Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)
Know Your Immigration Rights
If you or a loved one encounter immigration enforcement officials, it is essential that you know your rights and have prepared your household for all possible outcomes.
Ask for a warrant: The Fourth Amendment of the Constitution protects you from unreasonable search and seizure. You do not have to open your door until you see a valid warrant to enter your home or search your belongings.
Your right to remain silent: The Fifth Amendment protects your right to remain silent and not incriminate yourself. You are not required to share any personal information such as your place of birth, immigration status or criminal history.
Always consult an attorney: You have a right to speak with an attorney. You do not have to sign anything or hand officials any documents without speaking to an attorney. Try to identify and consult one in advance.
The New York City Office of Civil Justice and the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) support a variety of free immigration legal services through local nonprofit legal organizations. To access these resources, dial 311 and say “Action NYC,” call the MOIA Immigration Legal Support Hotline at 800-354-0365 Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. or visit MOIA’s website.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman John Garamendi – Representing California’s 3rd Congressional District
WASHINGTON, DC — This week, Representative John Garamendi (D-CA), co-chair of the Congressional Nuclear Weapons and Arms Control Working Group sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio demanding answers on the chaotic firings of key government experts in nuclear weapons diplomacy with working group co-chairs Senator Ed Markey (D-MA), Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Representatives Don Beyer (D-VA) and key working group members Representative Bill Foster (D-IL), Representative Jim McGovern (D-MA), Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), and Representative Rashida Tlaib (D-MI).
This letter comes at a time when risks of weapons proliferation are higher than they have been in decades, and with the last remaining arms control agreement between the United States and Russia, the New START treaty, is set to expire in February. If Trump and Putin fail to reach a deal, then for the first time in decades, there will be no limits on nuclear arms competition between the two nations.
Both leaders have recognized the importance of preventing an unrestrained nuclear buildup: in July, President Trump said, “That’s not an agreement you want expiring…When you take off nuclear restrictions, that’s a big problem.” And this week, Putin announced that Russia will abide by the limits on strategic nuclear weapons prescribed by New START for an additional year, inviting the United States to do the same.
Yet, at this critical juncture, New START negotiations have not begun in earnest and the administration is removing diplomats who are experts in arms control and nonproliferation. It is vital that we take serious steps towards restoring nuclear diplomacy to ensure stability and prevent a nuclear arms race.
“In diplomacy – perhaps more than in any other domain – expertise, institutional memory, and trusted relationships are irreplaceable,” said the signers. “We are concerned that reductions in force have been non-methodical, chaotic, and have the potential to undermine national security. At a time of heightened global instability, retaining technical knowledge in nuclear and chemical threat reduction is not only prudent but essential to U.S. national security.”
“It is more important than ever that the United States remind the world that a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought,'” said Congressman Garamendi. “By shutting out expert diplomats, the Trump administration is sending the wrong message and making us all less safe. I urge the administration to reverse course and ask all the irreplaceable experts to return to serving their country.”
“As a physicist, I know firsthand how irreplaceable the technical knowledge of our nuclear experts is for safeguarding our security and ensuring a safer world,” said Congressman Foster. “With New START set to expire and allies and adversaries alike openly reconsidering nuclear capabilities, American leadership is desperately needed to prevent escalation and avoid an unrestrained nuclear arms race. The Trump Administration must take the necessary steps to reverse its shortsighted and reckless purge of nuclear expertise before it inflicts lasting damage on our national security and heightens the risk of global conflict.”
The full text of the letter can be found HERE and below.
Dear Secretary Rubio:
August marked the 80th anniversary of the United States’ atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the only time nuclear weapons have been used in conflict. As we reflect on the devastation wrought by these bombings, and the significant advances in nuclear weapons capabilities since, we are reminded of the moral and strategic imperative to reduce nuclear risks via robust diplomacy and nonproliferation efforts. The Department of State, including the personnel reporting to the Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security, plays a vital role in this mission.
We write to express our grave concern regarding reports that State Department restructuring has led to the loss of senior experts and the elimination of positions in nuclear testing, verification, multilateral nuclear diplomacy, and chemical weapons, among other roles.1 In diplomacy – perhaps more than in any other domain – expertise, institutional memory, and trusted relationships are irreplaceable. We are concerned that reductions in force have been non-methodical, chaotic, and have the potential to undermine national security. At a time of heightened global instability, retaining technical knowledge in nuclear and chemical threat reduction is not only prudent but essential to U.S. national security.
For example, the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) – the last remaining bilateral arms control treaty between the United States and Russia – is set to expire on February 5, 2026, less than five months from now. Yesterday, President Putin indicated Russia is prepared to continue adhering to the central limits imposed by New START for an additional year.2 President Trump has publicly acknowledged the importance of avoiding nuclear arms racing and the strategic value of diplomatic engagement. In July he stated, referring to New START: “That’s not an agreement you want expiring. We’re starting to work on that. When you take off nuclear restrictions, that’s a big problem.”3 The elimination of senior officials with deep expertise in nuclear diplomacy could complicate efforts to replace New START, or to pursue future agreements, including with the People’s Republic of China.
At the same time, questions surrounding the United States’ commitment to extended deterrence have led Poland, South Korea, Japan, and even Germany to openly consider developing independent nuclear weapons capabilities.45 The United States will also likely be engaged in discussions and negotiations regarding civil nuclear cooperation agreements6 that will involve protecting longstanding U.S. interests to minimize the spread of sensitive nuclear technology and material. In the coming year, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and Chemical Weapons Convention member states will be engaged in diplomacy and directing inspections in Syria to resolve questions about its residual chemical weapons arsenal,7 continue investigating evidence that Russia is using riot control agents in violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention,8 and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons member states will elect a new Director-General.9
These developments require serious attention and input from seasoned State Department officials, yet the re-organization appears to undermine the State Department’s capacity to provide the necessary expertise and input to address these and other urgent international security, nonproliferation, and arms control issues.
We seek additional information on how the announced plan to merge the Bureau of Arms Control, Deterrence, and Stability (ADS) with the Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation (ISN)10 would affect the United States capabilities to effectively manage these and other weapons of mass destruction (WMD) issues. We have heard reports that both Bureaus have lost expert leadership in the ongoing reduction in force at the Department, and there is a lack of clarity on who now has primary responsibility within the State Department to represent the United States’ interest in several key WMD-related areas.
To this end, we request answers to the following questions by October 20, 2025:
Which nuclear and chemical weapons policy experts have been removed or left the Department of State as part of the ongoing reductions in force and restructuring? What leadership positions remain unfilled at the Undersecretary, Assistant Secretary, and Deputy Assistant Secretary levels? Which remaining officials have experience in negotiating with Russia and/or China?
Which bureaus or offices were the departed nuclear experts from? Were these removals tied to the elimination of specific units or the elimination of specific functions? Which programs or positions will be removed or consolidated in the restructuring? Please provide the exact position descriptions and justifications for any positions deemed duplicative?
What programs or policy areas were these individuals leading or supporting? What specific subject matter expertise and relevant training did the removed individuals possess?
What was the length of service of each of the individuals removed? Were any of the individuals removed veterans?
Can you commit to refraining from firing any more nuclear experts? Will you commit to rehiring any experts with unique skills and expertise?
We have heard reports that you eliminated the office of Public Affairs and Government relations at both ADS and ISN. If true, we are concerned that this will make it much harder for the Congress to keep abreast of the many programs managed by ADS and ISN. What is the Department’s justification for this action? Was any cost-benefit analysis undertaken prior to this action?
Has the Department formally considered how these cuts to our nuclear expertise and capacity will be interpreted by allies and adversaries, and if so, through what process and what conclusions did the Department reach? If not, will you direct the Bureau of Intelligence and Research to produce a report to this effect?
How many employees lost in the reduction in force did jobs related to the above issue areas? How do you plan to achieve President Trump’s intent to avoid nuclear arms racing and ensure continued restraints on nuclear arsenals with the reduced force size?
What processes will be used, and which individual personnel will specifically be responsible for, preparing the following diplomatic engagements, including developing strategy, preparing guidance, and coordinating across agencies: representing the United States at the UN First Committee meetings this fall in New York? Representing the United States at the “P5 Process” consultations? Serving as the U.S. National Authority on the Chemical Weapons Convention and at the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons meetings of state parties? Representing the United States at the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty Organization Preparatory Commission in Vienna? Representing the United States at meetings and consultations leading up to the Nonproliferation Treaty Review Conference in 2026? Representing the United States at the Conference on Disarmament and the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons in Geneva?
President Trump stated that the United States is “working on” a renewal or replacement for New START. Who is now charged with the responsibility for helping to develop options for the negotiation of such an arrangement? When does the administration expect an Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security will be confirmed? When will the administration’s strategy for negotiating the new limits on strategic nuclear arms be completed? Will the administration commit to briefing Congress on its goals in this regard and when will this occur?
How do you plan to ensure that the combined Bureau of Arms Control, Deterrence, and Stability (ADS) and International Security and Nonproliferation (ISN) has adequate resources, staffing? Please outline the Department’s strategy to acquire and maintain requisite arms control and nonproliferation expertise in the Department.
Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter of vital importance to national and global security.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett (USVI)
For Immediate Release Contact: Alayah Phipps
September 24, 2025 202-813-2793
PRESS RELEASE
PLASKETT ADDRESSES NEW CUSTOMS DUTY REQUIREMENTS FOR U.S. TERRITORIES FOLLOWING EXECUTIVE ORDER
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett addressed new customs duty requirements that went into effect on August 29, 2025, impacting residents across all U.S. territories outside the custom zone including the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands.
“The Virgin Islands has been outside of the Customs Zone since becoming a territory of the United States. It is the discretion and authority of the Governor of the Virgin Islands to make requests to the Federal Government about inclusion or exclusion from the Customs Zone. I have said, for more than 10 years, that the Virgin Islands should determine if being outside of the Customs Zone has the same benefit that it did over 100 years ago to our Territory and residents. If not, the Governor of the Virgin Islands as the individual with authority to enter into arrangements of this nature with the Federal Government should request such change which would then require the executive branch authorization.
“All of the U.S. territories, Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, except for Puerto Rico which is the only U.S. territory inside the customs zone, are experiencing the same problems following Executive Order 14324, which eliminated the duty-free de minimis exemption for goods valued at $800 or less. I and my family are experiencing these same shipping challenges alongside my constituents as packages are being sent. All of the Members of Congress and other government officials of U.S. Territories affected by being outside the Customs Zone are working directly with the White House to address this burdensome consequence of the Administration’s order on de minimis rules. This change creates an additional unfair burden for territorial residents. Our constituents in the Virgin Islands, along with residents of Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands, should not bear disproportionate shipping costs.
“I am committed to finding solutions. As an example, this past February, I worked with the Trump Administration’s U.S. Trade Representative’s Office (USTR) to provide an exemption for the U.S. Virgin Islands and Caribbean from punitive port fees and restrictions on shipping companies that would have had the potential to skyrocket costs of imports for the Virgin Islands and other Caribbean islands. I will apply that same determination to find a waiver for the U.S. territories from this customs duty requirement.”
Background: As of August 29, 2025, customers shipping from U.S. territories to the United States and Puerto Rico must prepay duties before tendering packages to USPS. The U.S. Postal Service has partnered with U.S. Customs and Border Protection to implement the Zonos Prepay app solution, which allows customers to calculate and pay duties to CBP before visiting the Post Office. Without a Declaration ID from this system, USPS cannot accept packages for delivery to the U.S. or Puerto Rico. The prepaid duty requirement does not apply in certain cases, including documents, goods without monetary value, gifts valued at $100 or less, items valued over $800, or returns.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Don Beyer (D-VA)
U.S. Representative Don Beyer (D-VA), with 83 U.S. House Representatives, today wrote Acting National Park Service (NPS) Director Jessica Bowron to solicit information regarding the impacts of the June 9 memo directing all NPS units to identify any public monuments, memorials, statues, markers, or similar properties that are “subjectively negative” about either past or living Americans, or that fail to emphasize the “beauty, grandeur, and abundance” of landscapes and other natural features. The lawmakers noted that in addition to disrupting NPS operations by diverting critical resources away from addressing the longstanding maintenance backlog, which could impact visitor safety, the directive also threatens the preservation of the historical and educational missions of the NPS.
“We write to request an update on the impact of your June 9 memo on educational and historical markers, monuments, and memorials that are part of the National Park System. We are greatly concerned that your memo aims to undermine cultural resources at those sites while neglecting meaningful upgrades and improvements…
“We are deeply concerned that your memo will create changes that damage valuable historical resources, disrupt NPS operations, and unnecessarily hurt our national parks and the communities that use and enjoy them…
“The history of our great nation is told through the National Park System. Historical markers, monuments, and memorials play an important role in educating Americans about that history…
“Those dedicated historical sites join hundreds more NPS units across all 50 states, which collectively welcome more than 330 million visitors every year to witness their natural beauty and learn from longstanding educational resources, including signs and others interpretative materials. None of those sites can, or should, be separated from the history that makes them part of our nation’s fabric…
“Instead, your memo will further divert resources away from deferred maintenance, an infamous issue within the Park Service. The NPS maintenance backlog affects all aspects of parks, including not only historical markers, monuments, and memorials, but also basic signage essential for visitor safety. Addressing that backlog should be NPS’ utmost priority in updating or changing cultural resources, rather than neglecting safety and the visitor experience in pursuit of censorship and erasure…”
The letter to Acting Director Bowron was sent by U.S. Representative Don Beyer (D-VA), House Committee on Natural Resources Ranking Member Jared Huffman (D-CA), and Representatives Gabe Amo (D-RI), Becca Balint (D-VT), Nanette Barragán (D-CA), Sanford Bishop (D-GA), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Brendan Boyle (D-PA), Julia Brownley (D-CA), Janelle Bynum (D-OR), Troy Carter (D-LA), Ed Case (D-HI), Sean Casten (D-IL), Joaquin Castro (D-TX), Judy Chu (D-CA), Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO), James Clyburn (D-SC), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Jason Crow (D-CO), Sharice Davids (D-KS), Danny Davis (D-IL), Diana DeGette (D-CO), Chris Deluzio (D-PA), Maxine Dexter (D-OR), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Sarah Elfreth (D-MD), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), Dwight Evans (D-PA), Shomari Figures (D-AL), Laura Friedman (D-CA), Valerie Foushee (D-NC), John Garamendi (D-CA), Jesús “Chuy” García (D-IL), Dan Goldman (D-NY), Maggie Goodlander (D-NH), Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), Jonathan Jackson (D-IL), Sara Jacobs (D-CA), Hank Johnson (D-GA), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA), Robin Kelly (D-IL), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Stephen Lynch (D-MA), Seth Magaziner (D-RI), Doris Matsui (D-CA), Jennifer McClellan (D-VA), Jim McGovern (D-MA), LaMonica McIver (D-NJ), Kweisi Mfume (D-MD), Dave Min (D-CA), Joe Morelle (D-NY), Seth Moulton (D-MA), Jerry Nadler (D-NY), Joe Neguse (D-CO), Chris Pappas (D-NH), Brittany Pettersen (D-CO), Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Mike Quigley (D-IL), Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Bobby Scott (D-VA), Terri Sewell (D-AL), Lateefah Simon (D-CA), Adam Smith (D-WA), Greg Stanton (D-AZ), Marilyn Strickland (D-WA), Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA), Emilia Sykes (D-OH), Mark Takano (D-CA), Bennie Thompson (D-MS), Jill Tokuda (D-HI), Paul Tonko (D-NY), Ritchie Torres (D-NY), Nydia Velázquez (D-NY), James Walkinshaw (D-VA), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), Nikema Williams (D-GA), Frederica Wilson (D-FL) and Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC).
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mark Takano (D-Calif)
September 24, 2025
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Reps. Mark Takano (CA-39), Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), Jerry Nadler (NY-12), Lou Correa (CA-46), Juan Vargas (CA-52), Raul Ruiz (CA-25), Amata Coleman Radewagen (AS-AL), and Maria Elvira Salazar (FL-27) reintroduced the Veteran Service Recognition Act. In the Senate, Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) is introducing companion legislation.
The Veteran Service Recognition Act would allow noncitizen servicemembers to apply for naturalization during basic training, establish a review process for those who are in removal proceedings, and provide an opportunity for noncitizen veterans who have been removed or ordered removed, and who have not been convicted of a serious crime, to obtain legal permanent residence.
“If you are willing to raise your right hand, put on the uniform, and defend this country, you should have a clear path to citizenship,” said Rep. Mark Takano, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. “The Veteran Service Recognition Act makes good on that promise, and it gives us a way to bring home veterans who served honorably but were deported. Standing up for our veterans has always been bipartisan, and this bill carries that tradition forward.”
“The men and women who risk their lives to serve our country should not have to worry about their immigration status when they get home,” said Rep. Nadler. “No matter where they were born, our veterans deserve the utmost respect and should be honored for their bravery and sacrifice, and that includes providing them a path to citizenship. I am proud to join Representative Takano in reintroducing the Veteran Service Recognition Act.”
“Immigrants have valiantly served in our nation’s military since its founding,” said Rep. Lofgren. “Those who put their life on the line for our country should not be facing the possibility of deportation. I’m proud to be re-introducing the bipartisan Veteran Service Recognition Act with my colleagues, so that Congress rights these wrongs and ensures that noncitizen veterans are protected and can access the care and benefits that they’ve earned.”
“If you put your life on the line for our country, you deserve the right to stay in our country,” said Rep. Ruiz. “That’s why the Veteran Service Recognition Act works to stop the deportation of noncitizen servicemembers and ensures they have due process here in America and a fair chance at citizenship. With today’s introduction of the Veteran Service Recognition Act, we are one step closer to making sure noncitizen veterans are never treated as second-class veterans.”
“Our nation’s veterans served with honor, and they should be treated with respect and dignity regardless of immigration status,” said Rep. Vargas. “The Veteran Service Recognition Act is an important step towards giving noncitizen veterans a pathway to citizenship in the country they put their lives on the line for, and I’m honored to be an original cosponsor of this legislation.”
“Veterans put their lives on the line to protect our nation and the ideals it represents,” said Rep. Correa. “This legislation honors that service by making it easier for active duty servicemembers to become citizens and creating a pathway to legal resident status for U.S. Veterans. Fighting for the United States is the ultimate act of patriotism—let’s deliver our vets the justice and equality they deserve.”
“Thank you to our many U.S. Service Members who volunteer from our closest allies and Freely Associated States,” said Rep. Radewagen. “After their service, it is common sense and good policy for these Veterans to be able to remain as permanent residents or pursue citizenship if they choose. They strengthened our military and strengthened the country. All our veterans showed commitment to the country through service, in turn we as a nation have a commitment to support our veterans. Thank you Congressman Takano for leading this effort.”
“All members of our Armed Forces deserve to be treated with dignity and respect,” said Rep. Salazar. “Noncitizen veterans, just like their American peers, make the ultimate sacrifice in service of the United States. I’m proud to reintroduce this legislation with Congressman Takano, to streamline the naturalization process for noncitizen veterans and provide due process for those who were wrongfully deported.”
Endorsements: The American Legion, VoteVets, LULAC, AFL-CIO, UnidosUS, ACLU.
You can find the bill text here and a one pager here.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)
Today, Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries appeared on MSNBC’s Deadline White House to discuss how House Democrats are aggressively pushing back against Donald Trump’s efforts to continue to gut the healthcare of the American people and threaten the American people with a painful government shutdown.
NICOLLE WALLACE: In the spirit of the public’s work in making Disney re-examine their decision to pull Jimmy Kimmel off the air, what fight have you picked or have you led that you are most proud of or that you seek to sort of emulate on a day-to-day basis?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, House and Senate Democrats stood shoulder-to-shoulder together in strong opposition—in fact, in unified opposition to the One Big Ugly Bill that Donald Trump and Republicans jammed down the throats of the American people because it ripped away Medicaid. It was the largest cut to Medicaid in American history. It stole food from the mouths of hungry children, seniors and veterans, and all this was being done to provide massive tax breaks to Republican billionaire donors. Now, legislatively, the Republicans bent the knee to Donald Trump, as they always do, and they were able to sneak it through the House and the Senate. But the bill is deeply unpopular because the American people have now come to the conclusion that Donald Trump and Republicans have no interest in making their life better. In fact, they are hurting everyday Americans in order to reward their billionaire donors. And so this is an extension of that fight, in terms of Democrats aggressively pushing back against Donald Trump’s efforts to continue to gut the healthcare of the American people and threaten the American people with a painful government shutdown.
NICOLLE WALLACE: So, talk to me like I don’t live in Washington and explain what this shutdown is about.
LEADER JEFFRIES: So, Republicans have a responsibility, holding the majority in the House and the Senate and the presidency, to make sure that the federal government can continue to run. They’re in the majority. Now, it’s our responsibility as Democrats to find common ground on a spending agreement if that spending agreement actually meets the needs of the American people. And we’re in strong opposition to the partisan Republican spending bill. It’s a dirty bill because it continues to gut the healthcare of the American people, and we’re not simply going to go along to get along.
NICOLLE WALLACE: So, there’s so much coverage and so much of our conversations and, frankly, so much of what we pick up from voters— they want to see Democrats fight—misses this—this point that I think you’re making. They control the White House, right? They control the Republican Members of the House and Senate. They don’t—they don’t buck Donald Trump in any way, shape or form, and they essentially they’re—they’re batting about 850 in the Supreme Court. I think the Supreme Court has ruled for Donald Trump 19 times and against him twice. But they need you. They need you in this rare instance, in this—if you live outside of Washington—sort of obscure manner that to keep the government going, to keep it funding, they actually need you. You and Senator Schumer who are in the minority. What is the most that you can get from them in this rare instance that they need you?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, what’s important to understand, Nicolle, is that Republicans have engaged in an unprecedented assault on the healthcare of the American people throughout this year. The largest cut to Medicaid in American history. Millions of people are going to lose coverage because of what Republicans have done. Hospitals and nursing homes and community-based health clinics are already closing because of the One Big Ugly Bill. They are refusing to extend the tax credits connected to the Affordable Care Act. What that means is that for more than 20 million Americans, they’re going to experience, in a matter of weeks, increased health care premiums, co-pays and deductibles. And the cost of living in America is already too high. Because of actions that Republicans have taken in connection with the One Big Ugly Bill, the country actually faces a $536 billion cut to Medicare at the end of the year, and we know that Republicans have basically canceled medical research in the United States of America. So our position as Democrats is clear: cancel the cuts, lower the costs, save healthcare. That’s our fight that we’re waging on behalf of the American people, and we’re willing to sit down with anyone at any time, any place to try to actually get to a spending agreement that makes sense for the American people. But we’re not going to simply bend the knee to Donald Trump’s will when he’s gutting healthcare for everyday Americans and actively hurting people. That’s immoral, and it’s not something for us to participate in.
NICOLLE WALLACE: So if he doesn’t agree to back off the cuts, what will you do?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, our view—listen, we voted no in the House and in the Senate on the partisan Republican spending bill that was before us on Friday because it continues to gut the healthcare of the American people. That’s our public position, and we haven’t backed off that position in any way, shape or form. And the fact that Donald Trump is running scared, would cancel this meeting shows that they know they have a weak position as it relates to the Republican healthcare crisis that they’ve created. So next week, we were scheduled to be in session for votes on Monday and Tuesday, and House Republicans canceled those votes. They don’t even want to show up, even though we’re on the brink of a government shutdown. But Democrats will be in town. There ready, willing and able to do our jobs and to also communicate with the American people the stakes of this shutdown fight.
NICOLLE WALLACE: If you had to prepare your Members for what’s ahead, what is your sense from your perch and all of your experience in Washington about what the coming days will hold?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, it’s going to be incredibly important. We’re in the midst of a Healthcare Cost-of-Living Week of Action, where all across America, House Democrats, partnering with Senate Democrats and governors, are holding events related to healthcare costs related to protecting our hospitals and nursing homes and community-based health clinics, related to protecting Medicaid and related to making sure that the tax credits for the Affordable Care Act continue. Because all of this matters for the well-being and the health of the American people. Like, this is not a fire drill. This is real in terms of what’s happening right now related to the Republican assault on healthcare and the crisis they’ve created. And that’s why Democrats have drawn a line in the sand as it relates to what’s in front of the American people. And we’re going to continue to make that clear. We can find bipartisan agreement, but it has to make sense for the quality of life of the American people. It has to lower costs. It has to protect the healthcare of everyday Americans.
NICOLLE WALLACE: I had a victim of Jeffrey Epstein on my program yesterday, and she described feeling like the effort to have the files released doesn’t feel as partisan as a lot of other issues in the nation’s capital. And I shared with her that the polls suggest it isn’t, but I wonder what it feels like there. I mean, it seems, in covering the efforts of Thomas Massey and Ro Khanna to release all of the files and to listen to the victims and try to recenter the debate around them, that maybe there is some bipartisan momentum behind transparency, but then you hear the victims and you watch Alex Acosta and you watch Republicans seem to make excuses for him and other members of the cabinet. I just wonder your thoughts on the efforts, centered around the victims for transparency in the Epstein files.
LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, we’re going to continue to charge forward on behalf of the victims and on behalf of everyday Americans who care about making sure that predators are held accountable, that there’s full transparency and that whatever may be in the Epstein files is completely and totally released to the public so that folks can be held accountable in a manner consistent with what the victims have so powerfully asked to be done in this instance. Now, Democrats are going to swear in, sometime soon, in the Congress, an additional Member, which will bring us to 214. She will also represent, I think, the number that brings us to a majority in the House to trigger our ability to actually force the Trump administration to release the Epstein files. And so, we’re going to continue to partner with whatever enlightened Republicans want to partner with us, though we recognize, as Democrats, that we’re going to have to carry the overwhelming load here, because Donald Trump and the Trump administration, despite all of their promises throughout the years, are clearly trying to keep these files from becoming public.
NICOLLE WALLACE: When Trump was president last time, Speaker Pelosi—and she was the Speaker, Democrats were the majority—she seemed to relish going toe-to-toe with him on a daily basis. Do you relish the fight with Donald Trump?
LEADER JEFFRIES: I think it’s an incredibly important fight for the American people, and I’m just not clear why Donald Trump is backing away from that fight. He agreed to the meeting. We demanded it on Saturday. Leader Schumer and I sent a letter laying out our position very clearly as it relates to government funding and the healthcare of the American people. He agreed to that meeting. We were prepared to go into that meeting and lay out our position—cancel the cuts, lower the cost, save healthcare for everyday Americans—and make very clear, we are not down with the Republican healthcare crisis, and that’s why this line in the sand has been drawn. That’s an important fight for the American people. It’s the right fight, and it’s the fight that as House Democrats, we certainly are committed to waging in this position that we’re in right now, with Republicans temporarily holding the gavels, but we also believe that we’re going to change that dynamic next November. We’re going to take back control of the House of Representatives. And then we’ll finally have a Congress that actually can function as a separate and coequal branch in government and a check on the out-of-control Trump administration, as opposed to what the sycophantic Republicans are doing right now, which is to serve as nothing more than a rubber-stamp. A rubber-stamp over and over and again for Donald Trump’s extreme agenda.
NICOLLE WALLACE: Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, thank you very much for starting us off today.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07)
With Trump Admin. Attacking Head Start and Gutting Essential Resources, Federal Funding Secured by Pressley Will Support BCNC’s Early Education and Care
BOSTON – Today, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) visited Chinatown to celebrate the $425,000 in community project funding she secured for the Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center. The federal funding, which passed Congress as part of a previous FY2024 federal spending bill signed by President Biden, will support the BCNC’s childcare and early education programming and infrastructure for current and future generations of families in and around Chinatown.
Following a tour of BCNC, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley sat down with BCNC staff, families, and local partners to discuss the importance of affordable and accessible early childhood education programming, in particular for immigrant children and families.
“Accessible, high-quality early childhood education is not only essential to the success of our babies, but of entire families,” said Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley. “Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center provides a vital lifeline to families in the Massachusetts 7th. With the White House callously attacking Head Start and gutting other essential education resources for families, I’m proud to support the BCNC’s dedicated educators and staff who work to support every family and every child who benefits from this program.”
“BCNC is deeply grateful for Congresswoman Pressley’s investment in the Asian and immigrant community. A capital investment in our space is about creating a welcoming and safe environment for all the children and families we serve who have come to Boston to make a better life. The new classrooms, playground, and roof provide the next generation the best possible learning experience they deserve, and their parents can feel satisfied their child is receiving a quality education,” said Ben Hires, CEO, Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center. “Special thanks to all our public and private partners from Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care, the City of Boston, Boston Public Schools, Eastern Bank Foundation, Franklin Square House Foundation, PNC Bank, Shlomo Fund and an anonymous foundation for helping make these investments possible.”
“Investing in the spaces in which children learn and play is essential to expanding access to high-quality affordable child care for families in our communities. We are grateful to be working in partnership with Congresswoman Pressley and the team at BCNC to ensure children and their families have the tools, support, and opportunities they need to thrive and succeed,” saidAmy Kershaw, Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care, Commissioner.
“We are thrilled about the new investment in BCNC and are happy to have partnered on several capital improvement projects. Healthy environments are important, and it is encouraging to see local, state, and federal partners collaborating to achieve that goal,” saidTheresa Jordan, Director, Children’s Investment Fund/CEDAC.
The federal dollars secured by Rep. Pressley will enable BCNC, a community-based, immigrant serving organization to update their existing early education children’s classrooms and address roof maintenance in order to continue high quality programs for Asian and new immigrant children and families who have been highly impacted by the pandemic.
Joining Rep. Pressley this morning were Ben Hires, CEO of BCNC, Kathy Cheng, Director of Acorn Center for Early Education and Care at BCNC, Michele Dandrea, teacher at BCNC, Amy Kershaw, Commissioner at the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care, and families and children served by BCNC.
Footage from the event can be found here, and photos are here.
Rep. Pressley secured the federal funding as part of a previous spending bill for Fiscal Year 2024. Rep. Pressley has secured approximately $35 million in federal community project funding for the Massachusetts 7th since Fiscal Year 2022.
On March 27, 2025, Rep. Pressley visited East Boston to celebrate the $1 million in federal funding she delivered to expand the Digital Literacy (DigLit) Initiative in Boston, a critical program that helps workforce development programs address digital literacy gaps.
On October 18, 2024, Rep. Pressley visited Randolph for the formal ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Turner Free Mobile Library, a bookmobile carrying books, movies, Wi-Fi, and other resources for community members, made possible by the $524,000 she delivered in funding for the library and STEM programming.
On October 10, 2024, Rep. Pressley joined Just A Start, elected officials and community advocates and members for the formal ribbon-cutting ceremony to unveil the Economic Mobility Hub at Rindge Commons, a 70,000-square-foot facility designed to address the evolving needs of the community.
On June 18, 2024, Rep. Pressley visited Boston Medical Center (BMC) to celebrate $370,000 in federal community project funding she secured to support BMC’s Violence Intervention Advocacy Program.
On June 18, 2024, Rep. Pressley visited Chelsea HealthCare Center to celebrate $1,150,000 in federal community project funding she secured to support Massachusetts General Hospital’s (MGH) efforts to address the statewide shortage of bilingual, culturally diverse mental health providers for immigrant and limited English proficiency communities.
On April 22, 2204, Rep. Pressley and Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) visited Nubian Square in Roxbury for a roundtable discussion to celebrate the $1,000,000 million in federal funding they secured for the Black Economic Council of Massachusetts (BECMA).
On March 28, 2024, Rep. Pressley visited Roxbury to celebrate the $1,000,000 in federal funding she secured to provide emergency childcare support for families experiencing homelessness in the City of Boston.
In February 2024, Rep. Pressley visited Chelsea City Hall for a roundtable and press conference to celebrate the $750,000 in federal funding she secured for the City of Chelsea’s and City of Everett’s Island End River Coastal Flood Resilience Project.
In January 2024, Rep. Pressley visited Somerville to celebrate the $2.4 million in federal funding she secured to support the community-led transformation of the Clarendon Hill housing community, an ethnically, linguistically and economically diverse neighborhood.
In November 2023, Rep. Pressley visited Roxbury Community College (RCC) to celebrate $1 million in federal community project funding she secured for Northeastern University’s Roxbury Associate’s to Master’s Workforce Accelerator (RA2MWA).
In June 2023, Rep. Pressley visited Chelsea to celebrate $2,000,000 in federal community project funding she secured to improve the Broadway Corridor—home to an array of BIPOC-owned small businesses, vibrant public spaces, high frequency public transit routes, and dense residential housing.
In April 2023, Rep. Pressley visited Randolph to celebrate $524,000 she secured for Randolph Public Schools to support a mobile library and STEM programming.
In March 2023, Rep. Pressley visited Dorchester to celebrate $250,000 in new Community Project Funding she secured for Big Sister Association of Greater Boston’s one-to-one mentoring and enrichment programs for girls.
In February 2023, Rep. Pressley visited the African Community Economic Development of New England (ACEDONE) to celebrate the $643,003 in community project funding she secured for ACEDONE to support small businesses in predominately Black, brown and African immigrant communities.
In October 2022, Rep. Pressley visited The Dimock Center in Roxbury to celebrate $1 million in federal community project funding she secured to support substance use treatment and programming at the health center.
In August 2022, Rep. Pressley visited Randolph to deliver $275,000 in federal community project funding for culturally responsive resources and digital literacy tools for Randolph Public Schools.
In June 2022, Rep. Pressley visited the Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology to deliver $300,000 in direct federal funding for the development of a Clean Energy Building Automation Systems certificate and associate degree program.
In April 2022, she visited Randolph to deliver $1,000,000 in federal community project funding for a new school-based community health center at Randolph High School.
In March 2022, she visited La Colaborativa in Chelsea to celebrate the $300,000 in federal community project funding that she delivered for La Colaborativa’s COVID Employment Recovery Program.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Julia Brownley (D-CA)
Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA) introduced Katie Meyer’s Law, legislation to ensure students at higher education institutions have the right to select an independent adviser to help them navigate disciplinary proceedings and create new reporting requirements for campus suicide incidents. The bill was inspired by the life of Katie Meyer, whose tragic passing underscored the urgent need for greater protections and support for students.
Katie Meyer, a young woman from California’s 26th Congressional District, was a standout goalkeeper who led Stanford University to the 2019 NCAA women’s soccer championship. Katie was a gifted student, resident advisor, and a future law student awaiting her acceptance to Stanford Law. However, in late February 2022, less than four months before her graduation and unbeknownst to her parents, Katie received a five-page email with criminalistic language from Stanford stating she was facing a disciplinary action that put her degree on hold. The charge letter not only threatened to withhold her degree, but the charge from Stanford officials could also result in her complete expulsion from the university. Cruelly, this charge letter was sent at night after over three months of near silence from the Office of Community Standards. Distressed by the potential disciplinary action and inability to graduate, Katie suffered an acute crisis stress reaction. Stanford failed to provide any supportive action or to respond in any way to her expression of being distraught and distressed. Shortly after, she took her own life on March 1, 2022, at only 22 years old.
“College should be a place where students can learn, grow, and prepare for their futures, not a place where they are left to navigate intimidating and high-stakes disciplinary processes alone,” said Congresswoman Brownley. “By ensuring students have a trusted advisor by their side and by requiring greater transparency about suicide on our campuses, my bill seeks to put student well-being and mental health front and center. We owe it to Katie, her family, and countless other young people to make sure no student feels alone in their greatest moments of need.”
In the wake of this devastating loss, Katie’s parents have worked tirelessly to honor her memory and save others from this heartbreaking tragedy. Their advocacy led to the passage of a new California state law guaranteeing students the right to an adviser during disciplinary proceedings – a policy they believe could have saved Katie’s life.
“We are grateful to Congresswoman Brownley for recognizing the importance of Katie Meyer’s Law and introducing it on a federal level,” said Gina and Steve Meyer, parents of Katie Meyer. “The law now has the ability to have the vast and necessary impact on not only protecting and supporting California students, but students in our universities across the country.”
“Katie Meyer’s Law provides a supportive framework for students facing allegations of violations of a university policy that is often missing from administrative proceedings. It serves as a ‘front end safety net’ for our students, whereby the adviser of the student’s choice would be informed on day one of an administrative allegations, get educated on the resources and processes the student must go through – and updated biweekly on the status of an appropriate resolution.
“We truly believe this law could have saved Katie’s life. We miss her endlessly and while it will not bring her back, it will save lives and protect students and their campus communities going forward. We know Katie, an incessantly loving, loyal and protective person, would have wanted that for everyone,” Gina and Steve Meyer added.
Background
Currently, federal law does not require higher education institutions to allow students to have an adviser during disciplinary hearings for academic or athletic code of conduct violations. Even on campuses where advisers are permitted, those advisers often lack training in the institution’s procedures, leaving students isolated and unprepared in stressful proceedings.
Katie Meyer’s Law was inspired by the tragic loss of Katie Meyer and her family’s advocacy, and it would expand California’s new state law to a federal scale, so students across the country can benefit from these needed protections.
The bill would require higher education institutions that receive federal funding to:
Provide or allow an adviser if a student receives notification of an alleged violation of the school’s code of conduct;
Notify students of their ability to select their own advisor or have the institution provide an independent advisor, either through a confidential respondent services coordinator or through an agreement with student-based or alumni-based peer support programs.
The bill also sets requirements for the adviser leading up to and throughout the disciplinary proceedings, including:
Training on the adjudication procedures of the institution;
Authority, with written permission from the student, to receive bi-weekly updates throughout the process; and
Ability to actively participate in the proceedings as an advocate for the student.
In addition, the legislation would strengthen campus transparency requirements related to suicide incidents. Current law requires colleges and universities that receive federal funding to publish an Annual Security Report (ASR) with crime statistics and safety measures. Katie Meyer’s Law would require incidents of death by suicide to be included in the ASR, ensuring students and faculty have necessary transparency surrounding this serious mental health concern.
Katie Meyer’s Law is endorsed by The Trevor Project and SEAT (Students Engaged in Advancing Texas).
Source: United States House of Representatives – Julia Brownley (D-CA)
Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA) announced the reintroduction of the Gun Suicide Prevention Act, legislation that would require firearm manufacturers and retailers to include warning labels that provide the number of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The bill’s reintroduction comes during Suicide Prevention Month, a poignant time to raise awareness and expand efforts to save lives.
“The epidemic of gun violence continues to plague communities throughout our country and forever changes the lives of families who have lost someone to gun death. Too often, the debate surrounding gun safety overlooks the role that guns often play in suicide,” said Congresswoman Julia Brownley. “In fact, two-thirds of gun deaths in the United States are from suicide.
“Sadly, it is estimated that more than 17 veterans die by suicide every day, and more than 70% percent of veteran suicide deaths are from a gun. As a member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, I am deeply committed to bettering the lives of our nation’s veterans, and suicide prevention is one of my highest priorities.
“That is why I have introduced the Gun Suicide Prevention Act, which aims to combat the alarming gun suicide rate in our country,” continued Brownley. “By labeling every firearm with the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, we can help provide a human connection when someone is in crisis, which we know is a critical tool for preventing suicide.”
Background
According to a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, there is a direct correlation between a county’s suicide rate and the number of stores that sell firearms there, for all but the most rural counties. This data underscores the urgent need for policies like the Gun Suicide Prevention Act.
Veterans are particularly at risk of dying when attempting suicide, largely because they are far more likely than their civilian counterparts to use a gun in a suicide attempt. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, over 70% of veteran suicide deaths are the result of a firearm. Women veterans are especially at risk, as the suicide rate of women veterans is nearly twice the suicide rate of non-veteran women.
Suicide ideation can be a fleeting impulse, one that can be alleviated by making a connection with another person when an individual is in crisis. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can provide that connection for people, and being reminded of the number in a moment of crisis can be all it takes to save a life.
Under this legislation, the new, required warning label will read: “WARNING: IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW IS CONTEMPLATING SUICIDE, PLEASE CALL THE NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION LIFELINE AT” followed by 988 and the toll-free phone number of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
The Gun Suicide Prevention Act is endorsed by Brady Campaign to End Gun Violence, Newtown Action Alliance, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, National Alliance on Mental Illness, Everytown for Gun Safety, and SEAT (Students Engaged in Advancing Texas).
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Sean Casten (IL-06)
September 23, 2025
Downers Grove, Illinois – U.S. Congressman Sean Casten, Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), and all Democratic members of the Illinois delegation sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem demanding answers about the extreme immigration enforcement operations in Illinois under “Operation Midway Blitz” and “Operation at Large.” In the letter, the lawmakers reprimanded DHS, the Department of Justice (DOJ), and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials for violating due process as they continue to advance President Trump’s mass deportation scheme by targeting immigrants with no criminal convictions.
Citing lack of congressional oversight, indiscriminate arrests of immigrants, and the escalation of tensions during protests at Broadview ICE processing facility (Broadview), the lawmakers called for an immediate end to both Operation Midway Blitz and Operation at Large.
“While this operation [Operation Midway Blitz] supposedly targets ‘criminal illegal aliens,’ our constituents report that DHS officials are arresting individuals in their neighborhoods, at bus stops, and near schools. These enforcement operations do not reduce crime or make our communities safer. As we have seen throughout the implementation of President Trump’s mass deportation scheme, DHS is not focusing on the ‘worst of the worst’ as claimed, but has instead mostly arrested hardworking immigrants with no criminal convictions,” the lawmakers began their letter. “DHS and the Department of Justice (DOJ) have skirted or outright violated due process and other constitutional requirements intended to protect individuals in the United States from arbitrary arrests, detention, and deportation.”
“We urge you to end your dangerous operations in Illinois and provide our residents with transparency into these operations, including how they have siphoned resources from other federal law enforcement agencies that combat public safety threats in our communities,” the lawmakers wrote.
The lawmakers condemned the secrecy surrounding Operation Midway Blitz, noting that Members of Congress have repeatedly requested access to detention facilities, including Broadview, and been denied by DHS without justification.
“Operation Midway Blitz has been shrouded in secrecy, with little notice to state and local officials as to the nature of the operation, the types of people targeted, where DHS is detaining people, and which agencies are required to detail officers to conduct immigration enforcement. DHS officials have avoided meeting with Members of Congress and have not responded to repeated congressional inquiries about recent enforcement activities. Furthermore, DHS has denied Members of Congress the opportunity to conduct lawful oversight at facilities where noncitizens are being held. DHS has also used military-style tactics and equipment to break down doors in suburban homes, with little transparency into the basis for such raids,” the lawmakers continued their letter.
The lawmakers underscored that the tactics DHS used in Southern California, headed by Gregory Bovino, will not be tolerated in Illinois, especially as DHS faces several lawsuits for its treatment of protesters in California. In Illinois, DHS and ICE masked agents have reportedly escalated tensions at Broadview by indiscriminately deploying tear gas and chemical agents on protestors. Reports have detailed a dangerous lack of communication between local law enforcement and ICE agents that led to injuries and further distrust between federal agencies, local law enforcement, and community members.
“Gregory Bovino, an official originally diverted from his responsibilities at the border to lead controversial operations in Southern California, announced a second operation in Illinois—’Operation at Large’—on social media. This operation will reportedly include indiscriminate raids, including at Home Depots and car washes. Mr. Bovino’s reckless and dangerous tactics in California should not be extended to Illinois, as they are already the subject of multiple lawsuits alleging abuses against citizens and noncitizens alike,” the lawmakers wrote. “Masked officers have arrested and detained U.S. citizens and lawful noncitizens without making attempts to verify—or even ignoring attempts to establish—U.S. citizenship or lawful presence.”
“These tactics are already being utilized by your agents in Illinois. While DHS has yet to provide Congress with current information on arrests in Illinois, your officials are estimating in the media that between 400 and 550 arrests have already occurred. Last Friday, ICE reportedly escalated tensions by indiscriminately using tear gas and chemical agents on peaceful protestors,” the lawmakers continued their letter.
“A spokesperson for the Broadview Police Department (BPD) said that BPD and ICE had an agreement that ICE would inform BPD before the agency used any chemical arms, but ICE did not provide such advance notification. As a result of your officials’ dangerous and reckless tactics, an officer was reportedly exposed to mace and tear gas used by ICE. While your spokesperson claims that ICE officials called local law enforcement multiple times for assistance, BPD says that the agency ‘did not receive ‘multiple calls for assistance’ from the leadership of the ICE detention facility in Broadview. That is false,’” the lawmakers wrote.
The lawmakers exposed the Trump Administration’s failure to uphold due process as ICE agents carry out arbitrary arrests and detentions. Further, the Trump Administration has eliminated a longstanding requirement that ICE officers provide a written justification before targeting individuals for immigration arrests.
“We are already seeing improper arrests of U.S. citizens in Illinois, and are deeply disturbed by these indiscriminate arrests coupled with renewed efforts to gut due process and indefinitely detain people who have spent decades in the United States without committing any crime. While some attempts to fulfill President Trump’s mass deportation scheme have been struck down in courts, these efforts have nonetheless resulted in unlawful arrests, detentions, and, in some cases, deportations before courts can intervene,” the lawmakers wrote.
The lawmakers concluded their letter by denouncing the fear and division created by these operations and demanding transparency surrounding immigration enforcement activity in Chicago. Requesting a response by October 7, the lawmakers submitted questions about reports that DHS has brought in social media influencers to promote immigration raids; reports about the use of military weaponry, including drones, during raids; and about the training that federal officials have received on responding to and de-escalating protests.
“Your extreme immigration enforcement operations in Illinois have already devastated families and torn at the social fabric of our communities,” the lawmakers concluded their letter.
In addition to Casten and Durbin, the letter was signed by all Democratic members of the Illinois congressional delegation, including U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Jonathan Jackson (D-IL-01), Robin Kelly (D-IL-02), Delia Ramirez (D-IL-03), Jesús G. “Chuy” García (D-IL-04), Mike Quigley (D-IL-05), Danny Davis (D-IL-07), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-08), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09), Brad Schneider (D-IL-10), Bill Foster (D-IL-11), Nikki Budzinski (D-IL-13), Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14), and Eric Sorensen (D-IL-17).