MIL USHOR-2b Engine

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

Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries held a press conference, where he emphasized that House Democrats remain focused on ending the Republican healthcare crisis, extending the Affordable Care Act tax credits and lowering the high cost of living. 

LEADER JEFFRIES: Donald Trump’s presidency has been a disaster. He’s deeply unpopular, and Republicans have failed the American people on the economy. The cost of living in the United States of America is completely and totally out of control. Republicans promised to lower the high cost of living on day one. Costs have not gone down, they’ve gone up. Housing costs are up. Electricity bills through the roof. Childcare costs up. Insurance costs up. And Republicans continue to refuse to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits. And as a result of that, tens of millions of Americans are about to experience dramatically-increased health insurance costs such that they will be unable to go see a doctor when they need one.

The Affordable Care Act tax credits expire on December 31st. Donald Trump and Republicans don’t give a damn. They’ve done nothing to deal with the healthcare crisis that Republicans have created. We need to act with urgency now and extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits. Tens of millions of people are in open enrollment right now. They’ve seen that their health insurance premiums, copays and deductibles are going to increase in some instances by $1,000 or $2,000 per month. That is unacceptable, unsustainable and it’s un-American.

It’s time for my Republican colleagues to stop burying their heads in the sand and do something to actually make life better for working-class Americans, everyday Americans and middle-class Americans, as opposed to what Republicans have done the entirety of this year, which is just to focus on making life better for the wealthy, the well-off and the well-connected. Enough pandering to big Republican donors. Enough. Do something. Partner with Democrats to lower the high cost of living and to make life better for the American people.

Full press conference can be watched here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green Ohio)

Today, Congressman Bob Latta (OH-5), Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Energy, announced that the House of Representatives has passed his Researching Efficient Federal Improvements for Necessary Energy Refining (REFINER) Act to help increase energy refining capacity in the United States.

Over the last several years, North America lost an estimated one million barrels of fuel per day due to low refining capacity. The REFINER Act would address this crisis by collecting critical information, including identifying factors leading to low refining capacity, and presenting lawmakers with recommendations to expand refining capacity to ensure an abundance of affordable and reliable energy in the United States. 

“As energy demand grows, we have to ensure our refining capacity grows with it to maintain America’s energy dominance. The REFINER Act will provide the data and insight needed to guide decisions that reinforce our energy infrastructure and help keep fuel costs low for American families. I thank my House colleagues for supporting and passing my bill and urge my colleagues in the Senate to pass this legislation as soon as possible,” Latta said.

“By unleashing American energy, House Republicans are leading the way to support our nation’s energy security, strengthen our grid, and lower prices for hard-working families. The REFINER Act will help to ensure our refineries are being used effectively to produce the oil, gas, and other critical feedstocks we rely upon while the Unlocking our Domestic LNG Potential Act expands American energy production and infrastructure by removing U.S. LNG export restrictions, which the Biden-Harris Administration politicized and abused,” said Brett Guthrie, Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Background on the REFINER Act: 
The REFINER Act would require the National Petroleum Council to submit a report to the Secretary of Energy and Congress, detailing:  

• the role of petrochemical refineries in the U.S. and the contribution they make to the energy security of the United States, including the reliability of supply in the U.S. of liquid fuels and feedstocks, and the affordability of liquid fuels for consumers in the U.S.;  
• analyses and projections for the capacity of petrochemical refineries in the U.S., opportunities for expanding capacity, and current risks to the refineries;  
• an assessment of any Federal or State executive actions, regulations, or policies that have caused or contributed to a decline in refining capacity; and  
• any recommendations for Federal agencies and Congress to encourage an increase in refining capacity. 

Congressman Latta spoke on the House floor in support of his bill, watch here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Donald Norcross (1st District of New Jersey)

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Donald Norcross (D-NJ) voted to release all unclassified records, documents, communications, and investigative materials in the Department of Justice’s possession that relate to the investigation and prosecution of Jeffrey Epstein.

“After the Trump Administration attempted to block this vote at every turn, House Democrats had to invoke a rarely used procedural motion to guarantee that the House of Representatives would vote on releasing the Epstein Files. Today, after working to bring this bill to the floor, I will be voting yes to release these files,” said Congressman Donald Norcross. “Epstein’s victims deserve justice, and his accomplices must be held accountable for their horrific crimes. The American people deserve to know the truth. In Congress, I’m working to hold these despicable abusers accountable, no matter how powerful or well-connected they are.”

Earlier this year, House Republicans voted to effectively block a debate on whether or not the Department of Justice should release the Epstein files. Last week, the House Oversight Committee released alarming new emails about convicted child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein and his accomplices.

Congressman Norcross joined 217 of his Congressional colleagues in signing a discharge petition to force a vote in the House of Representatives on releasing all documents related to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation. The discharge petition is a procedural motion that allows Members of Congress to bypass the Speaker of the House and send a bill to the House floor for a vote.  

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Donald Norcross (1st District of New Jersey)

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Congressman Donald Norcross (NJ-01) and Congressman Herb Conaway (NJ-03), Members of the House Armed Services Committee, announced that they received a response letter from the Department of Homeland Security after requesting more information on the Trump Administration’s intent to house undocumented immigrants at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. The letter states that there is currently no approved construction plan or timeline for housing undocumented immigrants at the joint base.

“The Trump Administration’s ongoing disregard for due process and humane treatment of undocumented immigrants has required us to press repeatedly for answers and fulfill our congressional oversight responsibilities,” the lawmakers said. “While we acknowledge that the Department of Homeland Security has finally responded to our questions, we will continue to monitor for any further developments regarding plans to house undocumented immigrants at the joint base. Our priority is to uphold the human rights standards that these individuals deserve and to ensure that plans to house undocumented immigrants at the joint base do not interfere with military readiness. We will continue to keep a close watch on any changes to this proposal.”

After learning about the Trump Administration’s intent to house undocumented immigrants at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, the Congressmen visited the joint base to conduct their congressional duty of oversight and sent a letter to Secretary Hegseth, Secretary Noem, and Acting Director Lyons, demanding clarification and expressing opposition to the plan. The deadline for the federal agencies to respond to the letter was August 15, 2025.

On September 29, the Members received a letter from Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and Hemispheric Affairs, M. Roosevelt Ditlevson, in response to the letter they sent to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth in July. The letter can be read here.

Although the response letter from Department of Homeland Security Secretary, Kristi Noem, was postmarked for September 29^th, the Members did not receive the letter until November 17^th. The letter can be read here.

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

November 20, 2025 | Press ReleasesWASHINGTON — U.S. Representatives Greg Steube (R-Fla.) and Daniel Webster (R-Fla.) introduced today the Helping Everyone Access Long Term Healthcare (HEALTH) Act. This bill would establish a tax deduction for physicians that provide charity care to CHIP and Medicaid-eligible patients. “We are blessed to live in a country with thousands of doctors and physicians who give back to their communities,” said Rep. Steube. “My HEALTH Act will honor their contributions by creating a tax deduction for the charity care they provide to lower-income families and children. Not only will this reaffirm our country’s support for those who give back, but it will expand access to quality healthcare for families in need.”“This bill helps more Americans have access to the care they need, from the doctor they choose, at a price they can afford,” said Rep. Webster. “The HEALTH Act offers a new solution to provide healthcare services to low-income families and has the potential to help Medicaid and CHIP programs save on costs. This legislation allows doctors and other healthcare professionals to provide pro-bono healthcare services to low-income individuals, including children in the CHIP programs, in exchange for a simple tax deduction.”The HEALTH Act has the support of the Association of Mature American Citizens.
“AMAC Action proudly supports the HEALTH Act, a policy first developed by AMAC’s late founder Dan Weber, which allows physicians to deduct pro bono care for CHIP and Medicaid-eligible patients. This commonsense reform gives American citizensaccess to timely primary care and also supports physicians who struggle with the complexity of the Medicaid and CHIP reimbursement systems, relieving pressure on emergency rooms and strengthening care in the communities where it is needed most.AMAC Action commends Representatives Webster and Steube for their leadership in reducing costs and increasing access to quality healthcare.” —Rebecca Weber, Chairwoman, AMAC Action Background: The HEALTH Act creates a tax deduction for medical professionals that provide charity care for patients eligible for CHIP and Medicaid. Sex reassignment surgeries, hormone treatments, and other gender alteration procedures are excluded from this deduction. Read the full bill text here.

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

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (7th District of Washington)

Washington, D.C. (November 20, 2025)—Today, Rep. Jamie Raskin, Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, Rep. Pramila Jayapal, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement, Sen. Dick Durbin, Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Sen. Alex Padilla, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Border Security and Immigration, issued the following statement after Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. refused to meet their legal obligation to consult with Congress on the Administration’s refugee admissions plan—sending deputies to stage a charade consultation instead:

“51 days after the legal deadline, the Trump Administration today came to Capitol Hill in response to our monthslong bipartisan demands that they follow the law and consult with Congress on their refugee admissions plan.

“It is outrageous that Secretaries Noem, Rubio, and Kennedy were too cowardly to come before us and explain their shocking decision to abandon nearly 130,000 vetted, approved refugees facing persecution and violence abroad. Instead they sent their deputies, in brazen violation of the law which explicitly requires a consultation by ‘Cabinet-level representatives of the President.’

“The Trump Secretaries ignored their legal obligations to face us because their policy is indefensible. It is impossible to defend leaving desperate families—men, women, and children who were promised a lifeline—twisting in the winds of global violence. It is impossible to justify a policy that abandons America’s historic commitment to offering safe harbor to the persecuted. Trump’s team has slashed refugee admissions to the lowest level in our nation’s history and reserved the bulk of the few remaining slots for white South African Afrikaners. They didn’t show up because their betrayal is unspeakable.

“The U.S. Refugee Resettlement program has always been a bipartisan matter of pride for our country, and a critically important tool in our toolbox for achieving multiple goals that are critically important to American interests. The destruction of the program will hurt our humanitarian and diplomatic efforts for decades to come. 

“After months of evasion, diversion, and invoking the Republican shutdown as an alibi, the Administration thought they’d pacify us with more disrespect for the law. They were sorely mistaken.

“The Secretaries couldn’t be bothered to come to Congress today, but they should at least learn the route: they’ll be spending plenty of time here when Democrats retake the gavel.”

Issues: Immigration

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jared Huffman Representing the 2nd District of California

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

Bicameral Resolution Would Designate Nov. 20 – Dec. 20 as National Survivors of Homicide Victims Awareness Month

Resolution Text (PDF)

WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) and Senator Edward J. Markey (D-MA) reintroduced a bicameral Congressional resolution to honor families and survivors of homicide victims by establishing November 20 – December 20 as National Survivors of Homicide Victims Awareness Month. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts currently recognizes these dates as Survivors of Homicide Victims Awareness Month, and in 2022, the Boston City Council passed an ordinance led by Councilor At-Large Julia Mejia in support of Rep. Pressley’s resolution at the federal level. The Congressional resolution was first unveiled in 2022.

“The more than 22,000 lives stolen annually to homicide are not just numbers—they represent the loved ones, families, and communities who are still healing and struggling to navigate life after immense loss,” said Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley. “Our National Survivors of Homicide Victims Awareness Month Resolution commits to ending gun violence, centers the experiences of survivors of homicide victims nationwide, and meets them with the dignity and compassion they deserve. I’m grateful to Senator Markey and the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute for their partnership.”

“The epidemic of gun violence continues to plague our nation. It affects every American — regardless of age, race, or political affiliation — inflicting lasting trauma on communities, on families, and on survivors of homicide victims,” said Senator Markey. “This important resolution establishes the National Survivors of Homicide Victims Awareness Month to further amplify the incredible efforts of survivors and advocates who work every single day to advance healing and justice. I am proud to partner with Representative Pressley and the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute to support the families and communities who have been hurt by senseless acts of gun violence.”

Notably, for every one homicide victim, there is an average of 10 surviving family members who suffer their loss in the aftermath of homicide. The resolution seeks to promote awareness of the intergenerational, traumatic, and lasting impacts of gun violence on families and broader communities. The resolution specifically:

1. Encourages support for survivors of homicide victims, including families, schools, and communities, with support services, information, and research to better address the needs of families and communities severely impacted by violence and to consider ways to improve access to, and the quality of, mental health services for survivors of homicide victims.
2. Calls on the people of the United States, interest groups, and affected persons to take an active role in the fight to end gun violence and homicide; to respond to all families suffering in the aftermath of homicide with consistency, compassion, competence and centering the principles of love, unity, faith, hope, courage, justice, and forgiveness; and to observe National Survivors of Homicide Victims Awareness Month with appropriate activities.

The resolution is supported by the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute, a healing and trauma support center based in Dorchester, Massachusetts, focused on caring for families and communities impacted by murder, trauma, grief, and loss.

“We are grateful to Congresswoman Pressley and Senator Markey for their leadership in listening to, and aligning public policy with, the needs of survivors of homicide victims. We have long known that when survivors speak, change happens, and a federal resolution recognizing a national Survivors of Homicide Victims Awareness Month amplifies and reaffirms our shared commitment to helping crime victims and their families seek justice and healing. Working within communities to truly hear what survivors are saying, to honor the dignity of every life lost, and to prevent further cycles of violence, makes our nation stronger, more compassionate, and more just.” – Louis D. Brown Peace Institute

A copy of the resolution can be found here.

Congresswoman Pressley is a long-time champion for gun violence prevention and supporting those experiencing trauma. She currently serves as a member of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force and she helped pass  H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019, and H.R. 1112, the Enhanced Background Checks Act – two long-overdue, bipartisan gun violence prevention bills.

Throughout her career, Congresswoman Pressley has been a strong advocate for trauma-conscious policymaking.  In February 2023, she celebrated the passage of her Post-Disaster Mental Health Response Act, bicameral legislation to expand mental health support for survivors of natural disasters and terrorist attacks that are designated emergency declarations by FEMA. It was signed into law by President Biden in December 2022.

In June 2022, Rep. Pressley applauded the House’s passage of gun violence prevention legislation, the Protect Our Kids Act and the Federal Extreme Risk Protection Order Act. In a House Oversight and Committee meeting, Congresswoman Pressley called for meaningful policy action to combat the uniquely American gun violence epidemic and rejected suggestions by Republican lawmakers that arming teachers and funding more school police is the answer to ending mass shootings. 

In June 2021, Rep. Pressley reintroduced the STRONG Support for Children Act, her landmark legislation that takes a holistic and community-based approach to addressing the growing crisis of childhood trauma. 

In March 2021, Rep. Pressley sent a letter to President Biden calling on him to address the nation’s growing trauma crisis and laying out a series of steps the administration should take to confront the far-reaching hurt plaguing our communities and our nation.  In April, she published an op-ed where she reflected on the collective pain experienced by communities in her district over the past year. 

In July 2019, Rep. Pressley worked with Chairman Cummings to convene the first-ever Congressional hearings on childhood trauma.  Watch Congresswoman Pressley’s full question line and follow-up questions here and here. 

As a Boston City Councilor, she convened the Council’s first-ever listening-only session to hear directly from those impacted by the trauma of community gun violence.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Joaquin Castro (20th District of Texas)

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