Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steny H Hoyer (MD-05)
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) released the following statement in recognition of Veterans Day:
“Veterans Day is a time to reflect on the immense sacrifices made by those who answered the call to serve – across generations, across oceans, and across the great span of American history. Crucially, we ought to reflect on that for which they sacrificed: democracy, freedom, and justice.
“This year marks 80 years since the greatest generation of Americans brought an end to World War II – a victory that came at a tremendous cost. Because the American people and the rest of the Allies were willing to pay it, our world has seen an unprecedented period of relative peace and safety in the decades since. They – and every Veteran before and since – will always have our gratitude.
“More than that, our Veterans have our commitment: our commitment to serving them with the same dedication with which they served us. That means ensuring they have access to care, benefits, and opportunities they need to succeed in our nation. That is something they not simply deserve but have earned by wearing the uniform of the United States of America. I will continue to serve our Veterans and their families however possible.”
“Before I talk about when I got into this issue, I want to talk about the fact that we need to open up the federal government for the people of the United States. The problem is, Democrats are negotiating with a group that does not want the government open. Just as Elon Musk – with his chainsaw – wanted to fire everybody. Russell Vought, who is essentially the CFO of our country – he’s called the OMB Director, but he’s the Chief Financial Officer. He has said he wants the federal employees perceived as the villains. He wants the federal employees to be perceived so badly that when they wake up in the morning, they don’t want to come to work. You know, it is illegal in America to create a hostile workplace. Anthony, I’m pursuing with some folks the possibility of suing Russell Vought – probably can’t sue the president, but Russell Vought for creating consciously, intently, and with vengeful objectives the creation of a hostile workforce in the federal government.
“Now, what we are going to create here in Greenbelt, in Prince George’s County, in the state of Maryland, is a safe workforce. A strategically housed workforce. A workforce that is consistent with the request that was made of me. In 2009, I was the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, and the director of the FBI came to my office, and he sat down and said, ‘Steny, this building in which we are housed is unsafe.’ 2009, this is 15 years later – 16 to be exact. The building was unsafe. There is not a Democrat or Republican who has visited that building, including Kash Patel, who doesn’t say, ‘It is an unsafe environment for our employees.’ Or one could say a hostile environment. And Mr. Mueller said to me in 2009, ‘We need a space, somewhat like the CIA or NSA, that is a large enough space so that we can insulate ourselves and from terrorists, from people who would blow us up.’ And so they wanted a campus setting with at least a 150 foot setback. I don’t know how many of you have gone by the Reagan building, 15 feet or so? A little short. And so I said, ‘Mr. Director, I agree with you,’ and we started this saga of transparency, honesty, of consideration, of all the factors that would make our FBI the place where people can work in security and be the most effective for the American people in keeping the peace and keeping law and order. And we worked hard on that from 2009 to 2016. And we were getting close. (makes pinching hand gesture) That close. We were almost there to get it done, and Donald Trump intervened. Donald Trump intervened – and by the way, we’re going to have to clear that site where it’s located now on Pennsylvania Avenue. And by the way, right across the street was a hotel. Who was the proprietor of that hotel? Donald Trump.
“And so he canceled it. He didn’t decide, ‘We’re going to put it somewhere else.’ He didn’t decide [that] we need to tear down this building, because it is unsafe, Governor, for the people who work there. He simply canceled it, and so nothing was done for the next four years of a building that all Republicans and all Democrats who have been through it, say is unsafe and unworthy, and the directors will say [it] is unsuited to the way they do law enforcement today. So, we had another fight we started in ‘21, in ‘22 and ‘23. And because of the transparency they talked about, but mostly because of the suitability of the site to meet the needs and requests of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. That is why ultimately Greenbelt was [selected]. Not for political reasons, but for suitability to the task that we have assigned to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. And now we’re in a fight because the president, not related to any specific criteria or strategic or decision making, but related more to his political bias. Hear me. His political bias. Now he’s decided to move it to a building totally unsuited, unplanned for, undesigned for the purposes of a major law enforcement agency.
“So, we’re going to win this suit, and we’re going to win this battle. That is why – and a lot of people were really invested in this decision – that is why ultimately the GSA decided [that] this is the place, the best place from a cost standpoint, from a strategic standpoint, from a community standpoint where the Prince George’s community was a welcoming community – Mr. Mayor, I thank you and Greenbelt for their efforts. I want to mention [former] County Executive Alsobrooks, and I want to mention Larry Hogan, the governor. The governor said to all of his Republican colleagues, some of which he’s friendly with, some not, ‘This is the best site for the FBI.’ This was a bipartisan decision going forward, that has been turned into a petty, inappropriate small board decision for punitive purposes, not just against Prince George’s County, but against the FBI, against the FBI.
“So, I am hopeful that this suit will prevail. I believe it will prevail. The Congress has decided, but you remember I mentioned this guy, Russell Vought. Russell Vought believes that the passing of laws by the Congress is a suggestion to the Executive Department, and if they want to follow that, they can and if they don’t, they won’t because he believes that Article II of the Constitution of the United States gives the president plenary power. That is, of course, untrue, and the Supreme Court has held it to be untrue. So, I want to thank the Attorney General. I want to thank Ben Cardin. I want to thank Ben Cardin, who was our senior United States Senator. I want to thank Angela [Alsobrooks], who fought so hard and worked with Hogan in getting the state to make a commitment on this.
“We have stepped up to the plate. We are ready. We are the place it ought to be and for every valid reason, ultimately, I believe the Congress and even the Executive Department will decide [that] Greenbelt is the site where the Federal Bureau of Investigation ought to be placed, and we ought to do it sooner rather than later. Now, let me also lastly, thank the person whose district the FBI is in. And that is Glenn Ivey. (applause) It was my district, it was Anthony’s district, it’s been all over. So, we have an interest in this because we have studied this issue from 2009 to date, and it is absolutely the right decision the Congress has made: put it in Greenbelt and do it now.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steny H Hoyer (MD-05)
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) expressed support for Attorney General Anthony G. Brown and Prince George’s County’s lawsuit to stop the Trump administration’s unlawful attempt to sabotage the new FBI headquarters project in Greenbelt, Maryland, and redirect over $1 billion in congressionally appropriated funding to a different location. The lawsuit challenges the administration’s July 2025 decision to abandon the lawfully selected Greenbelt site in favor of the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, D.C. – a location that violates specific instructions that Congress established by law.
“Instead of working with Team Maryland to proceed with the FBI’s new headquarters in Greenbelt, President Trump and FBI Director Patel are trying to redirect funding Congress appropriated for the project and crowd the agency into the 30-year-old Ronald Reagan building in D.C. In doing so they are openly defying Congress, the law, and the Constitution. Crucially, the Trump Administration is undermining the FBI and its vital law enforcement and national security mission by continuing to deprive it of a secure, consolidated facility. I commend Attorney General Brown for his leadership in holding the Trump Administration accountable for trying to ditch this project to the detriment of the American people,” said Congressman Steny Hoyer.
“Maryland earned the new FBI headquarters through a fair and transparent selection process that took more than 10 years – a rigorous evaluation that identified Greenbelt as the site best suited to meet the FBI’s security, operational space, and mission needs,” said Attorney General Brown. “Now, the Trump administration wants to undermine that process, ignore the law, and divert more than $1 billion meant for a purpose-built headquarters – redirecting it instead to a nearly 30-year-old building unfit to accommodate the Bureau. We will not let the Trump administration strip away what Prince George’s County won and deny its communities the transformative benefits this project would bring.”
“The problem with the current FBI building is that it’s too old, too small, and too exposed. So what does the President do? He moves the FBI to another building that is too old, too small, and too exposed,” said Governor Wes Moore. “Trump’s actions aren’t just illegal, they lack common sense. And his foolishness will put law enforcement in jeopardy. Greenbelt has been, and still is, the best home for the FBI.”
Prince George’s County Executive Aisha Braveboy, as a party to the lawsuit said, “Attorney General Anthony Brown and my County Attorney Anthony Jones laid out the facts of this case clearly. The history in this region demonstrates that landing a federal agency like the FBI has been a catalyst for major economic development. It was true when the National Institutes of Health located in Bethesda, and true when the Pentagon went to Northern Virginia, catalyzing growth in Montgomery, Arlington and Fairfax Counties. We want the same opportunity in Prince George’s County and in Maryland and we earned it. I want to thank Governor Wes Moore and the entire Maryland Delegation which has been unified around this issue. With limited resources, we can’t fight every battle, but this is a battle worth fighting for.”
Congress explicitly directed the General Services Administration (GSA) to choose from only three suburban locations: Greenbelt, Maryland; Landover, Maryland; or Springfield, Virginia. After years of bipartisan effort, the GSA selected Greenbelt as the site for the new FBI headquarters in September 2023, following a rigorous evaluation process mandated by Congress. Congress appropriated more than $1.1 billion specifically for this project through multiple laws between 2016 and 2024.
“The FBI headquarters should be housed in a facility that meets the highest level of security for the men and women of our top law enforcement agency – full stop. The location in Greenbelt, Maryland meets those requirements, as determined by a lengthy, fair, and transparent process that Republicans have arbitrarily overturned. Team Maryland will fight tooth and nail to ensure this Administration follows the law, so the brave men and women who work at the FBI will be able to do their work without political interference and without compromising their safety and by extension, our national security,” said Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD).
“I applaud Attorney General Anthony Brown and Prince George’s County for stepping up. The Trump administration has steamrolled the law and overturned a bipartisan, twelve-year process to bring the new FBI Headquarters to Greenbelt. I stand squarely behind these legal challenges and look forward to welcoming the FBI home to Prince George’s County,” said Congressman Glenn Ivey (MD-04).
Maryland and Prince George’s County made extraordinary commitments to secure the FBI headquarters, including over $300 million for transportation infrastructure, parking facilities, and other improvements, based on the promise of high-paying jobs and the economic development the project was expected to bring.
However, in July 2025, the FBI and GSA abruptly announced they had selected the Ronald Reagan Building, a nearly 30-year-old facility in Washington, D.C., that was never among the three congressionally selected sites. In the lawsuit filed today, Maryland and Prince George’s County allege that the Trump administration provided no explanation for discarding the careful selection process – which identified Greenbelt as the best option for transit accessibility, cost-effectiveness, and positive community impact – conducted no consultations with Maryland as required by federal law, and violated explicit Congressional directives limiting the site selection to the three specified suburban locations. Maryland and Prince George’s County also challenge the administration’s plans to redirect the funds Congress designated for the Greenbelt project.
Furthermore, the lawsuit alleges, this decision not only breaks with federal law and Congressional intent but also harms Maryland by denying the state and county significant economic benefits, jobs, and development opportunities.
With this lawsuit, Attorney General Brown and Prince George’s County seek to:
Stop the unlawful selection of the Ronald Reagan Building as the FBI headquarters site;
Prevent the diversion of more than $1 billion in congressionally appropriated funds from the Greenbelt project;
Ensure the federal government follows the law and honors Congress’s explicit directives; and
Protect Maryland’s investment and the economic opportunities promised to Prince George’s County communities.
WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), [Senator Ruben Gallego (AZ)], and Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen (CO-07) issued the following statement upon receiving a written response from the State Department to their House and Senate letters with over 100 colleagues demanding a surge in humanitarian aid, and infant formula in particular, into Gaza:
“In August, we led over 100 members of Congress in a letter urging Secretary Rubio to take all steps to surge aid, specifically ready to feed infant formula to families in Gaza to address the starvation crisis. While we appreciate the State Department’s written response on this dire matter, meaningful action is long overdue to ensure we do not lose any more innocent civilians to starvation. We are encouraged by the announced ceasefire agreement and the increase in aid in the region and urge all parties to fulfill their obligations to ensure this ceasefire holds,” said the lawmakers in a joint statement. “The United States has a pressing obligation to urgently act to address the starvation crisis on the ground by leading the effort to coordinate the surge of medical supplies, humanitarian aid, and ready to feed baby formula, while addressing the barriers on the ground to distribution. We call on the Department of State to provide members of Congress an accurate and real-time report of the quantity and type of aid successfully distributed to families in Gaza on a weekly basis. No parent should bury their child. The cries of hungry infants must be met with urgency. The United States must act now.”
In August, Reps. Pressley and Pettersen, along with Senator Gallego, led their House and Senate colleagues, respectively, in sending letters to Secretary Rubio urging that the Trump administration use its full power to prioritize the additional surge of humanitarian aid, including the pallets of ready-to-feed baby formula that are sitting at the border, by facilitating the distribution by the Israeli government, alongside the United Nations and our allies.
In their letters, the lawmakers sounded the alarm over the catastrophic shortage of baby formula and due to previous restrictions on humanitarian aid distribution, which has led to a crisis in Gaza. Infants in particular are especially vulnerable to death by starvation.
A copy of the response from the State Department is available here.
Last month, Rep. Pressley joined Congresswoman Delia Ramírez (IL-03), actors Cynthia Nixon and Morgan Spector, Mahmoud Khalil, Dr. Adil Husain, Congressional colleagues, and advocates to call for the passage of H.R. 3565, The Block the Bombs Act, to save lives.
Rep Pressley has consistently called for peace and a ceasefire in Gaza to save the lives of civilians, hostages, Palestinians, Israelis, and Americans.
In May 2022, Rep. Pressley, along with and Congresswomen Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Congressman Jamaal Bowman, Ed.D. (NY-16) and Grace Meng (NY-06), urged President Biden to use all applicable executive authorities to end the baby formula shortage. In May 2022, Rep. Pressley, along with Rep. Lori Trahan (MA-03), Assistant Speaker Katherine Clark (MA-05) and the Massachusetts delegation, sent a letter to Abbott Laboratories Chairman and CEO Robert Ford requesting urgent information on the company’s plans to replenish its Similac baby formula in Massachusetts.
Since the horrific October 7th attack, Congresswoman Pressley has consistently and stridently called for a ceasefire to save lives, return all hostages, and surge humanitarian aid to Gaza. Rep. Pressley delivered a floor speech in which she called for urgent de-escalation in the region and renewed her calls for a ceasefire in Gaza and Israel to prevent a broader regional war. Rep. Pressley introduced a pair of amendments to increase funding to global humanitarian assistance and place a one-year moratorium on the transfer of offensive weapons to the Israeli military.
Rep. Pressley joined Congresswoman Haley Stevens (D-MI) and their colleagues on a resolution condemning Hamas’ brutal attack and hostage-taking, and demanding Hamas immediately release all hostages.
Rep. Pressley joined Reps. Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), James P. McGovern (MA-02), and 50 colleagues on a letter condemning the terrorist attacks by Hamas on the people of Israel, calling for Israeli military operations to follow the rules of international humanitarian law, and continuing to work toward peace in the region.
Rep. Pressley joined her colleagues in announcing a resolution urging the Biden Administration to call for an immediate de-escalation and ceasefire in Israel and Gaza, to send humanitarian aid and assistance to Gaza, and to save as many lives as possible. She later joined her colleagues and a multi-faith, multiracial coalition of faith leaders and organizers for a prayer and press conference to renew their calls for a ceasefire. Rep. Pressley also joined dozens of rabbis and Members of Congress for a press conference to renew calls for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Instead of attending Prime Minister Netanyahu’s address to Congress, Rep. Pressley spent the day centering people directly impacted by Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza
Rep. Pressley delivered a floor speech in which she condemned antisemitism, Islamophobia, and all forms of hate on college campuses.
Rep. Pressley joined a coalition of nearly 100 interfaith clergy and faith leaders on a joint statement on Martin Luther King Jr. Day calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Rep. Pressley joined Reps. Grace Meng (D-NY), Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), and nearly 150 colleagues in urging the State Department to use all tools at its disposal help get Americans out of Israel and back home to the United States. She applauded the State Department for heeding her calls on October 12, 2023 and continues to press for the urgent evacuation of Americans in Gaza.
Rep. Pressley issued a statement following the safe evacuation of Massachusetts constituents Wafaa and Abood Okal and their one-year-old Yousef from Gaza.
Rep. Pressley and Rep. Jamie Raskin led a group of 60 House lawmakers in urging the State Department to affirm the United States’ strong opposition to the forced and permanent displacement of Palestinians from Gaza, and to support an increase in humanitarian aid to the region.
Rep. Pressley joined Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Mark Pocan (WI-2), Betty McCollum (MN-4) and 20 of their colleagues in sending a letter to President Biden, asking him to support a bilateral ceasefire in Gaza to protect the one million children living there.
Rep. Pressley joined a coalition of interfaith clergy and faith leaders for a vigil to mourn the tens of thousands of Palestinians, Israelis, and innocent civilians killed since October 7th, and to renew calls for a ceasefire to save lives, return all hostages, and deliver humanitarian aid to the region.
Rep. Pressley joined her colleagues at a press conference to condemn the Israeli government’s pending invasion of Rafah and continued her calls for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Rep. Pressley joined her colleagues in calling for full funding of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) to provide urgent humanitarian relief to Gaza.
Rep. Pressley joined Representatives Joaquín Castro, Jamie Raskin, Jan Schakowsky and 33 House Democrats to President Biden urging him to prevent an Israeli ground invasion of Rafah.
Rep. Pressley, amid heightened tensions in the region, delivered a floor speech in which she called for urgent de-escalation in the Middle East and renewed her calls for a ceasefire in Gaza to prevent a broader regional war.
Rep. Pressley filed a pair of amendments to increase funding to global humanitarian assistance and place a one-year moratorium on the transfer of offensive weapons to the Israeli military. The amendments were not adopted in the final legislation.
Rep. Pressley voted against HR 8034 to send more offensive weapons and funding to the Israeli military, citing the Israeli military’s callous disregard for human life in Gaza and significant human rights violations.
Rep. Pressley issued a statement on the peaceful student protests taking place in Massachusetts and across the country.
Rep. Pressley issued a statement applauding the Boston City Council for passing a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Rep. Pressley joined Representatives Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Madeleine Dean (PA-04) and 54 additional lawmakers in calling on the Biden Administration to use all tools possible to dissuade the Israeli government from moving forward with an offensive invasion into Rafah.
Rep. Pressley issued a statement in response to the escalating situation in the Middle East.
Rep. Pressley joined impacted families, faith leaders, and advocates to observe the anniversary of the horrific October 7, 2023 attack and commemorate the 1,200 Israelis killed by Hamas, the hostages killed and those still kidnapped, and the over 41,000 Palestinians in Gaza killed by the Israeli military over the past year.
Rep. Pressley issued a statement marking the one-year anniversary of the horrific October 7th attack.
Rep. Pressley issued a statement urging the Senate to support Senator Bernie Sanders’ Joint Resolutions of Disapproval that would block the sale of offensive arms to the Israeli government.
Rep. Pressley issued a statement on the ceasefire-hostage deal reached between Israel and Hamas in January 2025.
Rep. Pressley is a co-sponsor of the Block the Bombs Act, which would withhold the transfer of offensive weapons to the Israeli government and demand the Israeli military’s compliance with U.S. and international law.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)
Today, Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries released the following statement:
Eric Swalwell is a principled legislator who served with distinction as an Impeachment Manager during the second impeachment of Donald J. Trump. He continues to lead by example in the House as a dedicated defender of our democracy and a courageous champion for the Constitution. The so-called charges being contemplated against him are laughable.
Bill Pulte is nothing more than a malignant hack who is abdicating his responsibility to help everyday Americans afford a home, and is instead wasting taxpayer dollars on baseless investigations into Donald Trump’s perceived political enemies.
Pulte knows what he is doing is lawless, which is why he fired the Acting Inspector General and Fannie Mae ethics officers who were investigating whether he was inappropriately accessing the mortgage details of Democratic officials.
The dedicated non-partisan public servants at the DOJ who swore an oath to the Constitution must continue to stand up against these politically vindictive prosecutions. The House Democratic Caucus will not be intimidated.
Accountability is coming. The statute of limitations is five years. Every single corrupt sycophant, including Bill Pulte, who continues to disgrace the law will have to answer for their actions.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jack Bergman (MI-1)
Today, Michigan’s Republican Congressional Delegation, led by Rep. Jack Bergman, sent a letter to President Trump requesting that he overturn FEMA’s denial of Public Assistance (PA) Category F funding for public utilities and Individual Assistance (IA) in the aftermath of the historical ice storm.
The letter highlighted the incredible work that has already been done but emphasized that recovery remains far from complete.
“Without additional federal support and assistance, the remaining unmet costs will inevitably fall on individual households and families across Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula – those least equipped to absorb these costs. Of particular concern are the significant costs incurred by local electrical cooperatives – costs that, without approval of PA Category F for public utilities, will be passed on to their customers.
The letter continued,“Without federal assistance, these huge costs will translate into higher rates for cooperative customers across Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula – many of whom are already facing severe economic hardship. Ten of the impacted counties have per-capita incomes lower than that of the State of Michigan, and eleven have per-capita incomes lower than that of the United States. Additionally, eight of the impacted counties have an elevated share of residents that live below the federal poverty line. All thirteen counties also have large numbers of seniors living on fixed incomes and individuals with disabilities – populations who cannot easily adjust their financial circumstances to accommodate looming rate increases. As the winter season rapidly sets in and temperatures drop, the inability of these residents to afford rising energy and heating costs could have life-threatening consequences.”
Bergman was joined by Reps. Barrett, Huizenga, James, McClain, Moolenaar, and Walberg.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett (USVI)
For Immediate Release Contact: Alayah Phipps
November 13, 2025 202-813-2793
PRESS RELEASE
CONGRESSWOMAN PLASKETT STATEMENT ON PARTISAN REPUBLICAN SPENDING BILL
“For more than six weeks, Americans — including hardworking federal employees and families in the Virgin Islands — have been caught in the middle of a destructive government shutdown. Once again, Republicans in Congress have chosen partisanship over progress, offering a stopgap measure that fails to provide the long-term stability our people deserve.
“For 43 days, House Democrats stood firm to protect healthcare and lower costs for working families. That included opposing this partisan Republican spending bill that allows critical healthcare tax credits to expire. Republicans have turned the affordability crisis into a full-blown healthcare emergency relentless targeting of the Affordable Care Act while at the same time having voted for the largest Medicaid cut in history, and outrageous threats to Medicare – both of which will affect many Virgin Islanders.
“This bill leaves critical programs underfunded and continues to create uncertainty for our small businesses, hospitals, and territorial agencies that depend on federal support. The American people — and Virgin Islanders — deserve leadership that governs responsibly, not political brinkmanship that puts livelihoods at risk. Additionally, this bill fails to address the Trump Administration’s assault on the constitutional Power of the Purse. The Administration has illegally frozen or canceled more than $410 billion in appropriated funds, yet this legislation does nothing to stop these unlawful actions.
“This legislation includes eight critical Community Project Funding (CPF) requests for the Virgin Islands that will support organizations fulfilling vital community needs. The funded projects include:
$1,698,000 to the Virgin Islands Good Food Coalition, Inc. to build a community food, farm, and technology hub to enhance food security and disaster resilience;
$1,332,000 to the Nature Association of the Virgin Islands to revitalize the Frederiksted Fish Market, supporting local fishermen and food security;
$1,015,000 to the Virgin Islands Architecture Center to rehabilitate the Christiansted Old Barracks for workforce development and small business training;
$1,000,000 to We Grow Food, Inc. to install water desalination and filtration systems for the Bordeaux farming community;
$1,000,000 to the University of the Virgin Islands to purchase telehealth equipment for distance learning and medical training;
$857,000 to the St. Clair Institute to renovate the St. Clair House for mental health and substance abuse recovery services;
$825,000 to the Virgin Islands Department of Agriculture to renovate the St. Thomas abattoir facility; and
$788,000 to the Bush Tea and Therapy Foundation to expand the Frederiksted Center for Community Wellness.
“These investments in our community are important and necessary, but they cannot come at the expense of affordable healthcare for our people or at the cost of Congressional authority and accountability. The people of the Virgin Islands and Americans nationwide deserve better. Our people have endured enough instability. It is time to put politics aside and pass comprehensive appropriations that invest in healthcare, infrastructure, and the well-being of our families.
“Democrats will continue to stand up for the people we represent — to lower costs, safeguard healthcare access, and ensure that our federal government works for everyone, not just a select few. I will keep pushing for full, fair funding that meets the needs of the Virgin Islands and every community across this country.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Haley Stevens (MI-11)
“Families deserve answers as prices keep climbing”
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Trump administration once againrefusedto release the Consumer Price Index (CPI) report, trying to hide what Michiganders see every day:prices are continuing to climb.
In response to the administration’s blocking of key inflation data, Michigan Congresswoman Haley Stevens issued the following statement:
“While Trump tries to hide the consequences of his chaos tariffs, Michiganders are experiencing the reality of his reckless economic policy every day. Costs keep going up and up and up, especially at the grocery checkout. That’s why I introduced the No Tariffs on Groceries Act – to lower food prices and stop Trump’s unfair price hikes. Families need real relief, not more delayed data.
“I’ll keep fighting to put Michigan families first, lower costs, and make groceries and everyday essentials more affordable for Michiganders.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Haley Stevens (MI-11)
WASHINGTON, D.C.–Following the vote on the Republicans’ spending bill, Michigan Congresswoman Haley Stevens released the following statement:
“Tonight, I voted no on the Republicans’ spending bill because their plan fails Michiganders, ignores working families, and offers lip service instead of actually lowering costs for our families.
“Republicans have time and time again voted to raise health care costs and threatened health care coverage for families who depend on it. I won’t rubber-stamp a plan that leaves Michiganders worse off. I will keep fighting to lower costs, expand affordable health care, and create jobs while investing in our manufacturing economy to support the hard-working families across our state.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Don Beyer (D-VA)
Reps. Don Beyer (D-VA), Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ), and Morgan McGarvey (D-KY) introduced the Veterans Transition Support Act to improve the disability claims process for veterans. The bill would expand the Solid Start program to help transitioning service members file claims pre-separation and minimize interruptions in medical care and benefits.
Due to time constraints in a service member’s transition to civilian life, inconsistent education about filing disability claims, and difficulties accessing the necessary health records, veterans often face difficulties when filing for benefits and lengthy waits before receiving benefits. The Veterans Transition Support Act would amend the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) Solid Start program by requiring that a VA representative contact transitioning service members 120-210 days prior to separation to coincide with their eligibility to file a VA disability claim through the Benefits Delivery at Discharge (BDD) program. Filing a claim through the BDD program would ensure service members still have access to their medical and personnel records and enable the VA to rapidly deliver a decision. This bill aims to provide veterans with a more seamless transition and less of a coverage gap between exiting the service and receiving benefits.
The legislation is endorsed by Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), American Legion, Disabled American Veterans (DAV), and Common Defense.
“Those who served deserve a disability claims process that is simple, efficient, and honors their service. But our veterans too often encounter barriers filing post-discharge VA disability claims and lengthy waits before receiving benefits,” said Rep. Beyer. “By expanding the Solid Start program, our legislation would encourage more service members to take part in the Benefits Delivery at Discharge program and file their disability claims early. This would streamline their claims process and minimize the gap between their discharge and when they begin to receive benefits. With this bill, we hope to ensure veterans receive the services and benefits they’ve earned without unnecessary gaps in care and support.”
“Our service members selflessly dedicate themselves to our nation – but unfortunately, I often hear of the challenges associated with transitioning out of the military,” said Rep. Ciscomani. “I am proud to co-lead this bipartisan, bicameral bill to streamline the medical and disability claim process to ensure our veterans have access to the care and support their service earned. By requiring proactive outreach prior to separation from the service, it is my hope that this legislation will help make the process not only smoother but also ensure veterans do not slip through the cracks and miss opportunities to apply for benefits that they have earned.”
“Our nation’s veterans face lots of challenges during the transition back to civilian life, but our commitment to them shouldn’t end when their service does,” said Rep. McGarvey. “That’s why we’ve got to invest more in successful programs like Solid Start, which eases the transition from DoD to the VA, and keep building up the arsenal of resources our vets need to be set up for success in civilian life.”
“The VFW supports the Veterans Transition Support Act to enhance the VA Solid Start Program by adding an outreach call to service members before separation from the military. As longtime advocates for improved transition support, the VFW believes this is a practical and meaningful step to better inform veterans of the benefits and services they have earned,” said Associate Director of VFW’s National Legislative Service Joy Craig. “The timing of the call would coincide with when service members are eligible to file expedited disability claims through the VA Benefits Delivery at Discharge program, ensuring access to benefits at the earliest possible moment. The VFW thanks Representative Beyer for introducing this important legislation and prioritizing a smooth transition for service members from the Department of Defense to the Department of Veterans Affairs.”
“The transition from military service to civilian life can be difficult for veterans who must overcome obstacles that hinder their ability to gain and sustain meaningful employment,” said DAV’s National Legislative Director Joy Ilem. “DAV is proud to support the Veterans Transition Act of 2025, which aims to improve this transition by mandating early, proactive outreach through the Solid Start program —as early as 210 days before separation. We applaud Representatives Beyer, Ciscomani, and McGarvey for their leadership on this vital issue that will ensure every service member gets the help they have earned.”
“Too many veterans fall through the cracks because the disability claims process is stacked against them from day one,” said Common Defense’s Deputy Director for Government Relations John Kamin. “Common Defense is proud to support Congressman Beyer’s Veterans Transition Support Act, which takes a smart, commonsense approach to make sure servicemembers get critical guidance before they separate—when they still have access to their records and can actually act on it. By strengthening the VA’s Solid Start program, this legislation will help veterans get the care and benefits they’ve earned without needless delays and red tape.”
Full text of the Veterans Transition Support Act is available here, with a one-pager available here.