

Posted on

Golden votes to protect U.S. negotiating position in Iran

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

WASHINGTON — As negotiations between the United States and Iran continue, Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) today voted against a war powers resolution that would weaken the U.S. position by withdrawing military forces from the region. 

Golden released the following statement:

“The purported aim of this and other War Powers resolutions is to stop the hostilities. Thankfully, the United States and Iran are currently in a ceasefire, and we are negotiating over critical questions of national security and international order. I believe we must maintain a strong negotiation position over Iran’s nuclear program, freedom of movement in the international waters at the Strait of Hormuz, and how to achieve a durable peace between our two nations. At this moment, a resolution like this would weaken our hand.”

###

Posted on

Chairman Weber Delivers Opening Statement at Energy Subcommittee Hearing on American Energy and Mineral Dominance

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Randy Weber (14th District of Texas)

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Randy Weber (TX-14), Chairman of the Energy Subcommittee on the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, delivered the following opening statement at today’s hearing, “Subsurface Science and Technology: American Energy and Mineral Dominance.”

Watch Subcommittee Chairman Weber’s opening statement here.

Read Subcommittee Chairman Weber’s opening statement below:

“Welcome to today’s hearing titled Subsurface Science and Technology: American Energy and Mineral Dominance. I recognize myself for five minutes for an opening statement.

“Well, good morning, you all. You can tell I’m from Texas. Good morning, and welcome to today’s Energy Subcommittee hearing titled Subsurface Science and Technology: American Energy and Mineral Dominance.

“The United States is blessed with an abundance of natural resources across our magnificent country. For over a century, our nation has generated a significant portion of its power directly from subsurface resources such as coal and natural gas. Technological breakthroughs in subsurface sciences have enabled us to access these resources in new and innovative ways, unlocking potential that was once thought, quite frankly, impossible.

“A great example of this is the geothermal energy sector. Previously, geothermal energy was limited to certain regions due to extremely specific conditions required for it to be a viable energy source. For a geothermal well to be successful, the required combination of shallow heat, permeable rock, and available water had to be present to extract heat from the Earth and generate electricity. If any of these requirements were not met, a geothermal well would not generate power. As a result, the few areas capable of supporting geothermal electricity generation were tapped decades ago, which left the industry in a position where some believed that its full potential had already been reached.

“Thanks to innovation in the oil and gas sector, geothermal is getting a new lease on life. Over the last few decades, oil and gas have been at the forefront of new drilling and extraction technologies and methods. These breakthroughs have helped address issues that traditional geothermal energy has faced in the past. Next-generation geothermal systems are also well suited to play a role in leveraging established technologies like hydraulic fracturing and drilling deeper to access hotter rock, bringing baseload geothermal to new regions across the entire country.

“The timing for these enhanced geothermal systems to be commercialized could not be better. Energy demand is skyrocketing as we are not only onshoring manufacturing, but also electrifying our lives and working to stay ahead of the Chinese Communist Party in the artificial intelligence race. It is very important to ensure that the U.S. is positioned for a prosperous future.

“The Department of Energy underwent a reorganization in November 2025. This reorganization resulted in the establishment of two key offices for today’s hearing: the Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office and the Office of Critical Minerals, Minerals, and Energy Innovation. With their creation, DOE made the subsurface—and, by extension, geothermal energy and critical minerals—a priority moving forward.

“These offices have already announced funding opportunities to accelerate the deployment of next-generation geothermal energy, while helping ensure a safe and secure supply chain for the good old U.S. of A.

“We have seen recently how geopolitical events can impact not only our economy, but the global economy. This underscores the importance of strengthening domestic supply chains to meet both our energy and critical mineral needs. It also highlights the need to continue advancing cutting-edge innovation.

“The discoveries made by oil and natural gas companies that led to hydraulic fracturing, much of it from the Galveston, Texas area, and the hydraulic fracturing boom have helped insulate the U.S. from electricity price shocks, thanks to our enormous natural gas production capacity. This has enabled us to support our allies with LNG shipments to Europe and Asia, not only during the current supply disruption, but in previous ones as well.

“The ability to bring a new baseload power source to market during an energy supply crunch is an enormous win for the American people. Paired with DOE’s ongoing efforts to reduce reliance on critical minerals from foreign countries that may not have always had our best interests in mind, this creates a powerful one-two punch for the subsurface community.

“I want to thank all the witnesses for being here today and for their testimony, and I look forward to a very productive discussion.

“With that, I yield back my time.”


###

Posted on

U.S. REP. BETTY McCOLLUM CONDEMNS SENATE VOTE TO ALLOW FOREIGN MINING COMPANY TO POLLUTE THE BWCA

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

Senate Republican Majority Reverses Twenty-Year Mineral Withdrawal Protecting the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, America’s Most-Visited Wilderness Destination

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Betty McCollum (D), Dean of the Minnesota Congressional Delegation, issued the following statement on Thursday upon Senate passage of H.J. Res. 140, which would allow foreign mining companies to begin toxic mineral extraction which would permanently pollute the headwaters of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCA):

“The Boundary Waters are a national treasure, and its pristine lakes and rivers must be protected for the benefit of future generations of Americans. The Republican Majority in the U.S. Senate voted today to strip away protections for the BWCA, allowing a foreign-owned mining company and serial polluter to begin a sulfide acid mine in the headwaters of the Boundary Waters. We don’t allow mining in Yellowstone, Yosemite, Zion, Acadia, Glacier, or any of our nation’s revered national parks – and we shouldn’t allow it in the watershed of the Boundary Waters, either. 

“One hundred percent of copper mines have failed, leading to polluted waters. This case will be no different. Because of this extremely short-sighted vote, our nation’s most-visited wilderness area faces the threat of permanent toxic pollution. Why? So Antofagasta, a Chilean corporation that owns Twin Metals, can mine American copper and ship it to China to be smelted and sold on the global market. Twin Metals has been lobbying President Trump and Republicans in Congress for over ten years to remove the protections from this watershed and renew their mine plans to extract American minerals at the expense of freshwater for future generations.

“The science-based evidence is overwhelming: The mineral withdrawal is the only way to protect this wilderness, which is home to some of the cleanest water in the entire world.” 

Congresswoman McCollum has been a champion for protecting the Boundary Waters throughout her tenure in Congress. Since 2020, Congresswoman McCollum has carried the Boundary Waters Wilderness Protection and Pollution Prevention Act (H.R. 588), which would permanently protect the Boundary Waters from toxic sulfide ore mining.

Posted on

Rep. Cleaver, Senator Schiff Introduce Legislation to Increase Education and Literacy Opportunities for Incarcerated Americans

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

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) and Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA) introduced legislation to support the education and skills training of incarcerated Americans, aiming to improve opportunities upon their release. The Rehabilitation through Reading Act enables individuals in custody to challenge book bans and provides greater transparency around Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) book bans by requiring the BOP to establish an independent commission to review decisions by BOP officials to ban books at facilities and give incarcerated individuals an opportunity to appeal those decisions, and set guidelines for what books can and cannot be banned.

Additionally, Senator Schiff introduced the Prison Libraries Act in the Senate, bipartisan legislation introduced by Congressman Cleaver, along with Reps Shontel Brown (D-OH) and Valerie Foushee (D-NC), earlier this year.

“Access to wide-ranging and quality books offer incarcerated Americans the opportunity to learn and sharpen valuable skills that will assist in their reintegration into society, helping them turn the page to a new chapter and better life,” said Congressman Cleaver. “I’m thankful for Senator Schiff’s partnership in introducing the Prison Libraries Act and the Rehabilitation through Reading Act as we seek to expand library resources in correctional facilities nationwide, thereby increasing educational opportunities, reducing recidivism, and creating stronger communities for all.”

“Access to books, skills training and educational opportunities improves an individual’s chance of successfully reintegrating when returning to the community after a prison sentence,” said Senator Schiff. “These bills will help prepare those impacted to re-acclimate to life in the outside world and reduce recidivism. I’m proud to support those efforts.” 

The Rehabilitation through Reading Act is endorsed by American Library Association, PEN America, ACLU, and Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, Californians for Safety and Justice, and Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California.

The Rehabilitation through Reading Act is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Alex Padilla (D-CA).  

Official text of the Rehabilitation through Reading Act is available 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.

Posted on

Krishnamoorthi Responds to Reports That President Trump Is Considering Military Operations Against Cuba

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (8th District of Illinois)

WASHINGTON — Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi released the following statement in response to reports of potential Trump Administration plans for U.S. military operations against Cuba:

“President Trump has already dragged our country into an illegal, unauthorized war with Iran, and the last thing the American people need is a reckless escalation in Cuba that could plunge America into another open-ended conflict. Congress must not allow Donald Trump to unilaterally start another war. Instead, we must end the conflict with Iran before it costs more American lives and triggers an even more serious economic crisis.”

Posted on

Nadler, Nine Democratic Lawmakers Demand New Independent Investigation Into Donald Trump’s DOJ Cesspool Of Corruption Surrounding Antitrust Activities

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jerrold Nadler (10th District of New York)

Washington, DC –  Congressman Jerry Nadler (D-NY-12) joined U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Representatives Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash-07.), Chris Deluzio (D-Pa.-17), Becca Balint (D-Vt.), Angie Craig (D-Minn.-02), and Jamie Raskin (D-Md.-08) in requesting that the Department of Justice (DOJ) Acting Inspector General (IG) William M. Blier open a new, independent investigation into potential corruption involving the DOJ’s antitrust-related activity. 

The request follows multiple questionable antitrust enforcement decisions by the Trump administration after meetings between DOJ leadership and corporate lobbyists, as well as the ouster of former Attorney General Pam Bondi and former Antitrust Division head Gail Slater. This pattern raises fresh concerns that the DOJ will intensify its efforts to carry out President Trump’s personal agenda rather than uphold the rule of law.

“These cases reveal an alarming pattern of behavior in which top DOJ officials have repeatedly overridden antitrust enforcement efforts, potentially at the urging of politically connected corporate lobbyists and influence peddlers, regardless of the merits of the antitrust issues raised in the matters before the DOJ, including proposed mergers,” wrote the lawmakers.

Public reporting over the past year has revealed multiple instances in which DOJ officials appear to have overruled antitrust experts after meeting with corporate lobbyists to deliver favorable decisions — potentially contrary to the law — for companies seeking deal approvals or other favorable treatment from the government. These decisions have raised serious concerns under antitrust, federal ethics, and bribery laws and regulations and wholly undermine the DOJ Antitrust Division’s mission.  

“We request that your office conduct an evaluation of potential misconduct by any employees – including current employees like Acting Attorney General Blanche and Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward, and former employees like former Attorney General Bondi and former chief of staff Chad Mizelle, who met with lobbyists with business pending before the DOJ Antitrust Division. We also ask that your office examine the role corporate lobbyists have had in influencing DOJ’s antitrust enforcement actions since January 20, 2025,” wrote the lawmakers. 

In addition to Bondi’s firing and the ouster of former DOJ Antitrust Head Gail Slater, the lawmakers highlighted key instances in which political influence potentially swayed Trump DOJ officials, including: DOJ’s settlement of the lawsuit to block HPE’s proposed acquisition of Juniper; its dismissal of the lawsuit to block Amex GBT’s acquisition of CWT; its settlement of the lawsuit to block the proposed merger of UnitedHealth and Amedisys; its rubber-stamping of the proposed Compass-Anywhere merger; its failure to extend the waiting period for the Paramount-Warner Bros. merger; its settlement of the lawsuit alleging illegal monopolization by Live Nation-Ticketmaster; and its clearance of the merger between Nexstar and TEGNA. 

Some companies with business before the DOJ hired Ballard Partners, the previous employer of former Attorney General Pam Bondi, to lobby her and other DOJ leadership. Ballard Partners also previously employed White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. The Antitrust Division has not blocked a transaction on antitrust grounds since President Trump took office this term, and the DOJ has allowed a host of concerning mergers to proceed without a challenge.

“Antitrust enforcement should promote competition and help workers and families based on the law and facts of the case, not political favors worked out with well-connected lobbyists,” concluded the lawmakers.

The lawmakers pressed the Inspector General to investigate whether DOJ officials have engaged in misconduct, including with respect to the incidents described above, as well as respond to questions regarding whether DOJ officials have potentially influenced antitrust matters involving their former clients or employers and the extent to which such activity has compromised the credibility and integrity of the decision-making process at DOJ. 

###

 

Posted on

Crow: Failure to End War of Choice in Iran is a “Disgrace”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jason Crow (CO-06)

WASHINGTON — Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO), a former paratrooper and Army Ranger who serves on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and House Armed Services Committee, released the following statement after House Republicans voted down a War Powers Resolution, failing to end Donald Trump’s war of choice with Iran:

“Failing to end the President’s war of choice is a disgrace. Americans are struggling to get by, yet House Republicans and this Administration are more focused on continuing a war no one wants than on making their lives better for working people.

“President Trump got us into another Middle East war with no plan and no strategy. Gas prices are through the roof, thirteen servicemembers have been killed, the regime in Iran is even more extreme than it was before, the President picked fights with our allies, and our adversaries are better off strategically and financially.

“Americans want their leaders focused on lowering their costs, not spending billions of their tax dollars on another endless war in the Middle East. Congress must do its job and end this war immediately.”

In a joint statement leading up to the vote, Crow and Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO) urged Republicans and Democrats to vote in favor of War Powers Resolutions to rein in the war.

###