MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Al Green (TX-9)

(Houston, TX)—Today, Congressman Al Green released the following statement condemning the recent attack on Congresswoman Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, warning that the escalating actions and rhetoric of the DHS and ICE under the Trump administration have created a dangerous climate that threatens public safety and democratic norms. Congressman Green addressed this issue on the floor of the House on January 9, 2026, wherein he stated that he fears for the lives of the American people and his own. You can access his remarks by clicking here. 

Congressman Al Green stated, “I strongly condemn the attack on Congresswoman Omar. The harmful policies and rhetoric stemming from ICE and the DHS under the Trump administration, which continues to disseminate falsehoods that fuel hatred and foster invidious discrimination, have resulted in chaos on our streets and multiple deaths. This escalation in harmful conduct and rhetoric has resulted in a Member of Congress being physically attacked. Violence is unacceptable, and federal agencies, as well as the President, must be held accountable when their actions and rhetoric endanger lives and undermine our democracy.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman John Moolenaar (4th District of Michigan)

Headline: Moolenaar, Slotkin, Bergman, & Peters Secure National Drone Testing Site for Michigan

Today, the Department of Defense announced that the National All-Domain Warfighting Center (NADWC) in Michigan as a national unmanned aerial systems testing site. Congressmen John Moolenaar and Jack Bergman, and Senators Elissa Slotkin and Gary Peters helped secure the designation from the Department of Defense. 

“Michigan is ready to lead the nation in drone innovation, testing, and manufacturing,” said Moolenaar. “Today’s announcement is an important step forward as we reenergize Michigan’s defense manufacturing industry. It will harness Michigan’s private sector innovators, manufacturing expertise, and advanced training facilities to help strengthen our national security.” 

“When it comes to the next chapter of American defense innovation, I’m betting on Michigan,” said Slotkin. “From the assembly line to advanced manufacturing, our state has always stepped up. Today, as drones reshape our national security, Michigan’s selection as a national drone testing site further solidifies our state as the center of this transformation. Michigan is the proof that cutting-edge defense technology can be designed, tested, and built with American supply chains, right here at home.” 

“Unmanned aerial systems are now a critical component of modern warfighting,” said Bergman. “I’m proud that Northern Michigan’s defense assets will play a key role in ensuring our Service Members can test and refine the most advanced unmanned aerial technologies. The unique geography and unparalleled capabilities of the National All Domain Warfighting Center are truly world-class, and it is encouraging to see the Department of War fully recognize the potential of NADWC and the surrounding region. I look forward to continuing our partnership to ensure our warfighters have access to the best systems and training anywhere in the world.” 

“Drones play an integral role in modern-day warfare, and the National All-Domain Warfighting Center in Northern Michigan is an ideal training ground to test these technologies and help ensure we maintain our air superiority around the world,” said Peters. “I was proud to work alongside our Michigan delegation to push key Department of Defense officials and secure this new designation, which will only further cement Michigan as a key asset of our national defense strategy into the future.” 

NADWC, the largest joint training range east of the Mississippi River, spans nearly 150,000 acres and 17,000 square miles of special use airspace, providing year-round multi-domain drone testing.
 
  

### 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Suzanne Bonamici (1st District Oregon)

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden today led a letter with U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley and U.S. Reps. Suzanne Bonamici, Andrea Salinas, Janelle Bynum and Maxine Dexter demanding the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) withdraw its federal agents from Portland and stop inflicting violence on the American people in Oregon, Minnesota and nationwide.  

The letter from the Oregon lawmakers to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem comes after the federal forces deployed by the Trump administration unleashed harmful chemical munitions and life-threatening projectiles this past weekend in Portland on Oregonians exercising their First Amendment rights in broad daylight.  

“DHS agents indiscriminately launched tear gas, pepper balls, rubber bullets, and flash-bang grenades into a peaceful and planned gathering of labor groups, including nurses, teachers, and their families. We and our constituents watched in horror as federal agents aggressively tear-gassed children and elderly members of the community,” the lawmakers wrote. “The chemicals and projectiles used by your agents also threatened the health and safety of nearby residents.  These people presented no threat, violated no law, and posed no danger to federal agents.  Attacking our communities is not law enforcement: it is a blatant suppression of people’s constitutional rights.  No lawful justification exists for such reckless and excessive use of force.  We firmly oppose the actions of federal agents using deadly force against the very people they are sworn to protect and serve, and so should you.” 

Wyden, Merkley, Bonamici, Salinas, Bynum and Dexter said in their letter to Noem that her department’s continued violent suppression of free speech has led directly to the murder of two U.S. citizens in broad daylight in Minneapolis, and the reckless conduct of federal agents has led to the deaths of countless immigrants in DHS custody.  

“We have every reason to believe your continued lawless, paramilitary operations on our streets will be deadly for Oregonians,” they wrote. “This administration lacks any legal basis to continue its failed campaign of inciting violence in our communities, whether in Oregon, Minnesota, or anywhere else in America.  Your violence has already wounded and killed too many people in U.S. cities.  Therefore as elected representatives who swore the same oath you did to uphold the Constitution, we demand you immediately end using excessive force against our communities and withdraw your federal agents from Oregon.” 

“The Oregon congressional delegation will use every tool at our disposal to protect all community members, who deserve to feel and be safe,” the Oregon lawmakers concluded. “No one in our community should live in fear of federal agents attacking them on their streets as punishment for exercising their constitutional rights.  We will do everything in our power to defend the rights of Oregonians, including our immigrant communities, and we will work with our state and local community leaders, and partners across the nation, to continue peacefully countering the Trump administration’s lawless abuse of power.” 

The entire letter is here.

 

A web version of this release is here.

 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Josh Harder (CA-10)

FREEDOM Act delivers faster review, new permit protections, and enforcement mechanisms to unleash American energy

 

WASHINGTON – Today, Rep. Josh Harder (CA-09) led the bipartisan introduction of tech-neutral legislation to deliver permitting certainty across the energy industry. Led with Reps. Mike Lawler (NY-17), Adam Gray (CA-13), Chuck Edwards (NC-11), and Don Bacon (NE-02), the Fighting for Reliable Energy and Ending Doubt for Open Markets (FREEDOM) Act expedites judicial review, creates new protections for fully-permitted projects, establishes enforceable deadlines, and mandates de-risking programs and compliance reporting.

Energy projects face catastrophic financial losses from permit revocations, unreasonable agency delays, and yearslong processing times, even after sponsors invest millions based on approvals. This regulatory uncertainty deters critical infrastructure investment across all energy technologies and undermines America’s energy security. Harder, who serves as Chair of the bipartisan Build America Caucus, has been leading calls to establish long-term permitting certainty in the energy industry and protect critical projects from political attacks.

“Working families across the country are facing soaring energy prices because we’ve made it too hard to build new energy projects,” said Rep. Harder. “The FREEDOM Act delivers the smart, pro-growth certainty that critical energy projects desperately need by cutting delays, fast-tracking approvals, and holding federal agencies accountable. This is a common sense solution that will mean more energy projects being brought online in the short term and lower energy costs for our families for the long run.”

How the FREEDOM Act delivers tech-neutral permitting certainty:

• Faster Review and Enforcement – Empowers project sponsors to file court petitions with expedited review and limits non-project sponsors from extended legal challenges.
• Permit Protections – Federal agencies cannot revoke permits, issue stop-work orders, or halt construction on fully permitted projects that do not meet a narrow set of extreme circumstances.
• Consequences for Delays – Non-negotiable timelines that, when missed by agencies, empower project sponsors to hire qualified contractors to complete administrative work at no cost to the project.
• Loss Protections – Insurance-style program under the Department of Energy (DOE) to protect developers from losses due to federal actions or inaction.
• Compliance Reporting – Mandatory GAO reporting to Congress 180 days and annually on agency deadline compliance, unfair treatment, and industry success.

“America’s energy security depends on our ability to build critical infrastructure efficiently and responsibly,” said Rep. Lawler. “The FREEDOM Act cuts through regulatory delays that have stalled vital energy projects across the country. By establishing clear timelines and accountability for federal agencies, this legislation protects investments, creates jobs, and ensures NY-17 can power its future with reliable, affordable energy.”

“Projects in my district are being held up by a dysfunctional permitting system that takes years to process simple applications,” said Rep. Gray. “It’s long over-due for Congress to act. I am proud to co-lead the bipartisan FREEDOM Act with Reps. Harder, Bacon, and Lawler to ensure America can build reliable infrastructure, quickly.”

“Energy projects should not face years of uncertainty that undermine our energy security after sponsors have invested millions by following the rules and securing permits,” said Rep. Bacon. “I’m pleased to co-lead the bipartisan FREEDOM Act to bring common-sense timelines, protect permitted investments, and ensure the permitting process is fair, predictable, and applied equally.”

“Both parties have watched administrations weaponize the permitting process against disfavored energy sources,” said Thomas Hochman, Director of Energy & Infrastructure Policy at the Foundation for American Innovation. “The FREEDOM Act would fix that, creating a level playing field so that energy technologies succeed or fail based on their merits, rather than politics.”

“NOIA strongly supports bipartisan efforts like the FREEDOM Act, which delivers enforceable permitting deadlines, robust protections for fully permitted projects, expedited judicial review, and a de-risking compensation program to provide certainty and decision durability for all forms of offshore energy development, including oil and gas, offshore wind, carbon capture and storage, ocean mineral exploration, and emerging technologies,” said National Ocean Industries Association President Erik Milito. “We commend Representatives Josh Harder, Mike Lawler, Adam Gray, and Don Bacon for their leadership in advancing this critical legislation, which limits delays, safeguards investments from revocations or inaction, and ensures fair treatment across energy sources. By establishing predictable timelines, accountability mechanisms, and financial safeguards, efforts like the FREEDOM Act are essential to restoring investor confidence, unlocking capital, accelerating offshore infrastructure development, and building the all-of-the-above energy future America needs for security, economic growth, and affordability.”

The Build America Caucus has been working around the clock and across the aisle to build momentum around passing comprehensive permitting reform. In December, the Caucus hosted a permitting roundtable with Utah Gov. Spencer Cox and more than a dozen lawmakers to build support for a bipartisan deal on permitting reform. 

###

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

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee that oversees the Kennedy Center, released the following statement after Trump announced a multi-year closure of the Kennedy Center:

President Trump’s decision to close the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts underscores the profound damage he’s done to this iconic institution. Setting aside the sheer financial incompetence, his callous disregard for the history, mission, and legacy of the Kennedy Center is appalling. From firing the board of Trustees and installing himself as chair, to using political litmus tests to determine programming, to the outrageous and illegal attempt to rename it the “Trump-Kennedy Center,” the president is making every effort to turn this American treasure into yet another vehicle for his own political vanity.

Trump has failed the Center’s workers, performers, and supporters from the very beginning of his takeover last year. Subscriptions have plummeted. Ticket sales are cratering. Artists are cancelling shows and refusing invitations. Rather than see these trends as a clear sign to reverse course, Trump now wants to close the Center for two years while he makes “major renovations”—presumably without any input or oversight from Congress.

Let’s not forget: the Kennedy Center was recently given $256 million in the Big Ugly Bill, which is nearly six times its typical allocation, plus another $37 million in the annual appropriations bill. Despite repeated calls for transparency and clarity about their plans with that exorbitant amount of money, Trump and his sycophants now in charge of the Center have given Congress next to nothing.

Considering it took less than 24 hours for him to plaster his name on the building, and that he demolished the East Wing of the White House in a matter of days without proper approval, it’s entirely possible that Trump could decide to just bulldoze the entire Center to remake it in his own tacky image. Just look at what he’s done to the Rose Garden and the Oval Office. Congress has a duty to step in.

The Kennedy Center is a living monument to a man who fervently believed in the emancipatory power of art and culture. It’s a legacy our current president clearly doesn’t understand—and has no right to usurp for himself.

Pingree, who is co-chair of the bipartisan Congressional Arts Caucus, has led the charge in Congress to save the Kennedy Center from Trump after he took it over last year. Pingree demanded answers and transparency from Richard Grenell, a Trump ally who was installed as President of the Kennedy Center, about how the $256 million requested, and later approved in the “One Big Beautiful Bill”, would be spent.

In December, Pingree led more than 70 Members of Congress in calling on President Trump to reverse the illegal renaming effort and remove his name from the building.

As Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, Pingree successfully removed language from the 2026 Appropriations bill that would have renamed the Opera House after Melania Trump.

###

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Don Bacon (2nd District of Nebraska)

Bacon Announces Winners of 2025 Congressional App Challenge

Washington – Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02) today announced the winners of the 2025 Congressional App Challenge for Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District, a nationwide competition for students in middle and high school to explore coding, computer science, and careers in STEM fields. Established by Congress in 2014, the challenge encourages students to create, code, and implement a new and innovative computer application. 

The first-place winner is Gavin Vernon, a junior at Brownell Talbot, who partnered with Michael Zhang of Colorado’s 6th Congressional District to develop Youth Policy Pulse, a civic-engagement web application that empowers young people to understand and participate in the policymaking process. Vernon was presented with a certificate at Brownell Talbot on January 28, 2026 by Theresa Thibodeau, District Director for Rep. Bacon.

The students said Youth Policy Pulse was inspired by their shared belief that young people deserve a stronger voice in shaping the policies that affect their lives. As students deeply involved in youth leadership and civic initiatives, Vernon and Zhang noticed that many of their peers wanted to participate in government but didn’t know where to start and wanted to change that. Youth Policy Pulse connects directly to real legislative data from Congress.gov, allowing users to browse, search, and track active bills that impact education, climate, mental health, and other youth-focused issues.

As the first-place winners, Vernon and Zhang are invited to Washington, D.C., to participate in #HouseofCode, a two-day event at the U.S. Capitol where students from across the country showcase their apps to Members of Congress, congressional staff, and leaders in the technology community.

“There is a growing need to fill high-paying jobs in STEM fields, and the Congressional App Challenge is a fun and engaging way to show students they can play a real role in shaping the future through innovation and technology,” said Rep. Bacon. “Gavin and Michael’s work on Youth Policy Pulse reflects both strong technical skills and a sense of civic responsibility. All of the students who entered the challenge demonstrated innovation in their ideas and a strong commitment to the task. We have some real future leaders who will make their mark in the STEM world.”

About the Congressional App Challenge

The Congressional App Challenge (CAC) is an annual nationwide competition hosted by the U.S. House of Representatives to encourage middle and high school students to learn to code and pursue careers in STEM. It is considered the most prestigious prize in student computer science. 

###

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (District of Columbia)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton released her remarks ahead of this morning’s press conference with Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and DC Vote opposing the disapproval resolution that the House is expected to vote on tomorrow. The live stream will be available for viewing here. 

“The resolution before the House tomorrow, which would overturn a duly enacted local tax law of the District of Columbia, is nothing short of deliberate administrative and fiscal sabotage of the nation’s capital,” Norton said. 

Norton’s full remarks follow.

Remarks of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) at DC Vote Virtual Press Conference

2/3/2026

The resolution before the House this week, which would overturn a duly enacted local tax law of the District of Columbia, is nothing short of deliberate administrative and fiscal sabotage of the nation’s capital.

The D.C. law at issue did three straightforward things: It restored D.C.’s child tax credit, strengthened an existing earned income tax credit, and decoupled the District’s tax code from selected provisions of the so-called One Big Beautiful Bill Act. None of this is radical. None of it is unprecedented. Nearly half the states, red and blue alike, have passed laws decoupling their states’ tax codes from portions of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Yet Congress has chosen to single out the District for punishment.

This resolution is not about oversight or fiscal discipline. It’s about power – who wields it, and who is denied it.

Congress has never overturned a revenue-raising law for D.C. Doing so now would be a reckless escalation with real and lasting consequences. It will threaten D.C.’s credit rating, forcing it to pay higher interest rates and costing taxpayers millions. Last year, when Congress cut D.C.’s local budget by one billion dollars, D.C.’s rating was put on negative watch. This disapproval resolution poses an even greater danger. It will sow chaos in the middle of tax filing season, likely forcing the District to halt tax filings altogether while it scrambles to rewrite forms, systems, and guidance. 

That is not oversight. That is not governance. It is sabotage, and the damage would be severe and intentional.

The D.C. law targeted by this resolution is projected to generate six hundred million dollars in local revenue over the next four years. If Congress overturns it, the District will be forced to fill that hole by cutting critical programs that residents rely on every day.

This resolution doesn’t merely target the District’s government or its adult taxpayers. It would wipe out D.C.’s child tax credit, a policy projected to cut child poverty by 20%. Republicans are aware and are proceeding anyway. They’re willing to harm children in the nation’s capital to score political points, and the public should understand that clearly.

More than 700,000 residents of Washington, D.C., the majority of whom are Black and Brown, are worthy and capable of self-government. If D.C. residents disagree with the decisions of their elected council, they can vote their leaders out. That’s how democracy works. Members of Congress from distant states, who don’t live or pay taxes in D.C. and are not accountable to D.C. voters – and who often don’t even understand how D.C. functions – have no business overriding local laws and stripping District residents of their right to self-government. Free D.C.

###

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

WASHINGTON — On Monday, Speaker Johnson appointed Brian Patchett to the National Council on Disability, an independent federal agency within the executive branch focused on advancing policies supporting Americans with disabilities.

“I am honored to appoint Louisiana’s own Brian Patchett to serve on the National Council on Disability. Brian’s leadership at the Louisiana Association for the Blind has helped countless individuals with visual impairments across our state live more independent, fruitful lives,” Speaker Johnson said. “His experience and dedication to serving individuals with disabilities will be a blessing to our country, and I’m grateful he has accepted this appointment.”

“I am honored and grateful to Speaker Johnson for appointing me to the National Council on Disability. My focus as President and CEO of Louisiana Association for the Blind and my career has been to remove barriers for those with disabilities. As an adult with a visual impairment, I understand the challenges people with disabilities face while searching for a job and living an independent life. I have worked to help people overcome these obstacles. I am very hopeful my appointment to the National Council on Disability will allow me to continue my mission and improve access for those with disabilities in all aspects of our community,” Brian Patchett said.

Background:

The National Council on Disability provides advice to the President, Congress, and executive branch agencies to advance policy that promotes the goals of the Americans with Disabilities Act – equality of opportunity, economic self-sufficiency, independent living, and full participation in all aspects of society – regardless of type or severity of disability. It is comprised of nine-total members, four appointed by leadership in Congress and five appointed by the President. For more information on the Council, visit their website: National Council on Disability | Mission and History.

Brian Patchett is the President and CEO of the Louisiana Association for the Blind and a current resident of Louisiana’s Fourth Congressional District. For decades, Mr. Patchett has served thousands of visually impaired individuals in northwest Louisiana, helping them navigate their life at home, at work, and in the community.

Mr. Patchett’s appointment to the Council has been entered into the Congressional Record of the United States House of Representatives. Click here to view his appointment.

###

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09)

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today released the following statement in recognition of Black History Month.

“Black History Month is a time to honor the courage, creativity, contributions, and resilience of Black Americans — and to recognize that Black history is American history. In Memphis, that legacy lives not only in the chapters we read in books, but in the leaders and neighbors who built a more just community and pushed our country closer to its ideals. 

“This month, we remember Martin Luther King Jr. and his enduring call for equality and dignity. I also remember with gratitude three civil rights heroes I had the honor to serve alongside in Congress — John Lewis, who served as a spiritual advisor to me; John Conyers, who was my Judiciary mentor; and Elijah Cummings, whose example as a role model still inspires me. 

“I also think of the Memphis civil rights and public-service giants I was privileged to know and serve with — Vasco Smith and his wife Maxine Smith, Walter Bailey Jr., Minerva Johnican, Russell Sugarmon, and Jesse Turner Sr. They helped shape Memphis’ conscience and its future, and they remind us of what leadership looks like when it’s rooted in service. 

“Throughout my career, I’ve tried to honor that legacy not just with words, but with work — from my years in the Tennessee State Senate, where I served as Vice Chair for many years and floor seat mate to the legendary Senator Avon Williams, who I learned much from, to my time in Congress, where the House passed my resolution in 2008 making Congress’ first apology for slavery and racial segregation. I have continued pushing ever since to preserve the people and places that tell the story of the civil rights movement. 

“Black History Month is a call to keep going. We must protect voting rights, confront discrimination, and keep pushing for equal justice and equal opportunity. I’m proud to represent Memphis and Tennessee’s Ninth District, and I will keep working to honor this legacy by preserving the history that shaped us and fighting for a future where every family can thrive.”

###

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 while life in America is more expensive than ever, Donald Trump is using taxpayer dollars to fund ICE brutality and lawlessness and not to make life more affordable for the American people.

LEADER JEFFRIES: The Republican Congress began with the extremists holding the narrowest majority of any party since the Great Depression in 1930. And later on today, as a result of the victory by Christian Menefee, who we congratulate on this significant accomplishment, that narrow Republican majority will get even narrower. And the question for Republicans will continue to be, are you going to continue to double or triple down on your extremism, which is getting you nowhere with the American people? Or try to find a bipartisan path forward to actually address the issues that matter when it comes to making life better for everyday Americans? House Democrats are going to continue to fight hard to lower the high cost of living, to fix our broken healthcare system and to clean up corruption everywhere that it is found in this town. Republican policies on the economy have been a failure. Republican policies on healthcare have been a failure. And Republican policies on immigration enforcement have been a complete and total failure. Taxpayer dollars should not be spent to brutalize and kill American citizens. Taxpayer dollars should be spent to make life more affordable for everyday Americans, something that Republicans have refused to do from the very beginning of Donald Trump being sworn into office last January.

Donald Trump and Republicans promised that they were going to lower the high cost of living in the United States of America on day one. That’s what they promised. They lied to the American people. Costs haven’t gone down, costs have gone up across the board. Housing costs, out of control. Grocery costs, out of control. Utility bills, out of control. Child care costs, out of control. And healthcare costs, out of control. Republicans have refused to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits in the Senate and, as a result, tens of millions of Americans are now experiencing dramatically increased health insurance premiums. In some cases, the monthly costs have increased by $1,000 or $2,000 per month. That is completely and totally unacceptable brought to you by the Republican Party. At the same time, it’s Republicans, led by Donald Trump, who in their One Big Ugly Bill enacted the largest cut to Medicaid in American history. They literally have ripped healthcare away from more than 14 million Americans. And as a result of their policies, hospitals, nursing homes and community-based health clinics are closing all across America.

In that One Big Ugly Bill, they also cut SNAP by $186 billion, the largest cut to nutritional assistance in American history. The extremists, they literally snatched food out of the mouths of hungry children, seniors and veterans. And why did they do all of that? For at least two reasons. So they can provide massive tax breaks to their billionaire donors, and, at the same time, create a $191 billion slush fund that went to the Department of Homeland Security, including $75 billion to ICE, so that masked agents could unleash brutality and lawlessness on the American people. Everyday Americans have had enough with the failed policies of Donald Trump and Republicans in the House and the Senate. And the only real question that needs to be answered right now is when will Republicans have enough with the extremism and the cruelty and the chaos and the corruption that has failed the American people?

Full press conference can be watched here.

###