MIL USHOR-2b Engine

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

WASHINGTON — This morning, Speaker Johnson joined Joe Kernen, Becky Quick, and Andrew Ross Sorkin on CNBC’s Squawk Box to discuss Congressional Democrat leaders admitting they are intentionally inflicting “suffering” on American families and using that pain as “leverage” in this shutdown.

Watch Speaker Johnson’s full interview here.

On Democrats using the “suffering” of American families as leverage to extract $1.5 trillion in new partisan spending:

When they say they’re using the shutdown as leverage, what is it they’re trying to obtain out of that? What’s the point? It’s not the health care subsidy extension; that’s a red herring. That’s their talking point, a distraction that they’ve glommed onto. They actually put on paper, Joe, what they want. They want $1.5 trillion of wasteful spending. They want to prop up leftist news organizations with the Corporation for Public Broadcasting with a half a billion dollars. They want to send billions of dollars back overseas for social programs in foreign countries. We’re not doing that. And importantly, they want to extend those Obamacare subsidies permanently without any reforms. Oh, by the way, restoring health care to illegal aliens, again, that’s 200 billion of their demand. That’s what they’re leveraging. They’re using the American people as pawns in this game and as leverage to get all of that.

On Democrats now arguing they want to pay federal workers and troops:

Well, Ro is my friend, I have great respect for him. But he did vote against those very things on September 19. That’s what the CR was. The continuing resolution was to keep all those people paid. And every Democrat in the House voted against that. They voted to close the government down and stop those services. Now, if we were here today and we had another vote on the floor, it would not change that outcome because the Senate Democrats just batted that down last week. They voted down pay for troops and the defense appropriations bill. They’re going to do it again, I think today, because Leader Thune is going to put on the floor a bill to pay essential workers. All those categories of folks that I just named that are putting on a uniform every day, protecting the country, and protecting our borders and making sure the skies are safe.

And the Democrats have already told us they’re going to vote against that. So, it would be a pointless exercise in the House. And that is why I keep emphasizing the House has done its job. We voted to fund the government. We voted to do all these things 33 days ago, and that bill has been sitting on Chuck Schumer’s desk. They will not pass it over there, again, because he promised the radical Left that he would show a fight against Trump, no matter the pain that it causes on the American people. And now the Democrat leaders in the House are admitting that’s exactly what they’re doing.

On Democrats pining for a backroom deal to reopen the government:

He [Schumer] said it publicly and breathlessly, he’s complained that four leaders won’t go in a back room, a smoke-filled room, and make a deal. That’s not how this works. I don’t operate that way. When I became Speaker, I vowed to my colleagues that we would return to regular order. I would decentralize the Speaker’s Office, and it would not be a top down hoisted upon the membership kind of program anymore. This is a member driven, consensus driven operation. That’s how the Founders intended it to work. They did not want four people to go in a back room and make a deal. By the way, I couldn’t do that on something as complicated as extension of Obamacare COVID subsidies because we have to find the consensus. There are a hundred different ideas on how to improve that.

And we needed the time in October and November to work through that with all the members. I refuse to go in a back room with Chuck Schumer and make a deal. I don’t operate that way. It’s not good for the people. It’s not good for financial stewardship. And it’s part of the reason we’re $37 trillion in debt as a nation because you have two or three or four people in a back room doing that. We’re not operating that way. That’s Chuck Schumer’s old way. We need this to work for the people again. And that’s what I’m insisting upon. And I’ll keep telling him that publicly and privately.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Pete Aguilar (31 CD Ca)

Rep. Aguilar spoke about the Republican shutdown and how health care cuts will harm people in the Inland Empire
Rep. Pete Aguilar (CA-33) and first-term California Representatives Laura Friedman (CA-30), Dave Min (CA-47), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Derek Tran (CA-45) and George Whitesides (CA-27) held a press call on how the Republican government shutdown and the health care crisis are impacting Californians across the state. You can watch a recording of the call here and read Rep. Aguilar’s opening remarks below:
Hello, I’m Pete Aguilar, Chair of the House Democratic Caucus, and I represent California’s 33rd Congressional District. I’m honored to be here with first-term Reps. Laura Friedman, Dave Min, Lateefah Simon, Derek Tran and George Whitesides. Each of these Members has done an amazing job representing their constituents here in Congress and I’m excited for you to hear directly from them. 
We’re here because this summer, Donald Trump led Congressional Republicans in passing the largest cut to health care in American history in order to give billionaires more tax breaks. As a result, Republicans’ Big Ugly Law has created a health care crisis on top of the affordability crisis that we know all too well that Californians and Americans are already facing. Instead of joining us to fix the mess they created, Republicans shut down the government and have been on vacation for over a month. I’ve been meeting with constituents, health care workers and patients throughout San Bernardino County to understand how these Republican cuts to Medicaid, Medicare and the Affordable Care Act are directly impacting them, and it’s absolutely devastating. 
One example was the San Bernardino Adult Day Health Care Center, which relies on federal funding to serve seniors and people with disabilities in the Inland Empire. Patients at this center call it their ‘lifeline’ and they rely on it for meals, rehabilitating injuries, social life and ultimately, allowing them to live with independence and dignity. If this center closes as a result of Republican health care cuts, these people will be out of luck—and they’re not alone. 2.3 million Californians on Medi-Cal will lose their health care and it will only get worse if Republicans fail to extend the ACA tax credits, which allow Californians to afford their health care. That’s why we’re doing everything in our power to negotiate a deal that reopens the federal government and saves health care. That’s what we’ve been fighting for and that’s what we’ve been asking House Republicans for.

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

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) is demanding that President Trump immediately stop his appalling demolition of the White House’s East Wing, warning that his unapproved “ballroom project” tramples historic preservation and defies legally-required federal oversight and interagency coordination. 

As the top Democrat on the Appropriations Subcommittee overseeing the National Park Service, Pingree condemned the President’s brazen destruction of the White House, a National Historic Landmark and a National Park Site. 

“Your actions are irreparably destroying a historic portion of one of America’s most recognizable landmarks and a symbol of our democracy,” Pingree said. 

“Your disregard for the oversight and transparency requirements that protect our nation’s most revered sites is shocking. Despite previous assurances that no changes would be made to the existing structure, the project’s scope is clearly well beyond what was initially publicly proposed,” she continued. “And, according to reports, the White House has not yet even submitted plans for the project to initiate the review process.”

“Such a cavalier undertaking all but guarantees that future Presidents will afford your contributions the same reverence.”

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Dear Mr. President,

I write to demand that you immediately cease construction activities related to a new ballroom at the White House. You have brazenly begun demolition without the legally required approval of several government agencies. Your actions are irreparably destroying a historic portion of one of America’s most recognizable landmarks and a symbol of our democracy.

The White House is a National Historic Landmark and a National Park Site. Any project of this scale and importance must be approached with careful interagency coordination among the National Park Service, National Capital Planning Commission, and Commission of Fine Arts. 

Your disregard for the oversight and transparency requirements that protect our nation’s most revered sites is shocking. Despite previous assurances that no changes would be made to the existing structure, the project’s scope is clearly well beyond what was initially publicly proposed. And, according to reports, the White House has not yet even submitted plans for the project to initiate the review process.

Furthermore, other than certain essential functions, the agencies with jurisdiction are all closed during the government shutdown and key staff are furloughed. It is appalling that you are pursuing a vanity project during a government shutdown. You are clearly prioritizing an entertainment space over the American people at a time when basic needs like health care and groceries are increasingly unaffordable.

All demolition activities must stop at once, and the site must be secured until the reviews and approvals required by law are complete.

By failing to ensure that historic preservation is appropriately considered, you are endangering a priceless historical American landmark. Such a cavalier undertaking all but guarantees that future Presidents will afford your contributions the same reverence.  

Sincerely,

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Brian Babin (R-TX)

In case you missed it, U.S. Congressman Brian Babin (TX-36), Chairman of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, authored an op-ed in Newsmax exposing the political games behind the ongoing Democrat-led government shutdown and its devastating impact on hardworking Americans.

In his piece, Babin calls out Senate Democrats for holding the government hostage over partisan demands—hurting troops, border agents, and working families across the nation.“The American people deserve better. They deserve a government that works for them, not against them,” Babin wrote. “A government that funds its troops, secures its border, unleashes American energy, and keeps our economy strong.” 

The full op-ed is available here and below.

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Schumer’s Shutdown: Every Day ‘Gets Better’ for Democrats, Worse for America

It didn’t have to be this way.

For three weeks, hardworking Americans, from our troops and border agents to TSA workers and park rangers, have been caught in the crossfire of a completely avoidable government shutdown.

This isn’t about healthcare, protecting Americans, or fiscal responsibility. It’s about politics, plain and simple. It’s Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS).

We did our job as U.S. House Republicans. We passed a clean, commonsense continuing resolution to fund the government at the same levels the Democrats themselves supported thirteen times before. We voted to keep the lights on, to pay our troops, and to protect vital health care services for the American people. But Senate Democrats, led by Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., refused. They chose to hold the government hostage in exchange for their wish list of radical left-wing policies, including a $450 billion bailout for Obamacare subsidies that were meant to be temporary COVID-19 pandemic measures.

They’re dying on the hill of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), convincing Americans it’s in their best interest, when all the program does is line the pockets of insurers and limit patient access to networks. They say they’re fighting for you and your healthcare. In reality, their funding bill strips support for rural hospitals out of the One Big Beautiful Bill (the OBBBA). Democrats are deceiving the American people, causing pain in the process, and bragging about it.

Sen. Schumer was quoted saying, “Every day it gets better” for Democrats during this shutdown. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., has also previously declared, “It is not normal for us to shut down the government when we don’t get what we want.” But that’s exactly what they’ve done. On top of that, a senior Democratic aide said they’re not conceding “short of planes falling out of the sky.”

Shameful.

If not for President Trump’s leadership, our servicemembers and their families would still be going without paychecks. He also used $300 million of tariff revenue to temporarily fund the Women, Infants, and Children program (WIC), which many rely on. He used his authority to reallocate funds so that the men and women who defend our freedom, and our most vulnerable, wouldn’t suffer because of Washington’s dysfunction. However, millions of American families are feeling the ripple effects. From delayed travel and suspended small business loans to missed paychecks and strained household budgets, the consequences are real, and unnecessary. It has been estimated that Texas’s Gross State Product is declining by approximately $1.4 billion each week, and 4,100 people will have lost their jobs.

And that’s just in Texas.

This is what happens when Democrats put politics before people. When they prioritize their party’s talking points over the livelihoods of Americans. When they weaponize the federal government to score headlines instead of doing their jobs. Make no mistake: this shutdown is not about Republicans refusing to fund the government, it’s about Democrats refusing to lead responsibly. It was only one year ago that Sen. Schumer said, “Keeping the government open will mean no poison pills or reckless partisan posturing.”

It’d be nice if he could stand by those beliefs now.

The American people deserve better. They deserve a government that works for them, not against them. A government that funds its troops, secures its border, unleashes American energy, and keeps our economy strong. House Republicans have already shown we’re willing to do the work. Thirty-two days ago, we voted to keep the government open, and we haven’t gone anywhere. It’s time for Senate Democrats to stop playing games, end this political stunt, and get back to governing.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA)

As the ongoing U.S. government shutdown threatens a shortfall in funding the SNAP program for November, U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) spoke to Punchbowl News for a Pop-Up Conversation. His beginning remarks focused on the Democratic Party’s shutdown and how it potentially affects SNAP recipients in Virginia’s Ninth District.

Watch his full remarks to Punchbowl News here beginning at the 7:00 mark.

Griffith comments on SNAP

“Democrats can come to their senses and stop holding the American people hostage…I am getting angry at this point, because next Saturday, SNAP benefits go away. And it’s easy for Katherine Clark to say ‘well there will be a little suffering,’ because her district is 29^th in household income in her district, mine is 409^th out of 435…”

“…my district is going to face a lot of suffering…to make the people in my district go hungry, it’s just not right.”

More remarks on Democrats’ shutdown that hurts SNAP

“This is inappropriate what we are going through right now, and the Senate Democrats picked this fight, but…they have put nothing on the table to even give us a place to start negotiations with…you can’t even say they’re being realistic. They are not at this point.”

“…you can’t backfill that you’re hungry, you can’t backfill and say ‘well, I am going to undo that you were hungry last week.’ That can’t be undone.”

Further discussion with Punchbowl News included topics related to Congressman Griffith’s role as Health Subcommittee Chairman, policies that impact cancer screenings and how America can lead the world in health care innovation.

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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 MSNBC’s All In With Chris Hayes, where he emphasized that Democrats will continue to push back against the extremism being unleashed by Donald Trump and Rubber Stamp Republicans and work to end the Republican government shutdown and healthcare crisis.

CHRIS HAYES: I’m joined now by Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Democrat of New York, the man leading those negotiations for his party. Congressman, first, let me just start at a sort of facts level so I understand where things are. Are there any active negotiations happening between anyone in the two parties in either house of Congress or with the White House about some kind of negotiated deal that would reopen the government?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Unfortunately, Chris, there are no active negotiations, and that’s because Republicans have basically made the decision to shut the government down, to keep it closed, because they’d rather do that than actually provide affordable healthcare to the American people. Now, during this 22-day Trump-Republican shutdown, they found time, Donald Trump, to golf multiple times. He’s found time to demolish the East Wing of the White House so that he can build a ballroom where he can be celebrated as if he was a king. They found time to bail out a right-wing wannabe dictator in Argentina with $40 billion. And Donald Trump, by the way, has also found time to try to rip off the taxpayers by trying to get $230 million from the Department of Injustice. This whole thing is crazy. And I think this is one of the reasons why the American people clearly realize that Democrats—House and Senate Democrats—are fighting to make their life better, fighting to lower the high cost of living and fighting to decisively address the Republican healthcare crisis. And Republicans don’t give a damn about them.

CHRIS HAYES: You mentioned the ballroom, and I want to come back to that in a second. But to stay on the healthcare, I presume you saw that letter from some frontline Republicans. And I couldn’t tell—is this serious? Is this sort of political butt-covering for them? Or if there were a way out of the shutdown, it would be something like that, right? Like some agreement that the first business we take up is extending the subsidies when we come back. Am I misreading that?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, I think our view has been crystal clear from the very beginning that we want to find a bipartisan path forward to enacting a spending agreement that actually meets the needs of the American people, improves their quality of life, as opposed to what we’ve seen from Republicans, particularly as it relates to their One Big Ugly Bill, where they passed legislation to hurt everyday Americans in order to reward their billionaire donors. We want to find a bipartisan path forward, but at the same time have made clear we have to decisively address the Republican healthcare crisis because it is serious. And tens of millions of Americans, many of whom are now receiving notices that their premiums, copays and deductibles are going to skyrocket. In some cases, you will have everyday Americans, these are working-class Americans—more than 90% of the people who receive Affordable Care Act tax credits make about $63,000 a year or less. These are people who may experience premiums that increase by $1000 or $2000 per month. This is unsustainable. And it’s going to happen to people all across the country, particularly in places like West Virginia, Wyoming, Alaska, Tennessee and Mississippi—the five states impacted the most. So this is not a partisan fight for us. This is a real fight to make sure that healthcare can remain affordable for people who will need to be able to see a doctor if they get sick and will be unable to do so if Republicans continue to insist that the Affordable Care Act tax credits expire.

CHRIS HAYES: One more follow up on the Affordable Care Act. What do you say to people who say, look, the subsidies at issue were first passed during COVID as an emergency measure. They have been extended, now it’s 2025. Is there some fundamental failure of the Affordable Care Act or the entire system if absent this kind of band-aid, you’re going to see these sort of price spikes?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, listen, we believe that our healthcare system is broken and it’s in need of comprehensive reform. Republicans, of course, have aggravated that situation in the most extraordinary way and in a variety of ways. Largest cut to Medicaid in American history. Their policies are closing hospitals and nursing homes and community-based health clinics all across the country. Of course, they’re assaulting medical research, have basically shut that down in the country. They want to trigger the largest cut to Medicare at the end of the year, $536 billion. And, of course, this issue with their refusal to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits. Now, initially, it was passed as part of the American Rescue Plan in March of 2021. But it was extended as part of the Inflation Reduction Act—and that was in 2022—because as Democrats, we understood that the American people were experiencing this extraordinary high cost of living in all of the areas and then we need to work hard to bring costs down. And Donald Trump and Republicans, of course, they promised on day one that they were going to lower the high cost of living. Costs aren’t going down. They’re going up. Grocery prices going up. Housing costs going up. Child care going up. And of course, as a result of what they refused to do, healthcare premiums about to skyrocket for tens of millions of Americans. That’s why we need to act. And we need to act now. Not on a wing and a prayer, not on some promise from Republicans who, by the way, Chris, as you know, have tried to repeal the Affordable Care Act more than 70 different times over the last 15 years. We’re not going to trust these people. We need decisive, real, legislative action.

CHRIS HAYES: You mentioned the demolition of the White House in that first answer. And maybe this is a quaint question in this day and age. Is it legal? Like, I really—I think a lot of people are watching this and thinking to themselves, wait a second, how, with no congressional authorization, with raising private funds of a quarter of a billion dollars from who knows who and under what auspices, they’re going to just knock down a building in the White—like, do you think it’s legal what they’re doing?

LEADER JEFFRIES: It’s highly doubtful that it’s legal. We haven’t been able to find any congressional authority for it or any executive authority. And more likely, this is part of what Donald Trump has been doing since day one of his presidency, running the largest pay-to-play scheme in the history of the country, and probably soliciting donations from people who’ve got business before the United States government. And all of this is going to have to be investigated. It will. All of this will have to be uncovered. It will. And these people are going to be held accountable no matter how long it takes. That’s going to be the reality of the situation. And that’s our warning to all of these people participating in this, scheming to manipulate taxpayer dollars and, of course, to destroy the People’s House. The White House belongs to the American people. It doesn’t belong to Donald Trump.

CHRIS HAYES: Final question for you. Like myself, you are a lifelong New Yorker. Early voting in the mayoral election starts on Saturday. Who are you going to vote for for mayor?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, I’m looking forward to catching part of the debate later on this evening as well as weighing in. I am going to weigh in on this situation before early voting. I will say that I thought that Zohran’s decision today reportedly to offer the Police Commissioner position to Jessica Tisch, who’s doing a great job by almost every measure, including in the communities that I represent, was a very positive step forward.

CHRIS HAYES: That’s interesting. That’s more than you’ve given me in the past. We will look for that. House Democratic Leader, Hakeem Jeffries. Thank you very much.

LEADER JEFFRIES: Thank you, Chris.

Full interview can be watched here.

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

CHICAGO — Congressman Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04) issued the following statement on the raids conducted today in Little Village and Cicero, in his district:

“What happened in our community today was state-sponsored terrorism. Masked Gestapo, led by Gregory Bovino, conducted their campaign just a block from my home, and at other locations in Little Village and Cicero. They abducted community members, U.S. Citizens, one of whom is a local elected official, and government staff. Their reckless operatives once again endangered innocent lives with chemical agents, violent aggressions, and high-speed chases through our neighborhoods that ended in yet another car wreck in our streets.

“The Federal Government is assaulting our city and our neighborhoods. For 6 weeks, my community has been the epicenter of this administration’s brutal attacks. Our community is organized, and dozens of courageous civilian members of Rapid Response teams gathered quickly, blowing whistles to alert others to the presence of masked agents. My office is in contact with other local leaders and resistance networks, and we will provide support to identify and assist the people who have been taken. In Chicago, we take care of our own. ¡Chicago se defiende!”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Clay Higgins (R-LA)

LAFAYETTE, LA – Congressman Clay Higgins (R-LA) and Congressman Frank Pallone (D-NJ) re-introduced H.R. 5484, the National Flood Insurance Program Reauthorization Act (NFIP-RE), a bipartisan bill to reform and extend NFIP.

This legislation would reauthorize the program for five years, providing stability and peace of mind for homeowners and small businesses affected by flooding, as well as implementing sweeping reforms to reduce costs and invest in flood mitigation. 

Since being elected, Congressman Higgins has supported reauthorization of the NFIP and called for significant reforms to the program. In addition to his advocacy for a long-term reauthorization and reform bill, Congressman Higgins has also sponsored standalone legislation to extend NFIP during a government shutdown.

Congressman Higgins said, “Hardworking Americans find it increasingly difficult to afford homeowners and flood insurance, especially in South Louisiana. For millions, the NFIP is the only option. However, Risk Rating 2.0 is a flawed methodology and has made flood insurance far too expensive for many Americans. Congress must act to ensure that flood insurance is transparent, attainable, and fair for Americans. My office will continue to fight for a long-term authorization that protects affordability and improves the NFIP for Louisiana residents.”

Groups supporting this legislation include the National League of Cities, the US Conference of Mayors, the National Association of Counties, the American Policyholders Association, Greater New Orleans, Inc., and the Coalition for Sustainable Flood Insurance. Read the full bill text here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Clay Higgins (R-LA)

LAFAYETTE, LA – Congressman Clay Higgins (R-LA) issued a statement in support of the new Louisiana National Guard (LANG) readiness center in Lafayette, LA. 

As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, Congressman Higgins has advocated for and worked to secure Louisiana priorities in the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Congressman Higgins helped secure the authorization of $33 million for the LANG’s readiness center in last year’s NDAA, with construction on the facility beginning earlier this month.

Congressman Higgins said, “The Louisiana National Guard is a crucial component of America’s national security. I’ve been honored to advocate for them on the House Armed Services Committee. Last week’s groundbreaking of the new readiness center in Lafayette marks a proud moment for our community and the state of Louisiana. I’m excited to see the Lafayette readiness center come to fruition, and I will continue to work closely with the Louisiana National Guard to deliver on priorities for our state.”

Congressman Higgins has consistently worked to serve America’s military men and women. Earlier this fall, Congressman Higgins joined a contingent of LANG soldiers on foot patrol in Washington D.C. The deployment was part of President Trump’s effort to restore law and order in the nation’s capital. 

For more information on the Louisiana priorities Congressman Higgins helped secure in last year’s NDAA, visit this page.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Clay Higgins (R-LA)

LAFAYETTE, LA – Congressman Clay Higgins (R-LA) worked with the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) to expedite the transfer of a federal inmate out of the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office’s custody. 

The Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office had been providing exceptional care and security for the federal inmate who was hospitalized in Baton Rouge. The circumstances created a significant difficulty for Iberia Parish, who had been facing bureaucratic complications from BOP in transferring the prisoner. 

In partnership with the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office, Congressman Higgins made contact with the BOP and USMS to facilitate the inmate’s transfer. On October 9, 2025, Congressman Higgins sent BOP Director William Marshall III a letter detailing the situation and requesting the transfer. Read the full letter here.

Congressman Higgins said, “When it comes to keeping the American People safe, Louisiana’s law enforcement consistently performs beyond the highest expectations. For more than a month, the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office used their resources to hold this inmate while the federal government attempted to work through complications related to his transfer. Sheriff Romero and his team operated well beyond their obligations, and I’m glad we’ve corrected the issue. My office works very hard to serve Louisiana constituents and this case required my personal involvement, including meeting with the inmate in the hospital in Baton Rouge.”

Iberia Parish Sheriff Thomas Romero said, “This situation highlights what can be accomplished when local and federal partners work together. I appreciate Congressman Higgins and his team for stepping up to help resolve this issue for our agency and our community.”