MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Judy Chu (CA2-27)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, Rep Judy Chu (CA-28) led 31 Members of Congress in a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Noem and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)Acting Director Lyons demanding answers and accountability regarding the untimely death of Ismael Ayala-Uribe, a 39-year-old resident of Westminster, California, who died while in ICE custody on September 22, 2025, after his repeated pleas for medical care were ignored at the Adelanto ICE Processing Center.

Mr. Ayala-Uribe came to the United States when he was four years old and had lived here his entire life. While detained at Adelanto, he became ill and reported having fever, pain, and worsening symptoms. Yet instead of receiving care, he was dismissed by Adelanto’s medical staff and sent back to his dormitory. For three days, his condition deteriorated without proper treatment. By the time he was finally transported to the hospital, it was too late. At just 39 years old, he died before receiving the surgery that could have saved his life.

“Mr. Ayala-Uribe’s untimely death while in ICE custody was a preventable tragedy. His pleas for help were ignored by those responsible for overseeing his care until it was far too late. This was an inexcusable failure to uphold even the most basic standards of medical care for people in federal custody,” said Rep. Chu. “But what happened to Mr. Ayala-Uribe is sadly not an isolated incident. It reflects a horrific, well-documented pattern of neglect at Adelanto, where detainees have been forced to endure conditions so dangerous and inhumane that they have led to multiple deaths. That’s why we are demanding full transparency and accountability to ensure tragedies like this never happen again.”

The letter presses DHS and ICE for a full accounting of the circumstances surrounding Mr. Ayala-Uribe’s death, including the medical decisions made at Adelanto and what corrective actions are being implemented. The letter also underscores that the Adelanto ICE Processing Center, operated by the GEO Group, has been repeatedly cited for unsafe, unsanitary, and life-threatening conditions. Since January 2025, at least 15 people have died in federal immigration custody, marking a sharp increase from previous years, including during the first Trump administration. For more than a decade, Rep. Chu has called for the closure of Adelanto and continues to urge DHS to immediately shut down the facility, citing the long history of abuse, medical neglect, and human rights violations.

Rep. Chu’s letter was signed by 31 Members of Congress: Reps. Barragán (CA-44); Brownley (CA-26), Carbajal (CA-24), Casar (TX-35), Cisneros (CA-31), Clarke (NY-09), Correa (CA-46), Espaillat (NY-13), Friedman (CA-30), Garamendi (CA-08), García (CA-42), Garcia (IL-04), Goldman (NY-10), Jayapal (WA-07), Johnson (GA-04), Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Lieu (CA-36), McGovern (MA-02), Min (CA-47), Mullin (CA-15), Rivas (CA-29), Sánchez (CA-38), Simon CA-12), Smith (WA-09), Stansbury (NM-01), Takano (CA-39), Tlaib (MI-12), Torres (CA-35), Tran (CA-45), Vargas (CA-52), and Velázquez (NY-07). 

Click here to read the full letter. 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Judy Chu (CA2-27)

PASADENA, CA – Today, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), a NASA Center administered by the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), announced the reduction of its workforce by 550 employees, or approximately 11% of its total staff. This is the third round of layoffs at JPL in the past two years.

Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28) released the following statement:

“I am extremely disappointed and disheartened by the hundreds of JPL layoffs announced today, and my thoughts are with all the impacted workers and their families. These layoffs are an absolute tragedy, especially as they come at a time when our community is still recovering from the Eaton Fire that destroyed thousands of homes and disrupted so many lives and livelihoods just 9 months ago. They also come on the heels of two devastating rounds of layoffs last year of over 850 JPL employees.

This is not only a tragedy for our community, but also an immense loss for our nation. JPL is a national asset that has helped the United States accomplish some of the greatest feats in space and science for decades. Every layoff devastates the highly skilled and uniquely talented workforce that has made these accomplishments possible. Taken together with last year’s layoffs, this will result in an untold loss of scientific knowledge and expertise that threatens the very future of American leadership in space exploration and scientific discovery.

As a steadfast champion of JPL and Caltech, I have been doing everything I can to protect the workforce and fight for full funding for NASA’s programs and missions. I have repeatedly led efforts in Congress pushing for funding for critical missions like Mars Sample Return led by JPL. And as Co-Chair of the Planetary Science Caucus in Congress, I have led bipartisan appropriations requests to demand that Congress fully fund NASA’s Science Mission Directorate and protect all its missions. Most recently, I have been urging Appropriators to include language in any short-term federal funding bill that would explicitly protect NASA’s budget and missions from any cuts. I will continue working tirelessly with my colleagues in Congress of both parties and will never stop fighting to protect our nation’s space program and the expert workforce that makes it all possible.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Judy Chu (CA2-27)

Rep. Chu, who secured passage of historic reforms to prevent military hazing following her nephew’s tragic death, condemned the Department of Defense’s move to weaken safeguards against abuse in the military.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Brad Schneider (D-IL)

LINCOLNSHIRE, IL – Rep. Brad Schneider (IL-10), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and co-chair and co-founder of the Abraham Accords Caucus, released the following statement in response to reports of a peace agreement being reached between Israel and Hamas: 

“For two years since Hamas’s barbaric attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, I have devoted my efforts to the return of the hostages, worked to secure humanitarian aid into and throughout Gaza, and prayed for an end to this horrific war and to the threat of Hamas to the security of Palestinians and Israelis. I am thrilled by the news that a deal has finally been reached and will continue to follow its implementation closely.

“I appreciate the leadership shown by both the Trump and Biden Administrations throughout the war and am grateful for all parties who helped get this deal to completion. My heart remains heavy as we remember the victims of Hamas’s barbaric attack on October 7, 2023, as well as all the civilians in Gaza and Israel who have been devastated by this war. 

“In honor of the innocent lives taken from us, may we all dedicate ourselves to working for a more just, secure and peaceful future for both Israelis and Palestinians alike.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Michael McCaul (10th District of Texas)

WASHINGTON – Ahead of President Trump’s White House meeting with President Zelensky, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Emeritus Michael McCaul (R-Texas) — along with Congressional Ukraine Caucus Co-Chairs Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Penn.), Mike Quigley (D-Ill.), Joe Wilson (R-S.C.), and Caucus Member Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.) — led a letter to President Trump, commending his recent efforts to secure peace in Ukraine and supporting his stated intentions to deliver additional weapons. The letter also calls for new sanctions to be levied against Russia in order to bring Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table and to ensure Russia is held accountable for its abduction of tens of thousands of Ukrainian children.

Additional co-signers are Representatives Don Bacon (R-Neb.), Wesley Bell (D-Mo.), Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.), André Carson (D-Ind.), Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.), Jim Costa (D-Calif.), Danny Davis (D-Ill.), Lois Frankel (D-Fla.), John Garamendi (D-Calif.), Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.), Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), Julie Johnson (D-Texas), Greg Landsman (D-Ohio), Rob Menendez (D-N.J.), Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.), Joe Morelle (D-N.Y.), Johnny Olszewski (D-Md.), Frank Pallone (D-N.J.), Nellie Pou (D-N.J.), Brad Schneider (D-Ill.) and Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.).

Full text of the letter can be found here or below.

Dear President Trump,

We write to applaud your leadership and recent efforts to secure peace in Ukraine. Through your strong actions and statements, America has demonstrated the value of its “peace through strength” approach.

We urge you to allow the sale of new weapons systems to Ukraine, to increase sanctions on Russia, and to hold Russia to account for the kidnapping of Ukrainian children since the start of the war. These steps would significantly strengthen Ukraine’s position, pressuring Russia to accept the peace negotiations that you have diligently pursued. The time for peace in Ukraine is now.

In recent weeks, you stated that Kyiv can “win all of Ukraine back in its original form.” Furthermore, you have indicated your openness to sending Tomahawk weapon systems to Ukraine. Most notably, you have brokered a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas after two prolonged years of war, beginning the “historic dawn of a new Middle East.” Congress and the American people support you in these efforts. As we seek to bring about a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, there are additional steps that can be taken to counter Russia’s ongoing aggression and strengthen Ukraine’s position at the negotiating table.

First, per your recent statements, the United States can provide Ukraine with the weapons it needs to ensure that Russia is brought to the negotiating table. Your calls for the provision of Tomahawk missiles and the intelligence necessary for Ukraine to threaten military targets deep inside Russia would provide Ukraine with an increased ability to deter further aggression. Furthermore, the provision of capabilities including additional Patriot missile batteries and ammunition, F-16 software upgrades, and Advanced Precision Kill Weapons Systems would ensure that Ukrainians can be protected from Russia’s increasingly deadly attacks on population centers and energy infrastructure. Together with large investments from our European allies, these steps would ensure a European-driven defense and reflects a “peace through strength” strategy focused on ending the conflict on terms that uphold Ukraine’s sovereignty and deter future Russian escalation.

Secondly, we are pleased with the progress being made by our European allies, through your partnership and encouragement, to end Europe’s reliance on Russian energy and the enactment of impactful new sanctions against Putin’s regime. The moment is here to levy forceful new joint sanctions against Russia and its allies who continue to purchase Russian oil and, in doing so, uphold the Russian war machine. Legislation to enact such new sanctions has broad support in Congress and we are eager to work with you and your administration to promptly use this powerful tool to bring Putin to the negotiating table.

Lastly, we must also address the ongoing crisis of missing Ukrainian children as this war continues. The recent return of eight Ukrainian children, previously held in Russia, to their families is a welcome and meaningful development. The First Lady’s passionate advocacy calling for their release—through sustained engagement and diplomacy—deserves recognition. Her efforts have helped draw international attention to this urgent issue. We are deeply appreciative of her ongoing commitment to the process of bringing Ukrainian children home. Over 20,000 Ukrainian children remain captive in Russia, and some are being trained to fight for the Russia military against their own country.

Together, we can help ensure that Ukraine—like Israel and Gaza—can pursue peace and security through a negotiated ceasefire and a just resolution to the war. To ensure that Russia can be brought to the table, we request your commitment to the provision of new arms to Ukraine, the implementing of powerful new sanctions against Russia, and the holding of Russia to account for the kidnapping of Ukrainian children since the start of the war.

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

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Betty McCollum (D-Minn.), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, issued the following statement on Thursday after the announcement of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas:

“Just over two years since the October 7 attack, peace in Gaza and Israel may finally be on the horizon. This initial ceasefire agreement is the first step in a long and arduous process of ensuring peace and stability in the region, and a long-awaited reprieve for the civilians in Israel and Gaza. When I first called for a ceasefire on October 17, 2023, I said that a lasting ceasefire requires international agreement. Now that American, Turkish, Qatari, and Egyptian mediators have reached this initial agreement, the difficult work begins as they work together to reach a deal that results in the release of all remaining hostages, the permanent withdrawal of Israeli forces, and an end of Israel’s bombing campaign in Gaza. 

 “Palestinians and Israelis deserve to live in peace. Now, it is time to rebuild Gaza. The international community must rush as much aid as possible to Gaza as quickly as possible, and the U.S. must continue to work with our partners in the region to rapidly bring this war to a close. It is my hope that as we seize this moment of peace, that the rebuilding effort focus on the needs of the people of Gaza and respects the sovereignty of the people of the West Bank. The Palestinian people must have a clear path to achieve freedom and statehood.

 “In war, the wounds sustained by the innocent take the longest to heal. This agreement marks a new day in this conflict, but our work is far from over. The hope of lasting peace can only be realized through cooperation, courage, and commitment to peace. Today, I am thinking of the families who are embracing their formerly captive relatives, those receiving the remains of their deceased relatives, and those who are mourning the loss of their friends, family, and ancestral homes.”

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

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO), Ranking Member of the Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance, released the following statement after the U.S. Senate passed the bipartisan Renewing Opportunity in the American Dream (ROAD) to Housing Act as part of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 National Defense Authorization Act, which includes legislation sponsored by Rep. Cleaver. 

“American families are struggling with the rising cost of housing, healthcare, groceries, utilities, education, and other everyday expenses. However, rent and mortgage costs remain the largest single expense for American households, and a growing number of Americans are burdened by unsustainably high housing costs, with far too many sacrificing necessities, accepting affordable but substandard housing, or entering homelessness.

“I applaud Ranking Member Elizabeth Warren, Chairman Tim Scott, and the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, for working with the Senate to pass the bipartisan ROAD to Housing Act, which will improve housing affordability and boost housing supply. The package includes several bills I have co-written with my Senate colleagues, including key legislation to improve USDA rural housing programs, revitalize HUD housing programs, and incentivize state and local zoning reforms – all of which are necessary to lower housing costs for Missouri families.  

“Americans want a Congress that cooperates, solves problems, and improves their lives. That means fighting when we must but also working together where we can. Housing is not a Democratic or Republican issue, or a rural or urban issue, as all Americans need a home. Young Americans still long for the American Dream of upward mobility through homeownership. As Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance, I will work with my colleagues to ensure much needed and long overdue housing legislation is passed into law during this Congress.”

  

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 – Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II (5th District Missouri)

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) joined U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), along with U.S. Representatives Don Beyer (D-VA), Steny Hoyer (D-MD), and 163 other lawmakers, in urging Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought to follow the law—which president Trump signed in 2019—that requires furloughed federal employees to receive back pay during a government shutdown. Despite this explicit law, President Trump and Director Vought have continued to bully and target our dedicated federal workforce, including by threatening to illegally withhold back pay after the shutdown ends. In a bipartisan letter to Director Vought, the lawmakers underscore that the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019, which was passed and signed into law during the last shutdown under President Trump, is clear that all federal employees, whether they are excepted or furloughed, are entitled to back pay after a government shutdown ends. There are more than 30,000 federal workers that reside in Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District.

“During the 2018-2019 shutdown, we worked with President Trump to enact the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act (GEFTA) of 2019, the intent of which is clear – federal employees are entitled to retroactive pay in the event of a government shutdown. We applauded President Trump for signing this bipartisan bill into law,” the members wrote.

“The law is clear: all impacted government employees, regardless of excepted or furloughed status, are entitled to back pay after a government shutdown ends, which is consistent with the guidance currently provided by federal agencies, including the Office of Personnel Management (OPM),” the members wrote. “OPM’s shutdown guidance from September 2025 still states that furloughed federal workers will be provided back pay once the government reopens.”

The members continued, “The decision by OMB to remove critical guidance on federal employee back pay is causing unnecessary stress for the federal workforce comprised of nearly 2.2 million employees.”

“We request you immediately clarify and update the Frequently Asked Questions During a Lapse in Appropriations Document and other relevant materials to affirm that furloughed employees will receive back pay, as is required by law,” the members concluded. 

In addition to Cleaver, Kaine, Murkowski, Beyer, and Hoyer, the letter is cosigned by U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Mark Warner (D-VA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Angus King (I-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ed Markey (D-MA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Rev. Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR). It is also cosigned by U.S. Representatives Alma Adams (D-NC-12), Gabe Amo (D-RI-01), Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ-03), Jake Auchincloss (D-MA-04), Becca Balint (D-VT-AL), Wesley Bell (D-MO-01), Ami Bera (D-CA-06), Sanford Bishop (D-GA-02), Shontel Brown (D-OH-11), Julia Brownley (D-CA-26), Nikki Budzinski (D-IL-13), Janelle Bynum (D-OR-05), André Carson (D-IN-07), Greg Casar (D-TX-35), Ed Case (D-HI-01), Sean Casten (D-IL-06), Kathy Castor (D-FL-14), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL-20), Judy Chu (D-CA-28), Yvette Clarke (D-NY-09), Jim Costa (D-CA-21), Angie Craig (D-MN-02), Danny Davis (D-IL-07), Madeleine Dean (D-PA-04), Diana DeGette (D-CO-01), Suzan DelBene (D-WA-01), Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA-10), Maxine Dexter (D-OR-03), Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX-37), Sarah Elfreth (D-MD-03), Veronica Escobar (D-TX-16), Dwight Evans (D-PA-03), Shomari Figures (D-AL-02), Lizzie Fletcher (D-TX-07), Bill Foster (D-IL-11), Lois Frankel (D-FL-22), John Garamendi (D-CA-08), Jesús García (D-IL-04), Robert Garcia (D-CA-42), Sylvia Garcia (D-TX-29), Dan Goldman (D-NY-10), Jimmy Gomez (D-CA-34), Maggie Goodlander (D-NH-02), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ-05), Jahana Hayes (D-CT-05), Pablo Hernández (D-PR-01), Steven Horsford (D-NV-04), Val Hoyle (D-OR-4), Glenn Ivey (D-MD-04), Jonathan Jackson (D-IL-01), Sara Jacobs (D-CA-51), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA-07), Hank Johnson (D-GA-04), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA-37), Bill Keating (D-MA-09), Robin Kelly (D-IL-02), Greg Landsman (D-OH-01), John Larson (D-CT-01), Summer Lee (D-PA-12), Susie Lee (D-NV-03), Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-NM-03), Mike Levin (D-CA-49), Ted Lieu (D-CA-36), Stephen Lynch (D-MA-08), Doris Matsui (D-CA-07), Lucy McBath (D-GA-06), Sarah McBride (D-DE-AL), April McClain Delaney (D-MD-06), Jennifer McClellan (D-VA-04), Betty McCollum (D-MN-04), James McGovern (D-MA-02), LaMonica McIver (D-NJ-10), Robert Menendez (D-NJ-08), Grace Meng (D-NY-06), Kweisi Mfume (D-MD-07), Dave Min (D-CA-47), Gwen Moore (D-WI-04), Joe Morelle (D-NY-25), Seth Moulton (D-MA-06), Frank Mrvan (D-IN-01), Kevin Mullin (D-CA-15), Jerry Nadler (D-NY-12), Joe Neguse (D-CO-02), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC-AL), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY-14), Johnny Olszewski (D-MD-02), Ilhan Omar (D-MN-05), Frank Pallone (D-NJ-06), Chris Pappas (D-NH-01), Brittany Pettersen (D-CO-07), Mark Pocan (D-WI-02), Mike Quigley (D-IL-05), Delia Ramirez (D-IL-03), Emily Randall (D-WA-06), Jamie Raskin (D-MD-08), Luz Rivas (D-CA-29), Deborah Ross (D-NC-02), Raul Ruiz (D-CA-25), Andrea Salinas (D-OR-06), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA-05), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09), Brad Schneider (D-IL-10), Hillary Scholten (D-MI-03), Bobby Scott (D-VA-03), Terri Sewell (D-AL-07), Brad Sherman (D-CA-32), Lateefah Simon (D-CA-12), Adam Smith (D-WA-09), Marilyn Strickland (D-WA-10), Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA-10), Tom Suozzi (D-NY-03), Eric Swalwell (D-CA-14), Emilia Sykes (D-OH-13), Mark Takano (D-CA-39), Mike Thompson (D-CA-04), Dina Titus (D-NV-01), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI-12), Jill Tokuda (D-HI-02), Paul Tonko (D-NY-20), Ritchie Torres (D-NY-15), Derek Tran (D-CA-45), Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14), Juan Vargas (D-CA-52), Gabe Vasquez (D-NM-02), Nydia Velázquez (D-NY-07), Eugene Vindman (D-VA-07), James Walkinshaw (D-VA-11), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL-25), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ-12), Nikema Williams (D-GA-05), and Frederica Wilson (D-FL-24).

The official letter from lawmakers 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 – Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II (5th District Missouri)

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) called on the administration to immediately renew grant funding obligated for Head Start programs in Jackson, Clay, and Platte counties in western Missouri. While Head Start programs have operated as normal during the federal shutdown, the grant recipient, Mid-America Regional Council (MARC), has not yet received the necessary Notice of Award to continue grant funding after October 31.  The Health and Human Services Department (HHS), which oversees Head Start, has also experienced numerous staffing cuts since the start of the year, as well as a recent effort to fire almost 1,000 employees at HHS, including almost 50 at the Administration of Children and Families.

“I am writing today regarding the Mid-America Regional Council (MARC), a current grant recipient and administrator of funds for the Head Start program in the 5th Congressional District. I have serious and urgent concern regarding the lapse in the Notification of Award for the upcoming program period,” Congressman Cleaver wrote. “Without this notice, MARC cannot incur any expenses for Head Start after October 31, unless there is certainty of reimbursement.”

“This means that over 2300 children enrolled in Head Start programs in the three-county area will be without funding and services on November 1. It also jeopardizes staff retention, family engagement and the developmental support that is provided to children enrolled in Head Start programs,” Congressman Cleaver continued. 

“I am respectfully requesting clarification on the status of Notification of Award and any available guidance for MARC regarding next steps in the grant award notification process. I greatly appreciate your attention to this matter and your continued support of early childhood programs that serve some of the 5th Congressional District’s most vulnerable residents,” Congressman Cleaver concluded.

In Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District, Head Start serves more than 2,300 children and employs 500 people. The program also enables the employment of parents by providing free/low-cost childcare, prenatal care for expecting mothers, and in-home services. Among Kansas City’s Head Start parents, 1,351 are employed, 169 are in training programs, and 168 are enrolled in school.

Earlier this year, Congressman Cleaver condemned the proposed cuts to the Head Start program and called on the administration to protect Head Start funding, which has served nearly 40 million children since its start in 1965. 

The official letter from Congressman Cleaver 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 – Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II (5th District Missouri)

(Washington, D.C.) – This week, U.S. Representatives Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) and Sean Casten, along with 35 other House Democrats, called on the president to end the reckless tariff policies that are devastating American soybean farmers across the country. In a letter to the president, the lawmakers highlighted the significant negative economic impact of his tariffs on soybean farmers and urged the president to immediately terminate them before more harm is done.

Soybeans are Missouri’s largest commodity crop, with over five million acres dedicated to soybeans each year, providing $2.5 billion in economic value. In addition to levying harmful tariffs, the administration also shut down a major soybean research project earlier this year.

“Soybeans are the backbone of American agriculture, contributing over $31 billion to the U.S. economy during the 2023-2024 crop year. In 2024, China purchased more than half of all U.S. soybean exports, amounting to $12.6 billion,” the lawmakers wrote. “However, in response to the tariffs you imposed earlier this year, China levied retaliatory tariffs on U.S. imports and has halted all U.S. soybean purchases since May. As a result, American farmers are at risk of becoming collateral damage in your trade war.”

The United States’ largest soybean trading partner has not purchased soybeans since May due to President Trump’s tariffs and has instead chosen to buy soybeans from Brazil and Argentina. At the same time, President Trump and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent recently announced that the Administration would provide $20 billion in taxpayer money to bail out Argentina, which further endangers the U.S. soybean industry by providing financial support to a leading American competitor.

These actions threaten the long-term access to foreign markets for U.S. producers. The value of U.S. soybean exports to China never fully recovered after the U.S. tariff war with China in President Trump’s first term, when the value of U.S. soybean exports to China plunged from $14 billion in 2016 to $3.1 billion in 2018. At the same time the soybean markets are under threat, farmers are being hit with higher input costs from Trump’s tariff war.

In addition to Reps. Cleaver and Casten, the letter was signed by Reps. Alma Adams (D-NC), Shontel Brown (D-OH), André Carson (D-IN), Troy Carter (D-LA), Jim Clyburn (D-SC), Angie Craig (D-MN), Danny Davis (D-IL), Cleo Fields (D-LA), Bill Foster (D-TN), Sylvia Garcia (D-TX), Jonathan Jackson (D-NC), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Robin Kelly (D-IL), Ro Khanna (D-CA), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Greg Landsman (D-OH), Sarah McBride (D-DE), Jennifer McClellan (D-VA), Betty McCollum (D-MN), Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-MI), Morgan McGarvey (D-KY), Kelly Morrison (D-MN), Jerry Nadler (D-NY), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Mike Quigley (D-IL), Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Brad Schneider (D-IL), Bobby Scott (D-VA), Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA), Eric Swalwell (D-MA), Bennie Thompson (D-MS), Lauren Underwood (D-IL), and Marc Veasey (D-TX).

The official letter from lawmakers 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.