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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Bryan Steil (Wisconsin-1)

Washington D.C. – Today, Congressman Bryan Steil (WI-01), introduced the Protecting Americans’ Retirement Savings from Politics Act. This legislation will impose new rules on the proxy advisor duopoly that require strong transparency disclosures and prevent conflicts of interest that have tarnished proxy advice and corrupted corporate governance. Congresswoman Ann Wagner (MO-02) is an original cosponsor of this bill.

“Too often, proxy advisors have encouraged votes that run counter to the economic interests of retirees and seniors. Investment advisors and pension funds should be focused on securing your retirement, not advancing their political agenda,” said Steil. “My bill will bring accountability and transparency to the proxy advisor duopoly and help end the politicization of Americans’ retirement funds. I’d like to thank Congresswoman Wagner in joining me on this important legislation.”

The Protecting Americans’ Retirement Savings from Politics Act will:

• Provide transparency and accountability to the proxy advisory industry, prohibit robo-voting, prohibit the inherent conflict of interest associated with consulting services, and require proxy advisory firm clients to issue annual public reports on their proxy voting. 
• Require large asset managers to explain how they use proxy advisor recommendations and put their customers’ economic interests first. 

Background:

• Roughly 70% of the outstanding shares in publicly traded U.S. companies are held by institutional investors such as mutual funds and pension funds. American families depend on these institutional investors to manage their retirement savings, including voting their shares. However, to save costs, many institutional investors rely on proxy advisory firms for recommendations on how to vote the shares under their control.
• The market for proxy advice is dominated by two firms, Glass Lewis and Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS), which jointly have 97% market share. ISS is a German-owned company and Glass Lewis is owned by Peloton Capital, a private equity fund. Often, these two proxy advisory firms successfully pressure institutional investors to vote contrary to shareholder economic interests and in support of woke political initiatives.
• Steil previously introduced similar legislation in the 118^th Congress, where it passed by a vote of 215-203.

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

WASHINGTON — This morning, House Republicans hosted a press conference on the steps of the U.S. Capitol to celebrate the transformational benefits of Republicans’ Working Families Tax Cuts on Tax Day. House Republicans were joined by Americans from across the country who are already benefitting from tax provisions such as No Tax on Tips, No Tax on Overtime, the expanded Child Tax Credit, Trump Accounts, and more.

“Every single Democrat in Congress, every single Democrat, voted to raise your taxes. Every Republican standing behind me and all the rest voted for the Working Families Tax Cuts so Americans can keep more of their own hard-earned money,” Speaker Johnson said.

Watch Speaker Johnson’s remarks here.

On the Working Families Tax Cuts:

It is a great day because this filing season, three things are happening: lower taxes, bigger refunds, and more money in the pockets of hardworking Americans. We did that intentionally, and that’s exactly what’s happening. Thanks to the Working Families Tax Cuts, Americans in all 50 states are benefiting from taxes that are lower and simpler and fairer for their families. This legislation is so revolutionary because it is permanent. That’s a big thing.

In the past 40 years, since the administration of Ronald Reagan, this country has only seen temporary tax cuts. But because of the extraordinary leadership of the Republicans standing behind me and all the rest who work in this Congress to get this done, our Chairman Jason Smith, and the committees of jurisdiction, we did it. Our historic bill does that. For the first time since 1986, Americans’ tax rates are permanently reduced.

Now it’s been noted, and we’re going to continue to remind the voters of this country. Every single Democrat in Congress, every single Democrat, voted to raise your taxes. Every Republican standing behind me and all the rest voted for the Working Families Tax Cuts so Americans can keep more of their own hard-earned money. We don’t believe you should send it all here to Uncle Sam. We want you to keep it.

On Democrats voting to raise taxes on every American:

Here’s just a few numbers. $10,000: that’s the increase in annual take-home pay for the typical working family. That’s the average, and some have much higher. 15%: that’s the average tax cut for a family earning between $15,000 and $80,000 annually. $3,400: that’s the value of the average tax refund—that’s the biggest refund American taxpayers have seen in decades. How did we do that? We started by following a straightforward approach. Simplify the tax code, reduce the tax burden on families, and advance the policy agenda that rewards hard work and puts working- and middle-class families first. These were our three guiding tenets, but really, we can boil the strategy down to just two words. It’s called common sense. Republicans have adopted an agenda of common sense across every area of public policy.

And Democrats, by stark contrast, have adopted a very different set of policies and politics. Theirs is characterized by one word, crazy. From New York to California, Democrats are proposing some of the most anti-growth, anti-American policies in the history of our tax code. They want to raise your taxes because they want government to grow, to spend more recklessly, and families are literally fleeing those blue states. Because of that, the contrast really couldn’t be any clearer.

While Republicans are cutting taxes for families for lower- and middle-class hardworking Americans, Democrats are trying to raise those taxes. While Republicans are making it easier to build and invest in America, Democrats want a return to the policies that ship American jobs overseas. While Republicans are working to make everyday life easier and more affordable, Democrats want to go back to the nightmare of Bidenomics. It’s common sense versus crazy. Y’all, as we say in Louisiana, this tax season, the American people are seeing the real and positive change of Republicans’ commonsense leadership that is making their lives better.

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

(Washington, D.C.) – This week, U.S. Representatives Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) and Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA), along with Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA), introduced legislation to protect communities from toxic waste at Superfund sites that are vulnerable to natural disasters and the effects of climate change. The Preparing Superfund for Climate Change Act would require the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to account for climate change risks, including natural disasters and extreme weather hazards, when managing toxic waste sites, enhancing protections for nearby communities. 

There are currently 39 Superfund sites in Missouri and 3 in the Kansas City metropolitan area. Twenty of these sites were deemed currently “vulnerable” to climate change by the GAO.

“As natural disasters become more prevalent and intense due to climate change, it is critically important that we take preemptive action to protect communities near Superfund sites across the country, particularly those that are vulnerable to floods and fires,” said Congressman Cleaver. “By requiring the EPA to account for climate change in their management of Superfund sites, we can safeguard American families from the toxic waste contained at these sites in the event of a disaster. I’m proud to introduce this commonsense legislation with Representative Kamlager-Dove and Senator Schiff as we seek to prevent avoidable and unnecessary tragedies.”

“As the climate crisis causes more and more extreme weather, we must ensure our communities have the resources they need to be resilient,” said Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove. “With 15 active EPA Superfund sites across LA County, climate-driven disasters like last year’s LA Fires threaten to upend pollution cleanup efforts that keep our neighbors safe. I’m proud to join Sen. Schiff and Rep. Cleaver in introducing this legislation that would better prepare us for climate disasters and help protect our communities from toxic waste.”

“With the ongoing and ever-worsening climate crisis, we must take strong action to mitigate the climate risks on Superfund sites across California and the country as more and more of these toxic sites become vulnerable to natural disasters. As the EPA manages and plans the cleanup of these sites, they must account for and recognize the impacts of climate change in order to protect the health and wellbeing of the public,” said Senator Schiff.

In 2019, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report concluding Superfund sites throughout the United States are severely underprepared to weather the exacerbating threat of climate change, risking calamity for surrounding communities that would be impacted by a potential breach. In the report, the GAO found that hundreds of Superfund sites across the nation face risks from flooding, storm surge, rise in sea level, and wildfires. For instance, in 2017, Hurricane Harvey caused flooding at 13 Superfund sites as well as breaches at two others. In 2018, a California wildfire burned through the Iron Mountain Mine site, causing pipes to catch fire with the potential to lead to an explosion that would have released dangerous chemicals into the neighboring communities.

Reports last month from the EPA’s Office of Inspector General found that 100 of the nation’s most contaminated federal Superfund sites are in areas prone to flooding and wildfires.

The Preparing Superfund for Climate Change Act would take steps to install precautions at Superfund sites and protect communities by:

• Requiring the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to incorporate the potential threat to human health and the environment associated with local natural disasters and hazards due to climate change into any plans to clean-up a Superfund site; and
• Requiring that local natural disasters and extreme weather hazards, including any projected exacerbation or change in those disasters and hazards due to climate change, be taken into account in the periodic review of whether a clean-up plan is adequately protective.

The Preparing Superfund for Climate Change Act is endorsed by Climate Protection and Restoration Initiative, Climate Accountability Institute, and Missouri Sierra Club.

The Preparing Superfund for Climate Change Act is cosponsored by Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) and Rashida Tlaib (D-MI).

Official text of the Preparing Superfund for Climate Change 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.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sharice Davids (KS-3)

Today, Representatives Sharice Davids (KS-03) and Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05) introduced new legislation to change a longstanding Supplemental Security Income (SSI) rule that can reduce benefits for seniors and people with disabilities simply because they receive basic help like food or housing from family, friends, or caregivers.

“In Kansas, we take care of our neighbors — whether that’s a parent helping their child get through a tough month or a family making sure a loved one has a place to stay,” said Davids. “But right now, federal rules can actually punish seniors and people with disabilities for receiving that kind of support. That’s wrong. My new bill, which I’m leading with my colleague Rep. Scanlon, fixes it so people don’t lose out on their Social Security just because of the way Kansans naturally look out for each other.”

“Social Security provides a critical social safety net for seniors, people with disabilities, and families with children,” said Representative Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05). “SSI’s rules disfavoring in-kind support and maintenance punish people receiving basic assistance from friends and family. At a time when the cost of living has skyrocketed, it is critical that we address these harmful rules, which discourage people from staying connected to their communities. I’m grateful for Rep. Davids’ partnership in making SSI more accessible for those who need it.”

SSI is a federal program that provides monthly financial support to seniors and people with disabilities who have very low income. Under current rules, their benefits can be reduced if they receive basic help like food or housing from family or others, or if certain income from household members is counted toward them. These rules can also make the program more complicated to administer and harder for beneficiaries to understand.

Davids’ bill would eliminate these reductions so that seniors and people with disabilities do not lose SSI benefits simply because they receive basic support to meet everyday needs. The legislation is aimed at simplifying the program, reducing administrative complexity, and ensuring more consistent and fair access to the full benefits people rely on.

“The SSI Savings and Efficiency Act of 2026 takes a long-overdue step to fix one of SSI’s most outdated and harmful policies,” said Heather Sachs, Policy & Advocacy Co-Director, National Down Syndrome Congress. “The current ISM rules punish people with disabilities for receiving basic help like food or housing — support that keeps people stable and connected to their communities. Eliminating ISM is a commonsense reform that promotes fairness, reduces bureaucracy, and ensures SSI works the way it should.”

“ANCOR applauds Representatives Davids and Scanlon for their common-sense approach to tearing down barriers that for far too long have kept people with disabilities and older adults from accessing the support they need to remain in their homes and communities,” said Barbara Merrill, Chief Executive Officer, American Network of Community Options and Resources (ANCOR). “By removing SSI’s in-kind support and maintenance rules, the SSI Savings & Efficiency Act would take us closer to an SSI program that is fairer, simpler, and more responsive to the daily realities facing people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. ANCOR is proud to support this legislation and grateful for the leadership of Representatives Davids and Scanlon.” 

Social Security plays a crucial role in the lives of millions, from birth to retirement. In Kansas’ Third District, there are 130,424 Social Security recipients, including 105,041 retirees, 6,120 children, and 9,975 disabled workers. Yet, both President Donald Trump and Elon Musk have made damaging comments about Social Security. Musk called the program a “Ponzi scheme,” and Trump referred to it as a “scam.”

Davids has been an advocate for Social Security beneficiaries throughout her time in Congress. She helped pass the bipartisan Social Security Fairness Act, a law repealing outdated rules that reduce benefits for millions of public sector retirees, including teachers, firefighters, and police officers. These benefits have already begun hitting Kansans’ bank accounts. Davids also voted against an extreme, partisan funding bill that would allow Trump and Musk to fire Social Security workers, causing office closures, longer wait times, and delays in benefits.

The bill is endorsed by the American Network of Community Options and Resources (ANCOR), Autism Speaks, the National Down Syndrome Congress (NDSC), the National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives, Access Ready Inc., and Justice in Aging.

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

WASHINGTON, DC — Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) joined Governor Wes Moore to celebrate World Quantum Day at the groundbreaking ceremony for the new 110,000-square-foot headquarters for the Applied Research Laboratory for Intelligence and Security (ARLIS) at the University of Maryland Discovery District. The $65 million capital project will advance national defense technology and solidify the state’s status as a global leader in quantum. The event also highlighted quantum investments in the State’s Fiscal Year 2027 budget, which directs tens of millions of dollars to bolster Maryland’s Capital of Quantum Initiative, hire specialist faculty members at the University of Maryland, and support ongoing quantum capital projects.

“It was an honor to attend the groundbreaking for the new ARLIS facility at the University of Maryland, a world class institution that continues to lead the way in quantum computing. I was glad to work with the Maryland Congressional Delegation to secure federal funding for advanced research infrastructure at UMD and am thrilled to see the expansion of these initiatives in quantum computing at my alma mater,” said Congressman Steny Hoyer. “The continued collaboration among the private sector, government, and our academic institutions is vital to strengthening our national security. I applaud the leadership of the Moore-Miller Administration to ensure Maryland remains at the forefront of innovation in science and technology. We will continue working together to provide investments in Maryland research to shape the future and meet the challenges of our increasingly complex world.”

“Quantum is changing the world, and Maryland is the best place in the world to change the world,” said Gov. Moore. “By investing in quantum and partnering with ARLIS, the State of Maryland is creating new opportunities for the student with the skills to succeed in this field, uplifting the family that now has access to good-paying work, and supporting the entrepreneurs who will solve some of the world’s most pressing challenges.”

The new four-story, Class A office development is a partnership with COPT Defense Properties and is scheduled for shell completion in the second quarter of 2027. ARLIS, based in the University of Maryland Discovery District, is one of only 15 U.S. Department of War-designated University Affiliated Research Centers nationwide, and the only one exclusively focused on intelligence and security missions. The lab, which currently employs more than 260 personnel, conducts research in artificial intelligence, information engineering, human systems and quantum applications.

“Emerging technologies like quantum computing are key to the future of our economy and our national security,” said Senator Chris Van Hollen. “That’s why I’ve worked alongside Team Maryland to deliver $48 million in federal investments to support the U​niversity of Maryland’s ARLIS. The opening of this new ARLIS facility will build on the University of Maryland’s great national leadership in the field of quantum computing and advance new solutions to the ever-evolving security challenges our nation faces.”

“On World Quantum Day, it is fitting to talk about the strategic imperative of leading in quantum research for both economic growth and national security,” said Congressman Glenn Ivey. “At the University of Maryland, College Park, University Affiliated Research Centers like the Applied Research Laboratory for Intelligence and Security (ARLIS) are advancing real-world applications that strengthen our defense and intelligence capabilities. I thank Governor Wes Moore and University President Darryll J. Pines for helping make College Park the epicenter of Maryland’s capital of quantum innovation right here in the 4th Congressional District. I am proud to be a part of this groundbreaking.”

ARLIS has recently forged new partnerships with leading quantum companies that will contribute to its rapidly growing presence as a leader of applied intelligence analysis and quantum science in the defense sector. Last month, IonQ and Canadian-based photonic quantum computer developer Xanadu both announced collaborations with the Maryland Institute for Quantum Applications (MIQA) at ARLIS through the Secretary of the Air Force’s Securing Experimental Quantum Computing Usage in Research Environments (SEQCURE) program, a research sprint to align emerging quantum technologies with National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) cybersecurity parameters.

“This new facility reflects ARLIS’s ongoing commitment to its mission,” said ARLIS Executive Director John Beieler. “It strengthens our ability to bring together researchers, students, and mission partners in a secure, collaborative environment, while reinforcing the work already contributing to the Department of War and Intelligence Community.”

Today’s groundbreaking coincided with IQM, a global leader in superconducting quantum computers, announcing that they plan to launch their first U.S. Quantum Technology Center in the Discovery District—marking a new milestone in Maryland’s push to lead the world in quantum.

“Today’s groundbreaking for ARLIS’ new facility represents an important milestone for the University of Maryland and our state,” said University of Maryland President Darryll J. Pines. “As we grow our footprint and expand our impact as the Capital of Quantum, we are incredibly grateful to Governor Wes Moore for his leadership and investment, which further strengthen Maryland’s position as a global leader in quantum technologies.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jim Baird (R-IN-04)

Congressman Jim Baird (IN-04) introduced the Tech Diplomacy Training Act (H.R. 8212) to ensure all Foreign Service officers receive training on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) concepts prior to being stationed abroad.

“Training in STEM is paramount in our increasingly digital security landscape, especially as our adversaries pursue advances in artificial intelligence, surveillance technology, and next-generation communications infrastructure,” said Congressman Baird. “As diplomats, our Foreign Service officers need to have a background in science and technology. Our adversaries, primarily Communist China, use technology for exploitative purposes. As technology continues to rapidly evolve, our diplomatic efforts will depend on understanding how U.S. technology priorities connect with other diplomatic and economic efforts. This legislation ensures STEM remains at the forefront of our diplomatic efforts so we can succeed against our adversaries.”

Background:

Currently, all Foreign Service Officers are required to pass a basic training known as the A-100 orientation course. Within the curriculum, officers learn about various topics, including human trafficking, religious freedom, and multilateral diplomacy, but STEM topics are not included in the A-100 course or any Foreign Service orientation.

The Tech Diplomacy Training Act requires that all Foreign Service officers receive training during their A-100 course on emerging technologies, the uses of technology in American diplomacy, and how our adversaries can use STEM concepts to undermine U.S. national security interests.

Read the bill text here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative James E (Jim) Clyburn (6th District of South Carolina)

WASHINGTON, DC — Congressman James E. Clyburn joined the Congressional Black Cacusus to deliver the following remarks on the House floor honoring the late Reverend Jesse Jackson:

Mr. Speaker,

I rise today to honor and pay homage to the late Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson, Sr.

On Tuesday, February 14, 2026, I joined the nation in mourning the passing of one of the most quintessential civil rights leaders – Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson Sr.

Our relationship began as students at rival high schools in South Carolina, he at Sterling in Greenville and me, at Mather Academy in Camden.

Our schools played football and basketball against each other. Jesse was the star quarterback at Sterling, and I was a prolific benchwarmer at Mather. But the rivalry was there. He could play, and I could yell.

That relationship was extended and intensified when he enrolled at North Carolina A&T, an 1890 Land Grant HBCU in Greensboro, NC. I was already attending South Carolina State the 1890 HBCU in our home state.

There was, and still is, an intense rivalry between those two iconic institutions. But, then independent of each other, we both pledged and became members of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. And it was in that brotherhood, and during our political activism, although not always in the same camp, that we developed a love and respect that lasted throughout the ages. His mother Helen was one of my biggest political boosters and a valued friend.

Jesse and I had a genuine friendship, in large measure, because our mothers “willed” it to be. During my political visits to Greenville and the Piedmont area, his mother Helen and her good friend Lottie Gibson, would make sure I had as much sustenance that their southern fried chicken could provide.

I shall never forget the night I kicked off my campaign for South Carolina’s Secretary of State in Georgetown every bit of a four-hour drive from Greenville. Just as that rally began, I looked up and who was walking through the door of that church – Helen Jackson and Lottie Gibson. They had driven all the way from Greenville down to Georgetown, to help me in that effort.

I lost that race and, as one can imagine, with that loss came some anxieties about the future. But as fate would have it, I was destined to serve here Congress and eventually, with two of her grandsons, Jesse’s sons. And today, some of our children have become friends. Ours was a friendship that spanned four generations.

Jesse was a son of Greenville, South Carolina. Born to a mother who was just 16 years old at the time of his birth. His grandmother raised him until he was 13, when he was then adopted by his stepfather, Charles Jackson.          

Jesse began his activism in the summer of 1960 as a student seeking to desegregate the Greenville Public Library. Jesse recounted how painful it was to not be allowed access to the books in that Library. And after being denied that privilege, Jesse vowed to return that summer to advocate for the library’s desegregation. He became a leader in the sit-in movement.

Jesse led seven Black high school students into the whites-only Greenville Public Library.  They were arrested for sitting down in that library and became known as “The Greenville Eight.” Interestingly, around that same time I became one of the leaders of a sit-in in Orangeburg and some referred to us as the “Orangeburg Seven.”

The Greenville Eight ultimately won the right to have access to that library. Today, the Greenville Public Library serves all people, and that episode launched what would become for Jesse, a life of civil rights and political activism.

He became Director of Operation Breadbasket and the founder of the venerable Rainbow PUSH Coalition – an intergenerational movement to uplift “the voiceless and downtrodden.” His passion to bring together people of all colors and creeds is a testament to his vision of unity, and oneness, as proclaimed by our nation’s motto – E Pluribus Unum – out of many, one.

Operation PUSH became renowned for using direct action, selective buying and creative negotiations to encourage major corporations to be more inclusive, hire more Black executives, and support and contract with Black-owned businesses and corporations.

The Rainbow Coalition was – and is – about dignity, fairness, justice, and hope. As I might say, Jesse worked to make the greatness’s of this country accessible and affordable for all.

Jesse’s historic presidential runs in 1984 and 1988 were reflective of his strong will, guiding faith, and belief in possibility. Those two precedential campaigns came up short.

But that didn’t stop him. Jesse’s efforts brought an end to the winner-take-all distribution of delegates, a creative device comparable to those that were prevalent post-Reconstruction.

Where is the fairness when the candidate who gets 51 percent of the votes receives 100 percent of the delegates? 

Despite what may be said to the contrary, it is a fact that this change allowed underdogs and non-wealthy candidates to compete, increased voter diversity, and paved the way for future candidates.

Were it not for the proportional voting in our primaries, Barack Obama would not have received or Party’s nomination and would not have become our 44^th President of these United States of America. Jesse’s efforts were not in vain.

A life lived defying odds, Reverend Jackson showed us that if we remain focused, work hard, and unite in our purpose – we can continue bending the arc of the moral universe towards justice and continuing our “pursuit of a more perfect Union.” 

Operation Breadbasket, anti-apartheid activism, voter registration, and corporate diversity were among just a few of his initiatives that advanced opportunity and equality for Black Americans.

It should not be lost on any of us the impact that Jesse had on the nation and the world. His visionary leadership is his legacy, and his orations continue to inspire all of us as we continue our pursuit of justice and equality.

In 3 months, we will be celebrating the 250^th anniversary of this country’s existence. I quote Thomas Paine’s famous words in the opening line of “The American Crisis,” published in January 1776 during the American Revolution.

He wrote,

“These are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.”

Jesse Louis Jackson was not a summer soldier; he was not a sunshine patriot. He stood with the times. And because of his efforts, many of us can stand where we stand today.

Jesse endured setbacks, losses, and the scrutiny of those who did not believe in him. But still, Jesse taught us to renew our faith in what is possible. My favorite Old Testament scripture is Micah 6:8, For he has shown thee old man that which is required, “to do justly, be merciful and walk humbly.”

In the late 1970s and 1980s, when this country grew weary of justice, it was Jesse – that led us to keep walking humbly and maintain hope. Jesse believed and internalized the admonition that “faith without works is dead.” Jesse’s voice calls on each of us to keep that faith.

Jesse understood that we must find the strength to fight for a more perfect union and find the compassion to make it universal.  On March 2, 2026, the late Reverend Jesse Jackson returned home to South Carolina, to lie in State at the South Carolina State Capitol. I had the honor of paying homage to him that day and hundreds filed pass his casket to pay our respects.

Jesse’s efforts in the place he called home never wavered. In 2015, he came home to advocate for the removal of the Confederate battle flag from the South Carolina state house grounds after nine Black worshippers were killed at Mother Emanuel AME in Charleston by a young white supremacist, who worshiped that flag and wanted his act to start a “race war.”

Jesse became the second Black person to lie in state in the South Carolina Capitol.  The first was his, and my friend, the late pastor and State Sen. Clementa Pinckney who was one of the “Emanuel 9.”

So, I am pleased to be here this evening, and to be a part of this Congressional Black Caucus Special Order Hour to honor Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson.

And I close by thanking his family for what they mean to me and my family. It is an emotional connection that is not easy to explain.

In his 1984, Rainbow Coalition speech, Jesse said, “No matter how difficult the days and dark the nights, there is a brighter side somewhere. In Angola, Mozambique, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Greenville, South Carolina, and Harlem, there is a brighter side.”

The impact of his enduring legacy will resonate for years to come. May he take his rightful place among those who have shaped this nation’s course and pushed us further toward a more perfect union.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE)

Today, Congressman Adrian Smith (NE-03) led his colleagues in introducing the Trump Accounts for All Generations Act to permanently extend the Trump Accounts contribution pilot program, created by the Working Families Tax Cuts, which is set to expire at the end of 2028. Smith’s legislation would ensure that every future American newborn can receive the $1,000 investment when opening a Trump Account while also indexing the $1,000 investment to inflation beginning in 2029.

The legislation is also co-led by U.S. Representatives Blake Moore (UT-01) and Brian Jack (GA-03).  

“The Trump Account contribution pilot program opened the door for parents to provide their children with a strong financial foundation from day one. But this historic investment is at risk of disappearing after President Trump leaves office. I introduced the Trump Accounts for All Generations Act to ensure that every future generation of Americans can have a strong financial start in life,”said Smith.  

“One of the most significant policies we enacted in the Working Families Tax Cuts was the creation of investment accounts for every American child. Trump Accounts will set our children up for financial stability and the $1,000 federal contribution for newborns will jumpstart their savings. I was proud to lead the original legislation that launched the program and I’m excited to introduce the Trump Accounts for All Generations Act to make this federal investment permanent for generations to come,” said Moore.  

“On Independence Day 2025, President Trump enacted one of the most significant laws in American history: the Working Families Tax Cuts, delivering the largest tax cut in American history and establishing the foundation for Trump Accounts.  I am proud to support the Trump Accounts for All Generations Act, which would make these tax-advantaged savings accounts permanent and ensure the next generation of Americans has the tools to build wealth, pursue opportunity, and create a better future for themselves and their families.  I commend President Trump for his leadership, and I look forward to advocating for this legislation throughout the Congressional process,” said Jack.  

BACKGROUND:

Under the Working Families Tax Cuts, Republicans created an opportunity for parents, guardians, and other authorized individuals to establish a new tax-advantaged savings account for their children, called Trump Accounts, with the ability to contribute up to $5,000 annually.

In addition to creating the Trump Accounts, Republicans authorized a pilot program contribution of $1,000 for any child who is a U.S. citizen with a valid Social Security number born between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2028.

The Trump Accounts for All Generations Act would make the $1,000 Trump Account contribution permanent and index the investment to inflation starting in 2029.  

Click here to read the full text of the bill. 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology is holding an Investigations and Oversight Subcommittee hearing titled, The State of Scientific Publishing: Assessing Trends, Emerging Issues, and Policy Considerations.

Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren’s (D-CA) opening statement as prepared for the record is below:

Thank you Chairman McCormick and Ranking Member Sykes for holding this hearing and good morning to the distinguished panel of witnesses. As some of you know, scientific publishing – and, in particular, open access – is a topic I have cared about and studied for a long time.

I have been a cosponsor of the Fair Access to Science and Technology Research – or FASTR Act – since it was first introduced in 2013. Prior to that, in 2010, I cosponsored the Federal Research Public Access Act. Both of these bills had the goal of accelerating free public access to the results of taxpayer funded research. Congress has failed to act on these bills. On the other hand, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy under President Obama took a leap forward in Federal policy with Dr. John Holdren’s 2013 memo calling on agencies to implement a maximum 12-month embargo on all Federally funded research papers. In her 2022 memo, Dr. Alondra Nelson – as acting OSTP director under President Biden – carried the ball even further toward the finish line.

We can and should have a healthy debate about how we get to the goal of immediate and free access to the results of Federally funded research. I hope we do not disagree about the goal itself. I will remind anyone in the room who needs to hear this.

The research was paid for by the public. The intellectual value is created by the scientists and students doing the research. The peer reviewers are other scientists donating their time. 

To be clear, I also believe that publishers have long played a valuable role in the scientific communication ecosystem. In the 20^th Century, it could have been argued they played an irreplaceable role. But this isn’t 1925 or even 1995 anymore, and we must be open to new frameworks for communication and new business models. To the credit of many in the publishing community – of their own accord or perhaps pushed along by the open access advocates – a lot has changed already. In particular, I recognize the multiples ways in which scholarly societies add value to the scientific ecosystem, from conferences, to mentoring and professional development for students and early career scientists, to public outreach.

Unfortunately, there are publishers who are doing a disservice to U.S. taxpayers, U.S. scientists and even to other publishers who are trying to do the right thing. These publishers are rapidly losing the overpriced subscriptions they long depended on for their massive profits, so they are implementing extortionist page charges instead. They are exploiting new ways to monetize the full research cycle – even information about scientists intended to be private. For example, a few years ago Elsevier bought an academic technology company called Interfolio so that they can repackage and sell information about Federally funded science and scientists back to Federal agencies. And for all we know, given the absence of any transparency or guardrails, they may be selling this same proprietary data to China.

I recognize that building new business models in the age of the internet and now AI is not easy for 100 plus year-old nonprofit organizations. I remain a ready and willing partner to nonprofit scholarly societies struggling to find their footing in this new world. But I will not stand idly by as a select few for-profit companies continue to exploit U.S. taxpayers, U.S. scientists and potentially put at risk U.S. economic and national security to line their own pockets.

This is an incredibly nuanced issue. Thoughtful advocates for open access have valuable recommendations for how open access can address the many challenges identified in this hearing scope. To that end, I request unanimous consent to enter into the record a letter from SPARC.

This hearing is wide-ranging in scope – all fascinating and important topics. I hope in addition to the breadth, we can go deep on at least some of these important topics. 

I yield back.

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

Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries appeared on CNBC’s Squawk Box, where he emphasized that Democrats will continue to demand that the reckless war of choice in Iran that is raising costs and wasting taxpayer dollars end immediately.

JOE KERNEN: Democrats pushing for an end to the Iran war with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries saying that he will call for another War Powers Resolution vote. Leader Jeffries joins us this morning. Congressman, it’s good to have you on. Good morning.

LEADER JEFFRIES: Good morning, great to be on.

JOE KERNEN: Should we just end this immediately, in your view? Or, the next couple of days, according to the President, negotiations could resume and there could be some type of agreement with Iran that does accomplish certain objectives. How do you think that the President or the administration should approach it at this point?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, Donald Trump has gotten us into this costly, reckless war of choice with no plan, no clear objectives that he clearly communicated to the American people and no exit strategy. And so, the whole thing right now is a mess, and we’ve been spending billions of dollars dropping bombs in the Middle East from an administration and a President who are unwilling to spend a dime to actually make life more affordable for the American people. So it’s no surprise that this war is deeply unpopular across the country. And the real problem that we have in terms of where we find ourselves right now, no regime change, which the Trump administration argued was an objective, that hasn’t been accomplished. The nuclear material still remains in Iran’s possession. And so, that so-called objective hasn’t be accomplished. And Iran now controls the Strait of Hormuz. And as a result, gas prices have skyrocketed as a direct result of Donald Trump’s reckless war of choice.

JOE KERNEN: Mr. Speaker, Mr. Leader—I almost called you Speaker, I might be rushing things. I know what your plans are in November. That was classic Freudian slip, you probably liked that one. Leader Jeffries, we did have an expert on Iran—he was in the Trump administration—but he is now with the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies. And you know, I know that you’ve heard arguments from Republicans and from the administration about why this made sense. Just respond to what this gentleman, the points he made earlier in the show. Here it is.

RECORDING OF RICHARD GOLDBERG: If we still face an imminent nuclear threat and we face a looming imminent missile threat, both direct national interests to the United States, the question would then be, when do you want to confront those threats? Do you want to do it when they’re strongest? When China says, hey, close the Strait? You want to do it when they’ve actually achieved the nuclear weapon or when they have the ICBM? Or do you want to do it when they are at their potentially weakest point? If you have an imminent threat, it’s a clear national interest and your adversary’s at its weakest points, that’d be a good time to do something. And so, I think the President chose the right time, on his timeline, not on their timeline, not on China’s timeline, not on Russia’s timeline. And he’s done great damage to both the missile and nuclear program, but obviously still some things to achieve.

JOE KERNEN: There’s some of the rationale. And we are at this point now, you talk about some of the objectives that haven’t been, we haven’t actually accomplished yet. In your view, isn’t it possible that maybe we could accomplish them if we either go through negotiations or continue to put the pressure on? You think we should just unilaterally just stop?

LEADER JEFFRIES: I think that we have to end this reckless war of choice that Donald Trump never came to Congress to get authorized in the first place, and more importantly, never actually made the case to the American people. Now, this so-called expert does understand, should understand, that the administration has presented no evidence, zero evidence, privately or publicly, that there was an imminent threat to the United States of America in terms of Iran’s ballistic missile capacity, and that there was no threat that Iran was actually close to nuclear breakout or had demonstrated the intention to take steps to get to nuclear breakout. And so, the objectives that the administration allegedly is trying to achieve can’t be accomplished militarily. And there was no reason to go in in the first place, or if there was, the administration has actually failed in a classified briefing setting, or certainly failed to communicate that evidence to the public. Why? Because it does not exist.

JOE KERNEN: The War Powers Act, it’s been tried once already, you’re going to do it again. Do you actually think you could be successful this time? And I will give you credit, Leader Jeffries, in the past, I think you even criticized President Obama’s Libya campaign and all the way back to Kosovo, and you’ve never thought a regime change is possible. So you’ve been consistent as far as that goes. But, the interplay between Article I and Article II, there’s gray areas there. I mean, the President does have the authority as Commander-in-Chief to take action to protect the national interest.

LEADER JEFFRIES: Yeah, but the President, of course, has to exercise that judgment when he does it in a limited capacity, and it should be done in a way that is actually designed to improve the national security posture for the American people, or certainly to make life better for the American people. And the problem with this reckless war of choice is life has gotten more expensive. Gas prices are now more than $4 a gallon across the country in an environment where Donald Trump had already failed to bring down costs. And, the problem, Joe, that we confront right now is that what’s clear is thatDonald Trump and Republicans have made affirmative policy decisions that actually have made life more expensive for the American people. The Trump tariffs have made life more expensive for the American people. The refusal to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits have increased health insurance premiums for more than 20 million Americans directly and millions more who get their insurance from their employer indirectly. And now, of course, with this reckless war of choice, costs have increased in terms of gas prices. And the likelihood is that we’re going to see food prices increase as well. And so, the whole thing has been a disaster in terms of the way in which Donald Trump has managed this economy. From our standpoint as Democrats, we want to focus on driving down the high cost of living, fixing our broken healthcare system, getting ICE under control and spending taxpayer dollars in ways that actually improve the quality of life of the American people.

JOE KERNEN: We just did see a Truth Social post, Leader Jeffries, from the President. Let you respond to it. ‘China is very happy that I am permanently opening the Strait of Hormuz. I am doing it for them, also, and the world. This situation will never happen again. They have agreed not to send weapons to Iran. President Xi will give me a big, fat hug when I get there in a few weeks.’ That might be a little TMI. ‘We are working together smartly and very well. Doesn’t that beat fighting? But remember we are very good at fighting if we have to, far better than anyone else. President DJT.’ Your response?

LEADER JEFFRIES: I mean, it’s a lot of bluster, and that’s what we continue to see from this President. Until we actually see tangible evidence that the Strait has been reopened, our view is that gas prices are going to continue to go in the wrong direction for the American people. In fact, the President himself just acknowledged yesterday that by the end of the year, gas prices may actually be right where they are right now, too high or even higher. And so, I don’t understand the confusion that the President is trying to put into the public domain other than he wants to fool the American people with his rhetoric. And so, I think this is a President that just actually should start focusing on the things that matter. And we’ve said from the very beginning as Democrats that we’ll work with anyone, anytime, anyplace who’s actually committed to doing something about the high cost of living in the United States of America, to standing up for working-class Americans and middle-class Americans and everyday Americans. But instead, this President has been more focused on posting deranged messages on Easter Sunday, then attacking the Pope of all people and then putting images into the public domain portraying Donald J. Trump as Jesus Christ. If that’s not blasphemy, I don’t know what is right now, Joe.

JOE KERNEN: Congressman, you know what we do here, and what we try to cover whenever possible, and that is the stock market. And there’s plenty of disagreement whether Wall Street and Main Street are always aligned, but at least we know that corporate profitability and the economy and profit margins are reflected in what happens in the averages. In other words, if we’re facing a recession, it’s unlikely for the stock market to be doing well. We can look at the bond market as well. So I just wanted to show you a couple of charts. One is the S&P. One is the NASDAQ. We’re back to all-time highs, basically, on most of the averages. You can see that when the tariffs were enacted, that’s in the middle of the chart, there was a sell-off, quick rebound and the same sort of situation happening now. Same with the NASDAQ. And then also, I just want to show you quickly the 10-year note or interest rates. Go back to the same period of time and, inflation is not where the Fed wants it, it’s not where anyone wants it, but you would normally see, if there was a true crisis, you would normally see some type of panic or angst in the bond market. So just in terms of Wall Street, you would not know things are going very poorly the way that you describe it. Things are going pretty well.

LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, actually, I talk to corporate leaders all the time, and they’re incredibly concerned with the instability and the uncertainty that Donald Trump and Republican policies have created. Because as you know, Joe, it’s impossible to make sound investment decisions when you have such an uncertain, unstable public policy environment, which Donald Trump has continued to put forward in terms of the way in which he’s conducted himself, and so, that’s highly problematic. And the reality is, at the end of the day, for the American people that we all are privileged to represent here in Congress, that, yeah, for the investing class under Donald Trump’s policies, including his One Big Ugly Bill, which enacted the largest cut to Medicaid in American history at the same time that these Republicans, my colleagues, provided massive tax breaks to their billionaire donors, the investor class is doing well. The problem is the working class is not. And Donald Trump promised to focus on making life more affordable for working-class Americans. And in that regard, all evidence indicates he has failed.

JOE KERNEN: In the One Big Beautiful Bill, it’s calculated that maybe refunds this year could be much better, much higher than before, 11 to 14%. No tax on tips, raises take-home pay for tip workers by $1,300 a year. There’s overtime, no tax on overtime, which helps quite a few people. And I know you always say it just benefits billionaires. I assume you’re talking also about corporations. Just listen to yesterday what J&J, the Johnson & Johnson CFO, said it did in terms of domestic investment and why they’re doing it here now.

RECORDING OF JOSEPH WOLK: In 2016, I was looking at a proposal to build a new facility that had a tax rate of 35% plus state tax here. That compared to other countries that were anywhere from 10 to 12% with additional incentives. It would have been a dereliction of duty on my part to say, yeah, that’s a good financial move. Now the game is equal.

JOE KERNEN: Leader Jeffries, J&J, because of those provisions, this, what we were talking about yesterday, is part of a broader $55 billion U.S. investment plan that the company is making to build factories here, creating tens of thousands of jobs that would never have occurred if the corporate rate hadn’t been brought down in the Big Beautiful Bill or Big Ugly Bill, as you call it.

LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, listen, the reality is that job creation under the Trump administration has been incredibly shaky. The numbers in that regard speak for themselves. And the fundamental question that everyday Americans are asking, has life gotten better for me under the presidency of Donald Trump, or has it gotten worse? And when you actually look at the dynamics around cost of living, housing costs are up. Utility bills are up. Health insurance premiums are up. Child care costs are up. Gas prices are up. And so, the reality is life has gotten more expensive for the American people. By the way, the cost of goods and groceries are up as well as a direct result of the Trump tariffs that he unilaterally decided to impose over a year ago. And so, life clearly has not gotten better for everyday Americans in terms of the Trump economy, life has gotten worse. And that’s a big problem for the American people. And we don’t view it politically, we view it from the lens of our job is to actually improve the quality of life of the people that we are privileged to serve. And that’s not what’s going on in the United States of America right now as a result of the extreme policies that Donald Trump and Republicans continue to try to jam down the throats of the American people.

JOE KERNEN: Leader Jeffries, thanks for your time this morning.

Full interview can be watched here.

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