MIL USHOR-2b Engine

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

WASHINGTON — Congressman Robert Aderholt (AL-04) announced today that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is awarding $520,000 to support water system improvements in the Town of Garden City.

This funding was secured through the FY 2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act (P.L. 117–328) as part of Congress’s effort to strengthen local water infrastructure and ensure communities have access to safe, reliable water services.

“Clean, dependable water is essential for every community, and this investment will help Garden City make needed improvements to its water system,” said Congressman Aderholt. “I am proud to support funding that strengthens critical infrastructure in North Alabama and helps ensure residents have access to safe water now and into the future.”

The Garden City project is one of 715 congressionally directed water infrastructure projects funded nationwide through the EPA’s Community Grants program. In FY 2023, Congress provided $1.47 billion for these projects under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023.

Congressman Aderholt emphasized that investments like this one are vital to maintaining strong communities and supporting long-term growth.

“This grant is good news for Garden City and the surrounding area,” Aderholt added. “It will help the town modernize its water system and better serve local families and businesses.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Julia Brownley (D-CA)

Camarillo, CA – Yesterday, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA) held a press conference outside of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) field office in Camarillo. Joined by faith leaders, community organizers, and fellow elected officials, Congresswoman Brownley condemned the brutality of U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem’s immigration enforcement operations and demanded an immediate end to the Trump administration’s lawlessness and lack of accountability.

“We are united by a shared belief that every life has worth, and that we cannot stand by quietly or passively while brutality goes unchallenged,” said Congresswoman Brownley. “All people deserve to live in safety, free from fear and free from violence at the hands of their own government. That is why I have stood against funding for an agency that has operated without meaningful oversight or accountability and that has, far too often, inflicted harm and terror on communities across this country.”

“This moment demands action – not words alone,” continued Congresswoman Brownley. “We are demanding concrete reforms to rein in the Department of Homeland Security, restore accountability, and end these lawless practices. We are demanding that Kristi Noem be fired. We are demanding an end to warrantless arrests, stopping raids in places of care and refuge like churches and schools. And we are demanding that those responsible for violence and wrongdoing are held fully accountable, including at the highest levels of leadership.”

“We must be not only angry, but gentle with ourselves and each other,” said Rev. Dr. Betty Stapleford, Co-Chair of CLUE VC (Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice Ventura County). “We can’t stay with anger forever, consumed by our rage. We must decide what we are going to do about it, and we must join with others to make a difference, to act for good. So, I ask you today to focus your anger, to join with others in this work, and to transform our outrage into strong words and action. Then, let us hope that justice will come to more and more of our people.” 

“Our community is strong because of its diversity. We will continue standing up against this overreach of power to protect our rights, peace, and neighbors,” said California State Assemblymember Steve Bennett, 38th District. 

“Our communities will not feel safe until ICE stops their terror — we should not be afraid to leave our homes,” said Ventura County Supervisor Vianey Lopez, Fifth District. “We should be able to lean on each other in this time of crisis, for the good of the constituencies we all represent. And we should not be afraid to speak up to the injustices we see everyday. We must do better, and I ask that leaders in this county recognize the climate we are in and the role they can play to support our communities.”

“I think I speak for all the clergy here today when I say that we are answering a moral call to seek justice for immigrant communities here in Ventura County,” said Pastor Erik Halseth, Unitarian Universalist Church of Ventura. “Whether it is farmworkers being chased through fields, families afraid to send their children to schools, people being disappeared off of our streets or killed on them, it is time for change. The faith traditions of all of us gathered here today, teach us about the inherent dignity of every human being. When people are denied human dignity, it is time to look in the mirror and ask ourselves where we stand. When institutions create fear instead of safety, our communities pay a moral and social price. When laws are twisted into a cruel instrument, it is time to act.”

“Now is the time to extend grace, as we move forward to save the country we love and reaffirm humanity and dignity of all,” Dr. Martita Martinez-Bravo, Vice Mayor of the City of Camarillo and Executive Director of Friends of Fieldworkers.

“We cannot lose sight of why these tactics are being used against communities. It’s to keep us in silent complicity while immigrant families are being torn apart,” said Genevieve Flores-Haro, Associate Director of the Mixteco Indigena Community Organizing Project. “We have to remember the people behind the statistics. The 32 deaths in ICE detention last year are not numbers. They are fathers, mothers, farmworkers, and beloved community members. Someone’s ser querido. People like Jaime Alanis Garcia, Keith Porter, Renee Good, and Alex Pretti — their deaths were preventable. This is unacceptable.”

Brownley was joined by a number of community leaders, including:

• Dr. César Morales, Ventura County Superintendent of Schools
• Rabbi Lisa Hochberg-Miller, Temple Beth Torah, Ventura
• Father Tom Elewaut, Mission Basilica San Buenaventura
• Dr. Jeannette Sanchez-Palacios, Mayor, City of Ventura
• Luis McArthur, Mayor, City of Oxnard
• Gabe Teran, Mayor Pro Tem, City of Oxnard
• Michaela Perez, Councilmember, City of Oxnard
• Gabriela Basua, Councilmember, City of Oxnard
• Dr. Martha McQueen-Legohn, Mayor, City of Port Hueneme
• Laura Hernandez, Mayor Pro Tem, City of Port Hueneme
• Carlos Juarez, Mayor, City of Santa Paula
• Pedro Chavez, Councilmember, City of Santa Paula
• Gabby Ornelas, Councilmember, City of Santa Paula
• Albert Mendez, Mayor, City of Fillmore
• Christina Villasenor, Councilmember, City of Fillmore
• Tie Gutierrez, Councilmember, City of Thousand Oaks
• Deborah Klein-Lopez, Mayor Pro Tem, City of Agoura Hills
• Karen Sher, President, Oxnard Union High School District 
• Cynthia Salas, Trustee, Oxnard School District
• Bev Dransfeldt, Chair, Pleasant Valley Recreation and Park District
• Ashley Orozco, Director, Conejo Recreation and Park District
• Hannah Lee, Representative for Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin
• Lupe Lopez Garcia, Representative for Senate President Pro Tempore Monique Limón
• Willie Lubka, Buen Vecino
• Denae Lassan, 805 Immigrant Coalition
• Joseph Dobzynski, 805 Immigrant Coalition

Photos from the press conference can be found here. A transcript of Congresswoman Brownley’s remarks at the press conference can be found here.

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Issues: 119th Congress, Immigration

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

MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) wrote to Governor Bill Lee on Friday evening asking him to seek Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) assistance for Shelby County for expenses incurred in response to the recent snowstorm. Congressman Cohen noted that the preliminary damage assessment of $4.7 million exceeds the minimum requirement for seeking the assistance.

The letter reads in part:

“I kindly request that you amend your January 28 request for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), under the provisions of Section 501 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. 5121-5207 (Stafford Act), and implemented by 44 CFR 206.35, to include Shelby County in response to the severe snow and ice storm that hit our region starting on January 22, 2026. This winter storm included a mixture of sleet, snow, and freezing rain, which resulted in damages to buildings and equipment, utilities, and costs incurred for emergency protective measures. 

“As of January 30, the preliminary damage assessment reports from the Shelby County Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency is $4.7 million including $2.5 million from MLGW, $1.7 million from the City of Memphis, $448,520 for Memphis Shelby County Schools, and $35,738 for the City of Millington. Since the amount of damages from this storm has exceeded the minimum requirement, I ask that you amend your request to include Shelby County. 

“This request is prudent to ensure that our county can receive the necessary support to adequately address the damages that have been incurred. I appreciate your swift action and attention to this matter.”

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

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn.) announced today that she secured $16,089,000 in federal funding for 13 community projects in Minnesota’s Fourth Congressional district. The funding was included in bipartisan appropriations bills for Fiscal Year 2026 (H.R. 6938; H.R. 7148) passed by the Senate today after House passage last week. After the chaos of last year, including the Trump government shutdown – the longest in U.S. history – this bipartisan legislation was stripped of partisan policies and will now become law when the president signs it.

“This $16 million in federal investment in East Metro communities will make our neighborhoods stronger, safer, and more secure,” said Congresswoman Betty McCollum. “Through investments in our libraries, fire departments, police departments, roads, bridges, and water treatment facilities, we are strengthening our communities as we face economic and environmental challenges together. I thank local officials for their partnership on these projects and advocacy for our communities.” 

Congresswoman McCollum secured funding for five projects through the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Subcommittee:

• $3,150,000 for the Hayden Heights Library Renovation (City of Saint Paul)
  This funding will be used to complete construction of the Hayden Heights Library Reconstruction project. The building’s conditions need to be improved to meet the needs of the community on the East Side of Saint Paul.
• $2,000,000 for the East Metro Public Safety Training Center Expansion (City of Maplewood)
  This project would expand the East Metro Public Safety Training Center, used by 27 agencies who will use the facility to train first responders and enhance public safety in the East Metro.
• $1,350,000 for the Weir Drive Reconstruction Phase II (City of Woodbury)
  This project will complete the reconstruction of a half-mile stretch of Weir Drive, a dead-end roadway serving an apartment complex, middle school, and several businesses. When it floods, it cuts off access for residents in and out of Weir Drive. This project will elevate two low points along Weir Drive that currently convey stormwater to maintain access for residents, students, businesses, and first responders.
• $1,250,000  for the Burn Building Restoration (City of Saint Paul)
  The funding will be used to restore a condemned 52-year-old on-site burn building to operational use for training firefighters from the Saint Paul Fire Department and surrounding area departments. Replacing the current, obsolete fire training burn building will enable the fire department to provide real-life training to prepare responders for lifesaving rescue operations. The project is an investment in the life, health, and safety of approximately 307,000 Saint Paul residents who rely on the Saint Paul Fire Department’s expertise and readiness to respond in the event of a fire.
• $250,000 for the County Highway 18 and Settlers Ridge Parkway Reconstruction (Washington County)
  This project will improve safety and operations at the intersection of County Highway 18 and Settlers Ridge Parkway in the City of Woodbury through the construction of a roundabout. This will improve safety for drivers, pedestrians, and bicycle users, and will also improve stormwater management. 

Congresswoman McCollum secured funding for two projects through the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee:

• $1,092,000 for the Municipal Water Supply Project, Phase 2 (City of Gem Lake)
  This funding will be used for the construction phase of a new water supply system to provide safe drinking water to residents after the discovery of contamination of local private wells. The construction of water infrastructure will provide for the health and safety of local residents by supplying them with safe drinking water.
• $1,092,000 for the PFAS Water Treatment Facility (City of Stillwater)
  This funding will be used for the construction of a new water treatment facility to provide safe drinking water to residents following the discovery of several per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) at amounts exceeding maximum contaminant levels established by the U.S. EPA. This project supports the health and safety of residents by supplying them with safe drinking water.

Congresswoman McCollum secured funding for six projects through the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee:

• $1,031,000  for the Recidivism Reduction through Workforce Participation (Finishing Trades Institute of the Upper Midwest)
  The funding will be used to provide pre-apprenticeship training for currently incarcerated individuals with the goal of reducing recidivism. It is a good use of taxpayer funds because it will reduce prison reentry and provide inmates with pathways to be productive citizens.
• $750,000  for the Wet Bulb Globe Temp Sensor Network (Ramsey County)
  The funding will be used to establish a Wet Bulb Globe Temp Sensor network in Ramsey County. The data collected using these experimental forecasting tools will demonstrate both their effectiveness and provide the National Weather Service with more accurate heat data in urban areas.
• $1,031,000  for the CCTV Improvement Project (City of Saint Paul)
  This funding will be used to replace antiquated CCTV equipment and maintain the City of Saint Paul’s Police Department’s ability to monitor activity in the downtown business district and the Ports along the Mississippi River.
• $1,031,000  for the Replacing Records Management and Report Writing System (City of Saint Paul)
  This funding will be used to replace the police records management and report writing system for the City of Saint Paul. This will streamline the police department’s report writing and record keeping by consolidating the city’s record management system, improving efficiency within the police department.
• $1,031,000  for Body-worn and Squad Car Cameras (Washington County)
  The funding will be used to acquire 170 body-worn cameras and 100 fleet cameras for the Washington County Sherriff’s Office (WCSO), improving the capabilities of the WCSO and supporting effectiveness and transparency in the office.
• $1,031,000  for Records Management System (City of Woodbury)
  The funding will be used to acquire a specialized record management system for the city — increasing efficiency, improving case and evidence management, and enhancing officer safety and situational awareness.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Austin Scott (GA-08)

Tifton, Ga.—U.S. Representative Austin Scott (GA-08) today announced that his office is taking submissions for the 2026 Congressional Art Competition.

All high school students (9-12th grade) who reside in or attend school in the Eighth Congressional District are encouraged to participate.

The winning entry will be displayed in the United States Capitol for a year alongside artwork from every congressional district across the country. Artwork submitted must be original in concept, design, and execution, no larger than 26” x 26” x 4”, and can be in the form of paintings (oil, acrylics, watercolor, etc.), drawings (pastels, colored pencil, pencil, charcoal, ink, markers), collage (must be two dimensional), prints (lithographs, silkscreen, block prints), mixed media, computer-generated art, or photography.

All artwork must be framed and submitted by April 17th at one of the following drop-off locations:

Rep. Scott’s District Office in Warner Robins: 120 Byrd Way, Suite 100, Warner Robins, GA

Rep. Scott’s District Office in Tifton: 127-B Central Ave N, Tifton, GA

Artwork that is submitted on a canvas does not require framing; however, it must have hooks affixed for hanging.

This year, all the entries from across the district will be displayed at the Syd Blackmarr Art Center in Tifton, Georgia, for an exhibit and awards ceremony in early May.

To learn more about the Congressional Art Competition, visit here.

For more information or questions, please contact Charles White at (229) 376-8061 or email charles.white@mail.house.gov.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Julia Brownley (D-CA)

Camarillo, CA – Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley held a press conference outside the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) field office in Camarillo. Joined by faith leaders, community organizers, and fellow elected officials, Congresswoman Brownley condemned the brutality and lawlessness of the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement operations across the nation. Below are Congresswoman Brownley’s remarks as prepared:

“Across faiths, backgrounds, and convictions, there is a shared teaching that guides us in moments like this: we are not measured by what we claim to believe, but by how we treat one another – especially when people are hurting, afraid, or under threat. That teaching is why we are here today.

“I want to begin by thanking the faith leaders, community organizers, local elected officials, and neighbors who have come together today in solidarity. Your presence reflects the strength of this community and our shared commitment to stand with one another in a moment of deep pain and moral urgency.

“What we are witnessing in this country, and in communities from Minneapolis to right here at home, is heartbreaking. Families are living in fear. Lives have been lost. And many of us are struggling to reconcile the violence and cruelty we are seeing with the values we hold close. 

“For many of us, this has been a time of prayer, reflection, and turning to our faith and conscience for guidance – because what we are witnessing is not just political failure, it is a moral one.

“Recently, Pope Leo spoke to the world and reminded us of the words from the Gospel of Matthew. He said that at the end of the world, the Lord will ask a simple and piercing question: How did you treat the foreigner? That question reaches beyond any single faith tradition. It speaks directly to our shared humanity and to the responsibility each of us has in this moment.

“We are a community made up of many faiths, many traditions, and many beliefs.  And standing here today, it is clear that we are united by much more than what divides us. We are united by a shared belief that every life has worth, and that we cannot stand by quietly or passively while brutality goes unchallenged.

“All people deserve to live in safety, free from fear and free from violence at the hands of their own government. That is why I have stood against funding for an agency that has operated without meaningful oversight or accountability and that has, far too often, inflicted harm and terror on communities across this country. 

“And “we the people” are rejecting this abuse of power and demanding real change.

“This moment demands action – not words alone.  We are demanding concrete reforms to rein in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, restore accountability, and end these lawless practices. We are demanding that Kristi Noem be fired. We are demanding an end to warrantless arrests, stopping raids in places of care and refuge like churches and schools.  We are demanding transparency and the unmasking and identification of federal agents.  We are demanding humane conditions in detention centers and an end to the detention and deportation of U.S. citizens, asylum seekers, refugees, and immigrants without due process. 

“And we are demanding that those responsible for violence and wrongdoing are held fully accountable, including at the highest levels of leadership.

“This is a turning point. And we are here today because our faiths, our values, and our conscience demand that we meet this moment with courage, unity, and resolve.

“And let me say this clearly: the observers, the protesters, and the people of conscience who are showing up and speaking out: you are necessary. You are essential. You are answering a moral call with courage. 

“We cannot and we will not normalize this brutality. We will not allow the story of who we are to be defined by ugliness or fear. We will write a different chapter – one rooted in justice, compassion, and accountability. And we will not be silent until humanity prevails.”

Photos from the press conference can be found here.

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Issues: 119th Congress, Immigration

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

AURORA — Congressman Jason Crow (CO-06), a three-time combat veteran and former Army Ranger, released the following statement after the Trump Administration’s Department of Justice, led by Attorney General Pam Bondi, arrested independent journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort for reporting on protests in Minneapolis:

“There’s nothing more American than the right to dissent and question authority. It’s who we are and how we became a country. I went to war three times for our nation. I swore to uphold the Constitution. There’s no way in hell I’m letting Donald Trump take these rights away now.

“Independent journalists like Don Lemon and Georgia Fort are being arrested simply for doing their jobs: seeking the truth. It’s an attack on every American’s right to know what its government is doing.

“Generations of Americans have fought and sacrificed for our freedoms. It’s our obligation now to defend them.”

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

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), alongside Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03), and Our Revolution introduced the Defund the Oligarchs, Fund the People Resolution demanding Congress moves with urgency to tax the rich and massive corporations and reinvest in the needs of working people to defend democracy from authoritarianism.

The legislation calls for an end to the political and economic dominance of billionaire oligarchs. The combined wealth of America’s 900 billionaires exceeds that of the 67 million people in the poorest 50% of the population. As wealth concentrates, our democracy becomes less responsive to the needs of everyday people, and necessities like housing and health care have become unaffordable. Campaign contributions allow ultra-rich oligarchs and corporations to purchase influence, winning tax breaks for the oil and gas industry, unrestricted development of artificial intelligence, and industry-friendly crypto legislation. Instead of addressing the affordability crisis or stagnant wages, President Trump has spent the last year enriching himself and his family, while providing staggering returns to ultrawealthy donors, including by enacting massive tax cuts for the rich while slashing benefits for the poor and working class.

“Trump promised to lower costs for families on day one, but a year since he took office, grocery, housing, and health care costs are out of control,” said Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib. “He signed into law the largest cuts to health care and food assistance in the history of our country, all to give trillions of dollars in tax breaks to his rich donors and their massive corporations. Meanwhile, 60% of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck and CEOs are making 281 times more than their average worker. It’s time to tax the rich, defund the oligarchy, and invest those funds in the needs of working families.”

“While working families have to choose between paying rent, buying groceries, or keeping the heat on, billionaires are just getting richer,” said Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal. “We must rein in corporate power by breaking up monopolies and reforming campaign finance laws. It’s time to make billionaires pay their fair share of taxes and reinvest those funds to provide for our communities — housing, health care, and education. Our resolution calls for a political and economic system that benefits working families, not one that enriches the ultra wealthy.”

“At a time when working families are facing a crushing affordability crisis, our hard-earned tax dollars should not be used to terrorize our communities, fund violations of our rights, or hand out subsidies to the ultra-wealthy and corporations that profit from our suffering. Congress can choose to end it,” said Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez. “I am proud to join Congresswoman Tlaib and Congresswoman Jayapal as a co-lead of the Defund the Oligarchs, Fund the People Resolution because I value working people, our democracy, and our civil rights and liberties. It is time we use our resources to ensure working people have every single thing they need to thrive, from living wages to affordable housing to universal healthcare, and so much more!”

“Every dollar that gets plundered by billionaires through tax breaks, corporate giveaways, and political favoritism is a dollar that is taken away from healthcare, housing, education, and good jobs. That is not just corruption, it is a betrayal of who government is supposed to serve, and it is why so many people feel that democracy is not working for them,” said Joseph Geevarghese, Executive Director of Our Revolution. “The truth is, none of the policies working families are fighting for can ever fully materialize as long as corporate money and billionaire influence are writing the rules. Lawmakers cannot keep pretending to serve both the corporate class and working families at the same time. If we want real progress on wages, healthcare, housing, and climate, cutting off corporate corruption and reinvesting in our communities has to be part of how we govern, not just something we talk about during elections.”

Concentrated wealth has captured our economy and political system. Ultimately, a truly democratic society requires a democratic economy, where power derived from ownership and control over economic resources is widely distributed and democratically accountable. Instead of cultivating corporate control, Congress must invest in the needs of working people and build an economy that supports democracy instead of undermining it.

Congresswoman Summer Lee (PA-12) also joins this resolution as an original cosponsor.

This legislation is endorsed by Our Revolution, Americans for Tax Fairness, Climate and Community Institute, Demos, Detroit Justice Center, Income Movement, MoveOn, National Nurses United, Patriotic Millionaires, People’s Action, Public Citizen, RootsAction, Social Security Works, Tax the Greedy Billionaires, United for Respect, and Wellbeing Economy Alliance (WEAll).

A copy of the legislation is available here.

Issues: Government Reform & Ethics