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House Foreign Affairs Ranking Member Meeks Requests Rubio’s Attendance for Public Hearing on Venezuela

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Gregory W Meeks (5th District of New York)

Washington, D.C. – Representative Gregory W. Meeks, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, invited Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Deputy Secretary Chris Landau to participate in a special meeting Meeks and Committee Democrats will host on Wednesday, January 14th.

Despite repeated requests from Ranking Member Meeks, Chairman Brian Mast has refused to hold public hearings on the administration’s actions in the Caribbean and Venezuela policy. The hearing will be an opportunity for Rubio and Landau to inform the American public on the administration’s actions. 

A PDF of the letter can be found here. 

“I am writing to request your participation at special meeting on Venezuela held by Democratic Members on the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Wednesday, January 14th, 8:30 AM EST, in Rayburn House Office Building Room 2168. As Members of Congress, we have a constitutional duty to conduct oversight of the Executive Branch. The recent, unauthorized military operations in Venezuela raise serious questions into the Administration’s objectives in Venezuela, which have run counter to what has been communicated to Member of Congress at briefings late last year.

“For the past three months, we have struggled to understand the Administration’s justifications for a military buildup and use of military force in the Caribbean and Venezuela. First, we were told it was the drugs, then it was regime change, then it was oil. The American people deserve straight answers from the Administration to understand why military action was taken without Congressional authorization, why the lives of service members were put at risk, and why millions of their tax dollars were spent on a military operation that did nothing to advance a democratic transition and left those running Maduro’s regime intact, with no plan for what comes next. Democratic Members of this Committee and our fellow Americans deserve transparency and justification from this administration before jumping into another forever war. We look forward to your attendance on Wednesday, January 14th.”

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House Foreign Affairs Ranking Member Meeks, Amo, Garcia Demand Investigation into Trump Despot-Whisperer Witkoff’s Sketchy Business Dealings

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Gregory W Meeks (5th District of New York)

Washington, DC – Representatives Gregory W. Meeks, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Gabe Amo, Vice Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Robert Garcia, Ranking Member of the House Oversight Committee, sent a letter demanding the Acting Inspectors General of the Departments of Commerce and State immediately investigate potential conflicts of interest and ethics violations by Special Envoy Steve Witkoff. 

Evidence suggests that Mr. Witkoff is enriching himself and his family by making cryptocurrency deals with foreign financial backers while jet-setting between sensitive international negotiations supposedly on behalf of the American people. An investigation is needed to ensure that his conflicts of interest do not compromise our national security.  

The Members write: 

“Transparency and accountability in foreign financial relationships are essential to restoring public trust and ensuring that U.S. policy and business practices remain free from undue influence.

“We urge you to investigate the potential conflicts of interest and ethics violations of Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff. Public reporting has suggested that Mr. Witkoff used his role to financially benefit himself and his family, including through his continued connections to World Liberty Financial.

“In September 2024, Mr. Witkoff co-founded the cryptocurrency company World Liberty Financial (WLF) alongside his two sons, President Donald Trump, Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump, and Barron Trump. On November 12, 2024, President Trump announced that Mr. Witkoff would serve as his Special Envoy to the Middle East. Questions quickly arose about the potential conflict of interest between Mr. Witkoff’s new role and he and his family’s personal financial interests in WLF.

“After President Trump took office in January 2025, Mr Witkoff claimed that he was stepping away from his role in WLF. In March of 2025, he stated that he was in the process of divesting from WLF and transferring his holdings to his sons. However Mr. Witkoff’s financial disclosure from August shows that he still has a financial interest in WLF.

“The growing ties between WLF and the very countries Mr. Witkoff negotiates with as Special Envoy is particularly alarming.

“Therefore, we respectfully request that you investigate the potential conflicts of interest and violations of ethics laws by Mr. Witkoff in connection with his personal and familial financial interest in WLF.”

The full text of the letter can be found here.

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LEADER JEFFRIES: “THE PEOPLE’S HOUSE HAS JUST DELIVERED A DECISIVE VICTORY FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)

Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries held a press conference with Democratic Whip Katherine Clark and Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar, where he emphasized that Democrats successfully passed an extension of the ACA tax credits and that Senate Republicans must work with Democrats to protect the healthcare of the American people.

LEADER JEFFRIES: The People’s House has just delivered a decisive victory for the American people by extending the Affordable Care Act tax credits to prevent tens of millions of Americans from experiencing dramatically-increased health insurance premiums. The Senate said it was impossible to do. But where I’m from, difficult takes a day, impossible takes a week. And in this first full week of the new year, House Democrats, every single one of us, joined by 17 Republicans, have partnered in a bipartisan way to protect the healthcare of the American people. 

House Democrats said from the very beginning that we would pour every ounce of heart, soul, spirit and strength that we have to stand up for the healthcare of the American people and to address the affordability crisis that exists in the United States of America. I’m thankful for the resolve of the House Democratic Caucus and our partnership with Senate Democrats, who made clear for months beginning in September that our commitment was to fix our broken healthcare system and address the Republican healthcare crisis, beginning with the extension of the Affordable Care Act tax credits. I’m thankful for the leadership of Katherine Clark and Pete Aguilar and Richie Neal and Frank Pallone, and every single House Democrat, including Lauren Underwood, who’s been a steadfast leader and supporter of the Affordable Care Act tax credits, which are all about protecting the healthcare of working class Americans, middle class Americans and everyday Americans. And that’s what House Democrats will always be about.

I’m thankful for the leadership of Senator Chuck Schumer and every single Senate Democrat who, in December, supported legislation for a straightforward three-year extension of the Affordable Care Act tax credits. And we know that that legislation has a majority of support in the United States Senate right now. Every single Senate Democrat and at least four Senate Republicans. John Thune needs to bring the bill up for a vote immediately and stop playing procedural games that are jeopardizing the health and safety and well-being of the American people.

Full press conference can be watched here.


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Evans Welcomes House Vote to Restore Health-Care Tax Credits, Reverse Jan. 1 Cost Spike for 500,000 Pennsylvanians

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Dwight Evans (2nd District of Pennsylvania)

House Democrats forced vote; Philly congressman says ‘sense of urgency’ needed from Senate & Trump

WASHINGTON (Jan. 8, 2026) – Congressman Dwight Evans (D-PA-3) celebrated the House of Representatives’ vote to restore health-care tax credits and reverse a Jan. 1 cost spike for 22 million Americans’ health insurance.

“I’m proud that House Democrats forced this vote to undo a cost increase of hundreds or thousands of dollars per month in people’s health-insurance premiums. This affects about 500,000 Pennsylvanians. Now we need the Senate and President Trump to have a sense of urgency about it!” Evans said. 

The bill the House passed would provide a three-year extension of Affordable Care Act tax credits that expired Jan. 1.

“Without action to restore these tax credits, an estimated 150,000 Pennsylvanians will have to drop their coverage, and about 350,000 other Pennsylvanians will be making tough choices to pay for a massive increase in their premiums. Republicans in Congress showed a sense of urgency when President Trump pressured them to pass tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans by July 4, six months ago. These 500,000 Pennsylvanians need the Senate and the president to give them that same treatment!” Evans said.

After months of persistent advocacy by Evans and other House Democrats, four Republicans joined them in December in signing a discharge petition to force a House vote on the health-care bill. The same procedure was recently used to pass the Epstein Files Transparency Act. 

Evans again addressed two key reasons why some Republicans in Congress have opposed renewing the tax credits:

“These tax credits aren’t about Covid – President Biden proposed them in 2019, several months before the Covid crisis began in the U.S., and more than a year before he took office in January 2021.

“And claims of fraud appear to be overblown, especially in states that run their own health-insurance exchanges like Pennsylvania does with Pennie.com. The Trump administration does need to explain why it reinstated 850 agents and brokers who had been suspended from Affordable Care Act enrollment for suspected fraudulent or abusive conduct related to unauthorized enrollments or plan switches.

“The bottom line is: Congress and President Trump need to renew these health-care tax credits – NOW!” Evans said.

Evans represents the 3rd Congressional District, which includes Northwest and West Philadelphia and parts of North, South, Southwest and Center City Philadelphia. During his time in Congress, his office has returned to or saved more than $45.5 million for constituents in cases involving federal agencies such as the IRS, Social Security Administration and Department of Veterans Affairs. 

Evans serves on the influential House Ways and Means Committee, including its Subcommittee on Health. The committee oversees Social Security, Medicare, taxes, and trade. Evans’ website is evans.house.gov and his social media handle is @RepDwightEvans on YouTube, Bluesky, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads.

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Planetary Science Caucus Co-Chairs Statement on House Passage of FY26 Full-Year Funding for Space, Science, and Exploration

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

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 397-28 to pass H.R. 6938, the Commerce, Justice, Science; Energy and Water Development; and Interior and Environment Appropriations Act, 2026. Rep Judy Chu (CA-28) and Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02), who both co-Chair the bipartisan Congressional Planetary Science Caucus, released the following joint statement:

“As Co-Chairs of the Planetary Science Caucus, we were extremely alarmed by the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) proposal to dramatically cut federal funding in FY26 for space because we know these investments are essential to scientific research and discovery, to our national security, to growing our space economy and workforce, and to maintaining the United States’ standing as the global leader in space. That is why we have been working closely with our congressional colleagues of both parties to ensure a robust space budget. Thankfully, with today’s vote, the House has rejected many of the OMB’s cuts to space by advancing sustained funding for NASA, including for its Science Mission Directorate and Office of STEM Engagement, for our other science agencies like the National Science Foundation, and by maintaining many of the critical NASA missions the OMB had proposed to cancel. With today’s passage of this bill, Congress has averted disaster and put the United States back on track to maintaining our preeminence in space. 

While we were proud to vote for these investments, we are nonetheless disappointed that the bill supports the OMB’s plan to cancel the Mars Sample Return (MSR) mission to bring samples from the Mars surface back to Earth – samples which have already been collected by the Perseverance rover. This is our nation’s highest-priority planetary science mission according to the 2023 Planetary Sciences Decadal Survey and is critical to paving the way for eventual exploration of the planet. Our nation already lost hundreds of Mars experts at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory last year due to shortsighted budget cuts to MSR, and we cannot afford to lose more. However, we are encouraged that today’s bill provides funding for future Mars missions and we look forward to working with NASA, congressional colleagues, and all our partners to finally return these samples and maintain American expertise and leadership on the red planet.”

Rep. Judy Chu’s district includes Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), a NASA Center administered by the California Institute of Technology (Caltech).

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U.S. Rep. McCollum: "I will always fight to protect our pristine Boundary Waters"

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

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber (R, MN-08) announced that he is working with President Trump on a questionable scheme to use the Congressional Review Act to overturn the current federal ban on toxic sulfide ore mining within the headwaters of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA) Wilderness. In response, Congresswoman McCollum (D, MN-04) issued the following statement: 

“The Boundary Waters is a national treasure. As our country’s most visited wilderness area, the BWCA protects over one million acres of pristine forests and lakes with some of the cleanest freshwater in the world. The federal mineral withdrawal put in place under the Biden administration prevents toxic sulfide ore mining in the headwaters, and it was the result of years of comprehensive and scientifically-sound environmental analysis. The repeated efforts by the Trump administration and Congressman Stauber to overturn this withdrawal are anti-science and ignore the public input which overwhelmingly supported these protections.

“I will continue to fight against any efforts by the Trump Administration and Republicans in Congress to overturn protections for the headwaters of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.”
 

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Congressman Cleaver Votes to Extend ACA Tax Credits to Lower Health Care Costs for Missouri Families

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

The legislation was passed by the House of Representatives with bipartisan support, will now head to the U.S. Senate for consideration

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) voted in favor of legislation to extend Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits that help lower health care premiums for more than 20 million Americans across the country, including more than 46,000 Missourians in the Fifth Congressional District. Following an intense effort from the Speaker of the House and the vast majority of congressional Republicans to prevent an extension, the enhanced tax credits lapsed on January 1st, immediately driving up costs on millions of Americans. However, House Democrats successfully forced a vote on legislation to revive the credits for three years through the discharge petition process with the support of 4 House Republicans. The legislation passed today by a vote of 230-196.

“For months now, as American families plead for bipartisan solutions that will address the cost-of-living crisis, I have been working with lawmakers to extend ACA tax credits that help more than 46,000 of my constituents afford quality health care,” said Congressman Cleaver. “Thanks to every Democratic lawmaker and a handful of my Republican colleagues, we have successfully passed legislation that would extend this lifeline and provide immediate relief to working-class families across the country. It is my hope that the Senate will put partisanship aside and pass this legislation so that no family is forced to choose between keeping their health care or keeping food on the table.”

According to the House Budget Committee, the failure to extend ACA tax credits will send premiums skyrocketing. For example:

  • A 60-year-old couple earning $85,000 a year in Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District would see their annual premiums rise by 333%.
  • A family of four earning $66,000 a year in Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District would see their annual premiums rise by 254%.
  • A family of four earning $133,750 a year in Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District would see their annual premiums rise by 121%.

The legislation will now go to the U.S. Senate for consideration. 

 

Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee’s Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Greenwood, Blue Springs, North Kansas City, Gladstone, and Claycomo. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee and Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance.

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Moolenaar Votes Against COVID Credit Extension

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

Headline: Moolenaar Votes Against COVID Credit Extension

Congressman John Moolenaar voted against legislation to extend pandemic-era enhanced premium tax credits. The original Affordable Care Act tax credits are permanently funded. These tax credits have existed since 2014 and were originally only available to people making 400% of the federal poverty level. The American Rescue Plan Act, enacted by Democrats in 2021, eliminated the income cap for two years creating the enhanced premium tax credits. The enhanced credits were further extended in 2022 by Democrats in the Inflation Reduction Act. The legislation that passed the House of Representatives today would continue the tax credits for the highest income earners. 

“Extending a COVID-era subsidy for those making more than 400 percent of the poverty level is wrong and will only increase health care costs. Families deserve a lower cost of care, but this failed policy is not the answer,” said Moolenaar. “I am focusing on real reforms that increase competition, improve transparency, and protect taxpayers.”  

On December 17, Moolenaar voted for the Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act. This legislation would reform the health care system to lower costs, expand choice, and increase transparency for Michigan families and seniors. 

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Rep. Adams Votes for Bipartisan ACA Tax Credit Renewal, Lowering Healthcare Costs for Charlotte-Mecklenburg

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Alma Adams (12th District of North Carolina)

WASHINGTON, DC—Today, Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (NC-12) released a statement following her vote to restore the bipartisan Affordable Care Act (ACA) enhanced premium tax credits. This follows Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries’s successful discharge petition to bring the tax credit bill to the House floor after Speaker Mike Johnson’s refusal to let the House vote on the extension in 2025.

“I was proud to vote to restore the ACA tax credits today and lower healthcare premium costs for the people of Charlotte-Mecklenburg,” said Congresswoman Adams. “Affordable, accessible healthcare is one of the biggest issues facing my constituents but Republican policies—including $1 trillion cuts to Medicaid and $500 billion cuts to Medicare—have only served to raise costs, kick people off their insurance, and eliminate healthcare services across North Carolina. America is suffering from a Republican healthcare crisis that Congress cannot ignore. We must see the ACA tax credit restoration signed into law so we can lower premium costs and finally make life more affordable for everyday Americans.”

88,000 NC-12 residents used the ACA tax credits to afford health insurance and without them, an estimated 157,000 North Carolinians are expected to lose coverage entirely. At the same time, due to Medicaid and Medicare cuts in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, at least five North Carolina rural hospitals are already at risk of closing, threatening healthcare access for thousands of residents. The increase in uninsured patients due to the expiration of these tax credits will only worsen the financial burden on hospitals and emergency rooms that are struggling to stay open.

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Congressman Bishop Secures Over $14 Million for Law Enforcement, Public Safety, and Clean Water in Middle & Southwest Georgia

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Sanford D Bishop Jr (GA-02)

Bipartisan Funding Bill Will Keep the Federal Government Open & Working for the People

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) a senior member of the U.S. House Appropriations Committee, secured over $14 million in funding for nine crucial projects in Middle and Southwest Georgia that help hardworking families have access to affordable, clean water. These projects also help communities update equipment for local law enforcement, fight child abuse as well as domestic violence, and continue improvements to Lake Seminole. The funds were included as part of a bipartisan appropriations bill, H.R. 6938, for Fiscal Year 2026 which funded the U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Department of Commerce, and the U.S. Department of Energy as well as related federal science, energy, and environmental programs.

The bill passed the U.S. House by a vote of 397-28 and now proceeds to the U.S. Senate for approval before being signed into law by the president.

“Georgians work hard and Congress should be matching that effort to ensure that they can afford to live in safe communities with clean water,” said Congressman Bishop. “The funding that I secured supports our counties, towns, schools, and community organizations. It improves the quality of life for families throughout Georgia’s Second Congressional District, whether they live in urban or rural areas.”

The nine projects in Georgia’s Second Congressional District for which Congressman Bishop secured funding include:

  • $9,747,000 to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to manage invasive aquatic vegetation, restore access on Lake Seminole, and restore the local ecosystem;
  • $1,092,000 to the Lee County Board of Commissioners for a 1.0 million gallon per day well and treatment facility to provide safe, reliable, and potable drinking water to their residents;
  • $960,000 to the City of Blakely for a major water transmission line that would improve service to areas of the city that have very poor water pressure, including the Early County School System;
  • $739,000 to the Southwest Georgia Children’s Alliance, Inc., to expand prevention programs, informed care practices, and justice system response to child abuse and domestic violence across 17 counties in Georgia’s Second Congressional District;
  • $629,000 to the Early County Board of Commissioners to upgrade its regional 911 emergency services equipment;
  • $478,420 to the City of Attapulgus for the first phase of a multi-phase plan to replace existing asbestos cement water mains within its drinking water distribution system;
  • $313,000 to Columbus State University for its campus police force purchase two new police cruisers, mobile data terminals, and security cameras to help its efficiency and operational capabilities as well as improve campus safety;
  • $306,000 to the City of Buena Vista’s Police Department to replace old patrol vehicles and other obsolete equipment so that it will improve patrol effectiveness as well as officer and community safety; and
  • $120,000 to the City of Newton to upgrade its existing emergency services vehicles.

H.R. 6938 is the product of ongoing negotiations between Democratic and Republican Appropriators in the U.S. House and Senate as well as Congressional leaders in both chambers. Notably, the overall bill prevented more than $163 billion in Trump Administration cuts that would have gutted public services, law enforcement, and other crucial infrastructure programs. The bill was also stripped of partisan “poison pill” amendments.

Today, Congressman Bishop also voted on separate bipartisan legislation to restore the Affordable Care Act enhanced tax credits which expired at the beginning of January. The tax credits were eliminated as part of H.R. 1 in July of 2025 as part of the “big, ugly bill” to help pay for tax breaks that predominantly benefited billionaires. With the loss of the ACA enhanced tax credits, thousands of Middle and Southwest Georgians have seen their healthcare premium costs skyrocket.

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