MIL USHOR-2b Engine

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

WASHINGTON, D.C. – One year ago, the Eaton Fire forever changed the communities of Altadena and Pasadena. The second most destructive wildfire in California’s history, it scorched 14,000 acres, destroyed over 9,000 structures, most of them single-family homes, and took the lives of 19 of our loved ones, neighbors, and friends. An additional 440 individuals died across Southern California in the month following the fire due to toxic air quality and delays in medical care. Those we lost made a profound impact on their communities, and the void their absence has left can never be filled.

Today, Rep. Chu spoke on the House Floor to honor the victims and demand federal disaster assistance on the one-year anniversary of the fire. 

Rep. Chu delivers floor speech on Eaton Fire, click HERE or above to watch

Rep. Chu also partnered with Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA), Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA), and Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) to introduce a resolution honoring all the lives lost in the Eaton and Palisades Fires, commending the heroic actions of first responders, and underscoring Congress’s commitment to helping Southern California communities rebuild.

Joining Reps. Chu and Sherman, this resolution is cosponsored by all 41 additional House Democrats from California. 

While tremendous progress has been made in our community’s recovery, we need federal disaster assistance to support our long-term recovery. Families have already waited a year while rebuilding costs rise, housing shortages deepen, and displacement assistance expires.

President Trump and congressional Republicans have a duty to help communities devastated by natural disaster, whether that be California, Texas, or North Carolina. Rep. Chu is working with bipartisan Members of Congress from California to urge President Trump to immediately and fully deliver Governor Newsom’s $33.9 billion supplemental request. She joined Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA), Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA), Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA), Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), and the entire bipartisan California delegation in a letter to the President supporting assistance for our recovery. This funding is essential to ensuring that our communities can continue to recover, rebuild, and heal. 

Today, Rep. Chu also co-led a letter with Rep. George Whitesides (D-CA) to President Trump demanding he work with Congress to deliver disaster supplemental for California. 

To reinforce the need for this assistance and to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the LA fires and the lives they took, Rep. Chu also hosted a press conference with members of the California delegation to underscore the dire need for President Trump to act with urgency and provide disaster aid to California as he promised to do so directly one year ago. 

Rep. Chu leads California delegation in press conference marking the 1 year anniversary of the Eaton Fire, click HERE or above to watch

Every day that President Trump and congressional Republicans refuse to take up Governor Newsom’s disaster supplemental request, survivors will continue to suffer. That is why Rep. Chu introduced H.R.6842, the Disaster Survivors Tax Relief and Recovery Act, to codify the tax provisions of Governor Newsom’s request to address critical gaps in the federal tax code that are impeding recovery for survivors of the Eaton Fire and other major disasters.

Specifically, the Disaster Survivors Tax Relief and Recovery Act would:

• Ensure the wildfire disaster settlements are excluded from taxation
• Remove penalties for survivors who withdrew up to $100,000 from their retirement plans and double the amount survivors can withdraw from their employer plans (401K, etc.) without being penalized from $50,000 to $100,000
• Provide an infusion of Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) to spur rebuilding in impacted communities
• Providing survivors a more generous refundable Child Tax Credit and/or Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) by allowing them to use their 2024 income if it is lower than their 2025 income.
• Increases charitable deduction limitations for qualified disaster relief donations and contributions.
• Allow survivors to claim disaster-related losses without the standard income limitations 

This bill is cosponsored by: Reps. Pete Aguilar (CA-33), Nanette Diaz Barragán (CA-44), Julia Brownley (CA-26), Salud O. Carbajal (CA-24), Jim Costa (CA-21), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), Laura Friedman (CA-30), John Garamendi (CA-08), Robert Garcia (CA-42), Sara Jacobs (CA-51), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Mike Levin (CA-49), Sam T. Liccardo (CA-16), Ted Lieu (CA-36), Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), Doris O. Matsui (CA-07), Dave Min (CA-47), Kevin Mullin (CA-15), Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), Nancy Pelosi (CA-11), Scott H. Peters (CA-50), Luz M. Rivas (CA-29), Raul Ruiz (CA-25), Linda T. Sánchez (CA-38), Brad Sherman (CA-32), Eric Swalwell (CA-14), Mark Takano (CA-39), Mike Thompson (CA-04), Derek Tran (CA-45), George Whitesides (CA-27). 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Pete Stauber (MN-08)

WASHINGTON D.C. — Today, Congressman Pete Stauber issued the following statement regarding the Trump Administration’s transmittal of Public Land Order (PLO) 7917 to Congress:

“I commend the Trump Administration for correcting the Biden Administration’s failure to properly notify Congress of this mineral withdrawal in the Superior National Forest. Under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA), the Secretary of the Interior is required to notify Congress of such a withdrawal. Now that it has been properly submitted to Congress under President Trump’s leadership, I plan to introduce a resolution under the Congressional Review Act (CRA), to disapprove of and nullify the Biden Administration’s illegal mineral withdrawal that banned mining in Northern Minnesota, locking up the Duluth Complex. This dangerous and illegal mining ban was thrust upon my constituents and our way of life in Northern Minnesota and put our nation’s mineral security in jeopardy. Northern Minnesota mined the iron ore the won this nation two World Wars and we will mine the copper, nickel, and other critical minerals that will allow the United States to compete and win in the 21st Century.”

Background: In January 2023, the Department of the Interior, at the direction of former President Joe Biden and former Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, issued Public Land Order (PLO) 7917, instituting a 20-year mineral withdrawal covering 225,504 acres in the Superior National Forest in Northern Minnesota. This mineral withdrawal banned mining and other responsible resource extraction in a strategically significant area of the Duluth Complex, which is the largest untapped copper-nickel deposit in the world. Under the Federal Lands Policy and Management Act (FLPMA), the Department of the Interior is required to notify Congress of public land orders impacting an excess of 5,000 acres. The Biden Administration failed to properly transmit PLO 7917 to Congress in January 2023.

Under the Congressional Review Act (CRA), Congress has the authority to review and disapprove of federal actions within 60 Senate session days of the action’s submission to Congress. If a CRA joint resolution of disapproval addressing a federal action is passed by both chambers and signed by the President, it is nullified and ceases to have effect (or is treated as never having taken effect). Additionally, under the CRA’s substantially similar provision, when a federal action is successfully disapproved of by Congress, the executive branch is prohibited from taking a substantially similar action in the future. PLO 7917 is now eligible for Congressional review under the CRA.

###

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Ilhan Omar (DFL-MN)

The Chairs of the Congressional Tri-Caucus—Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Chair Rep. Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) Chair Rep. Grace Meng (NY-06), and Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Chair Rep. Yvette Clarke (NY-09)—along with Congressional Progressive Caucus Deputy Chair Rep. Ilhan Omar (MN-05), released the following joint statement today in response to the deadly shooting by ICE agents in Minneapolis.

“We are deeply saddened and outraged by the deadly ICE shooting that occurred yesterday. Renee Nicole Good should be alive today. Instead, her wife, children, and family are left to carry unimaginable grief and loss.

“This tragedy was not inevitable. It is the result of deliberate choices made by Donald Trump and his administration. Over the past month, the president has repeatedly inflamed tensions, espoused hateful rhetoric, and intensified attacks on Minnesota and immigrant communities. That rhetoric, coupled with ICE’s increasingly violent actions and unchecked operations, created the conditions that led directly to this death. 

“We stand united in demanding real, immediate accountability for this agency, including calling for ICE operations to be suspended in Minnesota.”

###

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jason Crow (CO-06)

WASHINGTON — Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO-06), a combat veteran and member of the House Armed Services Committee, today introduced a War Powers Resolution to rein in the Trump Administration’s unilateral, unauthorized military action in Venezuela.

Following a classified Congressional briefing by Administration officials, Crow warned that the Trump Administration risks plunging the U.S. into another forever war in Venezuela. He highlighted Americans’ lack of appetite for more foreign intervention and underscored the need for leaders to focus on bringing down costs for every American.

Crow was joined by Representatives Jim McGovern (D-MA-02), Pat Ryan (D-NY-18), Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA-06), Maggie Goodlander (D-NH-02), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA-19), and Joaquin Castro (D-TX-20).

Watch Congressman Crow’s remarks here, and find a transcript of them below.

In his remarks, Crow said:

“As a three-time combat veteran, I get pretty damn hot when a five-time draft dodger like Donald Trump and soft-handed elites like Stephen Miller, bang the war drums in Washington, D.C., and talk about sending our troops on the ground and how tough they’re gonna be.

“Because what I learned years ago as a Ranger and a paratrooper is that when elites here, bang the war drums and pound their chest, it’s not them or their kids that they’re talking about. It’s working class kids and folks around this country, people like me and who I grew up with, that have to grab a rifle, get into a helicopter, get into a ship and do the thing. 

“America is done with that. Americans are done with sending our sons and daughters, our brothers and sisters to fight endless quagmire nation building wars on behalf of elites and oil executives, and to shed blood year, after year, after year. 

“As we sat there in Iraq and Afghanistan, every year, the generals and the admirals would say, one more year, one more troop surge, one more new strategy, and we’ll figure this out. Twenty years later, thousands of American lives and trillions of taxpayer dollars later, they ended in failure.

“The ghosts of those wars haunt us today. That’s what this is about, because nobody can ever tell me that if this body, the United States Congress, had done its job and constantly and every year debated, and voted, and went back to town halls, and high school gymnasiums, and rotary clubs around this country, and sat there in front of their constituents and said, ‘This is why you should spend trillions of dollars. This is why we should spend thousands of Americans to go and die,’ that they wouldn’t have ended earlier and differently.

“This is that moment for the Congress to retake its power, and its authority, and do its damn job. And if our colleagues are not willing to do their damn job, then they should go home. And if later on, when they’re called for a vote, they still aren’t willing to do their damn job, then later this year, we will send them home.

“America has had enough. We are stepping up to lead. We will stop the insanity. Americans deserve affordable healthcare, good infrastructure, affordable homes, and a strong and smart foreign policy and national security. They do not deserve the endless adventurism and corruption of Donald Trump and his administration. We are here to end it.”

###

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jason Crow (CO-06)

WASHINGTON — Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO-06), a combat veteran and member of the House Armed Services Committee, today said he has no confidence in President Trump’s plan for Venezuela.

Speaking after a classified briefing for Congress by administration officials, Crow warned that America will be less safe and prosperous if it extorts foreign countries for oil and tries to be a part of more nation-building efforts overseas.

Crow was joined by fellow veteran Representatives Seth Moulton (D-MA-06), Pat Ryan (D-NY-18), Ted Lieu (D-CA-36), Mike Thompson (D-CA-04), Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA-06), Chris Deluzio (D-PA-17), Eugene Vindman (D-VA-07), Maggie Goodlander (D-NH-02), Derek Tran (D-CA-45), Gil Cisneros (D-CA-31), and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA-19).

Watch Congressman Crow’s remarks here, and find a transcript of them below.

In his remarks, Crow said:

“Thank you, Jimmy, and thank you to my fellow veterans. It’s always an honor to stand with them in defense of our Constitution and our nation. 

“I must say, as a three-time combat veteran, I get pretty damn hot when a five-time draft dodger bangs the war drums, and talks about how easy it is to send boots on the ground in a foreign country. It’s a pattern of abusing our military, disrespecting our military, that continues to this day. 

“You know, I learned years ago that when elites bang the war drums and talk tough in Washington D.C., they’re not talking about them or their kids going to do the thing, they’re talking about kids like me, working class folks from around this country, where I grew up, that have to pick up a gun, jump into a helicopter, or a tank, or a ship, and go do the hard work. 

“And that’s why I bristle when elites once more in this town are so cavalier about the use of American lives and the use of American military power. Let’s also be clear that our job as members of Congress is not to be cheerleaders. You’ve seen all sorts of our Republican colleagues talking about how amazing this operation was, I agree with them. There’s no doubt that we have the ability to go almost anywhere in the world, and at the time and place of our choosing, kill or capture our adversaries or our enemies. That is true, but that’s not our job as members of Congress. Our job is to make sure that’s being done the right way, and for the right reasons, and we’re being stewards of the taxpayer dollar. 

“Here are some things we know to be true, there’s a lot we don’t know, but here are some things we do know to be true. This is not about drugs, and this will not stop the scourge of fentanyl and meth that is killing our children and devastating our communities, because none of those drugs actually come from Venezuela. The drugs that are actually killing our kids are coming from other places. 

“Here’s another thing we know to be true: this is not about democracy and freedom for the people of Venezuela, because you’ve just heard over and over again that the Maduro regime remains intact. In fact, it’s more oppressive sitting here today than it ever has been. 

“What this is is Donald Trump acting like an organized crime boss and using our military to shake down foreign leaders. Not only is that wrong and illegal, but it’s gonna undermine the safety and security of the American people. Because a smaller, weaker America with fewer friends means we have to go it alone. And when we go it alone, Americans have to suffer the consequences. 

“That’s what this is about. That’s what we will continue to fight back against. That is what our duty and our oath compel.”

###

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Sean Casten (IL-06)

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Robert Aderholt (AL-04)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the FY26 Energy and Water; Commerce, Justice, Science; and Interior and Environment conference package, negotiated on a bipartisan, bicameral basis. This package includes funding for a project in the city of Guntersville in Marshall County, which Congressman Aderholt had directly requested.

The project receiving funds is an expansion of the sanitary sewer into the Warrenton area of Guntersville for $2,174,898. This growing area, with new subdivisions, is currently not connected to the city sewer system and relies on septic tanks. The conversion of septic tanks and field lines to grinder pumps and low-pressure force mains will reduce the potential for biological contaminants to Lake Guntersville.

Community Project Funding returns tax dollars directly to local communities, ensuring federal spending addresses local needs and represents constituents.

“Republicans are delivering America First results by restoring U.S. energy dominance, strengthening nuclear deterrence, bolstering public safety, and eliminating Biden-era policies. This is responsible, transparent work in action,” said Congressman Robert Aderholt. “Appropriators are committed to restoring regular order to the committee process and are doing exactly what we said we would for the American people. Delivering real results.”

Appropriators have worked hard negotiating and finalizing bills. This Appropriations package keeps the committee on track to complete all 12 FY26 Appropriations bills.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mike Thompson Representing the 5th District of CALIFORNIA

Washington – Today, House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force Chairman Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-04) released the following statement marking 15 years since the shooting in Tucson, Arizona that targeted former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords. Six people were killed and 14 others were injured, including Giffords.

“Fifteen years ago, Gabby Giffords went to work to serve her constituents at a routine constituent event. That day, a horrific act of gun violence shattered lives forever. Six people were killed, 14 others were injured, and a community, and our nation, were left grieving.

“In the years since, Gabby has shown extraordinary courage and resolve. She refused to let violence define her or our future, turning tragedy into action and becoming one of the most powerful voices in the fight to prevent gun violence. I’m proud to call her a friend and to have worked alongside her to pass lifesaving legislation like the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act to keep guns out of dangerous hands.

“On this anniversary, we honor the lives lost—Christina-Taylor Green, Dorothy Morris, John Roll, Phyllis Schneck, Dorwan Stoddard, and Gabe Zimmerman. Christina-Taylor Green was just nine years old, taken far too soon, and Gabe Zimmerman was the first congressional staffer killed in the line of duty. We remember them, mourn with their loved ones, and recommit ourselves to the fight to keep our communities safe from gun violence.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-07), Co-Chair of the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC), and fellow Co-Chairs Reps. Mike Quigley, and Paul Tonko and Vice Chairs Reps. Don Beyer, Suzanne Bonamici, Sean Casten, Mike Levin, and Chellie Pingree, released the following statement in response to President Trump’s decision to withdraw the United States from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, alongside 65 additional international organizations.

 

“Today, President Donald Trump sent a dangerous signal to the global community that America is withdrawing from its role as a world leader, leaving America weaker, poorer, and more unsafe than ever before. 

“By directing the withdrawal of the United States from 66 international organizations, including numerous international climate and environmental entities, Trump is abandoning America’s international leadership and allowing competitors and adversaries to step into the void we leave behind. At a time when climate change impacts are accelerating – whether it’s ever-worsening fire seasons, more intense hurricanes, or prolonged droughts – choosing withdrawal over leadership is shortsighted and profoundly irresponsible. Climate change does not respect borders, and we cannot address this crisis alone.

“All Donald Trump has succeeded in today was throwing away decades of leadership and global collaboration on key issues that were actively improving the lives of the American people.”

# # #

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman David G Valadao (CA-21)