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

Washington, D.C. – Representatives Gregory Meeks (D-NY-05), Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Joaquin Castro (D-TX-20), Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, along with Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on State Department and USAID Management, International Operations, and Bilateral International Development, led 38 lawmakers in sending a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem raising alarm about the horrific conditions at Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo (CECOT), El Salvador’s notorious megaprison and torture center, and pressing the Trump Administration on its use of U.S. taxpayer funding to send and hold people there. This follows a Human Rights Watch and Cristosal report published on November 12 that found a systemic pattern of abuse and torture at CECOT.

“We write to you expressing profound concern over the findings of the recently published report titled ‘You Have Arrived in Hell: Torture and Other Abuses Against Venezuelans in El Salvador’s Mega Prison,’” wrote the members. “This meticulously researched report, published on November 12 by Human Rights Watch and the El Salvador-based Cristosal exposes the systematic pattern of abuse and torture experienced by the 252 Venezuelan nationals the Trump Administration sent to El Salvador’s notorious Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo (CECOT) between March and April of 2025. It also finds that the Administration failed to respect the principle of non-refoulment and questions the Administration’s reliance on El Salvador’s assurances that it would abide by the UN Convention Against Torture.”

The members continued, “We urge you to investigate these findings and provide an immediate explanation to Congress and to the American people for the Trump Administration’s complicity in subjecting these individuals to such horrific and cruel treatment.”

“Longstanding domestic and international law prohibit the United States from transferring any person from our jurisdiction or effective control to any place where the person would face such serious human rights violations,” the members pressed. “Yet, the Department of Homeland Security sent these individuals to El Salvador to be detained at CECOT, and the Department of State provided $4.76 million dollars to cover the costs ‘associated with’ their detention.”

“These violations are a stain on the moral conscience of our country. We urge you to take all necessary steps to ensure that the United States is never again complicit in such horrific and unlawful behavior,” the senators concluded.

In addition to Kaine, Van Hollen, Meeks, and Castro, the letter was cosigned by U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Peter Welch (D-VT), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Ed Markey (D-MA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Andy Kim (D-NJ), and U.S. Representatives Jim McGovern (D-MA-02), Sarah McBride (D-DE-AL), Bill Keating (D-MA-09), James R. Walkinshaw (D-VA-11), Dina Titus (D-NV-01), Dan Goldman (D-NY-10), Nydia Velázquez (D-NY-07), Greg Casar (D-TX-35), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC-AL), Yvette Clarke (D-NY-09), Mark Pocan (D-WI-02), Julie Johnson (D-TX-32), Madeleine Dean (D-PA-04), Steve Cohen (D-TN-09), Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ-03), Maxine Dexter (D-OR-03), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA-37), Gabe Amo (D-RI-01), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL-25), Greg Stanton (D-AZ-04), Don Beyer (D-VA-08), and Grace Meng (D-NY-06).

Full text of the letter is available here and below:

Dear Secretaries Rubio and Noem,

We write to you expressing profound concern over the findings of the recently published report titled “You Have Arrived in Hell: Torture and Other Abuses Against Venezuelans in El Salvador’s Mega Prison.” This meticulously researched report, published on November 12 by Human Rights Watch and the El Salvador-based Cristosal exposes the systematic pattern of abuse and torture experienced by the 252 Venezuelan nationals the Trump Administration sent to El Salvador’s notorious Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo (CECOT) between March and April of 2025. It also finds that the Administration failed to respect the principle of non-refoulment and questions the Administration’s reliance on El Salvador’s assurances that it would abide by the UN Convention Against Torture.  We urge you to investigate these findings and provide an immediate explanation to Congress and to the American people for the Trump Administration’s complicity in subjecting these individuals to such horrific and cruel treatment.

After being held at CECOT for approximately four months, the 252 detainees were released to Venezuelan custody on July 18, 2025. Following their release, Human Rights Watch and Cristosal were able to locate and interview 40 of these individuals, as well as interview another 150 people with credible knowledge of their experiences to corroborate their stories.

What they shared was horrifying and reflects treatment consistent with torture under international human rights law. Verbal abuse, denial of basic hygiene and sanitation, and inadequate food or access to healthcare were the norm. Every single one of the interviewees reported daily physical and psychological abuse for the entire duration of their detention, including suffering from severe beatings for “infractions” as simple as speaking too loudly or bathing at a time that displeased prison guards. Several detainees reported incidents of sexual violence, including rape. Many of the detainees continue to suffer from physical injuries sustained during their time in CECOT, as well as from psychological trauma.

The detainees also described the grotesque treatment they suffered in connection with high-profile visits to CECOT by U.S. government officials – including Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. According to the detainees, prior to Noem’s March 26 visit, guards provided them with hygiene items and sheets, and mattresses. Thirty minutes after Noem’s departure, detainees who had protested her arrival were beaten severely and deprived of access to water and food for the rest of the day. Detainees were also beaten after visits by the International Committee of the Red Cross, and after detainees mounted protests against their treatment.

Longstanding domestic and international law prohibit the United States from transferring any person from our jurisdiction or effective control to any place where the person would face such serious human rights violations. Yet, the Department of Homeland Security sent these individuals to El Salvador to be detained at CECOT, and the Department of State provided $4.76 million dollars to cover the costs “associated with” their detention. Given what appears to be the U.S. government’s complicity in abuses against these individuals, we ask for responses to the following questions no later than November 21: 

1. What were the full terms of the agreement between the U.S. and El Salvador regarding the detention of these individuals?
2. Which U.S. government official(s) authorized the transfer of $4.76 million in State Department funding to Salvadoran security agencies in compensation for detaining these individuals, and under what authority were these funds transferred? Are there any restrictions on how El Salvador can use those funds, and how is the U.S. verifying compliance?
3. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, among other organizations, has long raised concerns regarding torture in Salvadoran prisons, including CECOT. What assessment was conducted regarding the treatment of detainees and detention standards in CECOT prior to the arrival of these individuals? What due diligence did you conduct to ensure that detainees sent to CECOT from the United States would not be subject to torture?
4. Will the administration incorporate the findings of the report into the 2026 Human Rights Report for El Salvador?

These violations are a stain on the moral conscience of our country. We urge you to take all necessary steps to ensure that the United States is never again complicit in such horrific and unlawful behavior.

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

November 14, 2025

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Rep. Meeks Releases Statement on the Republican Spending Bill

I released a statement against the Republican spending bill because it guts America’s health care. Republicans broke their promise to lower costs for everyday Americans and refused to negotiate with Democrats. Their “One Big Ugly Bill” created the health care crisis we are dealing with today. Republicans failed leadership will drive up premiums, weaken protections, and push essential care further out of reach for millions.

Thank You to Our Veterans

I had the pleasure of attending the Veterans Appreciation Day Dinner at Rochdale Village Community Center to honor the brave service members who protect our nation. I am grateful for their courage, sacrifice and dedication to keeping our country safe.

Ranking Member Meeks and Rep. Clarke lead letter to Secretary Rubio Urging Humanitarian and Recovery Assistance to Jamaica in Wake of Hurricane Melissa

“We write to express our deep concern and solidarity with the people of Jamaica following the catastrophic passage of Hurricane Melissa. We welcome the deployment of a Disaster Assistance Response Team and respectfully urge the Department of State to continue immediate humanitarian and recovery assistance to support Jamaica’s response to this unprecedented disaster.” Read more, here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Nydia M Velázquez (D-NY)

WASHINGTON — Today, Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) led a letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth raising concerns about the Department of Defense’s ongoing military exercises in Puerto Rico and the possibility of renewed activity in Vieques, where residents are still dealing with the long-term impacts of decades of U.S. Navy operations.
 
Velázquez points to local reports indicating that, beginning January 13, 2025, military personnel have been authorized to destroy inoperable ammunition in Vieques that is not part of the federally mandated cleanup. She writes that this possibility is particularly troubling given the island’s long history of military contamination, displacement, and the ongoing risks posed by unexploded ordnance.
 
“This is of great concern due to the nature of Vieques’ history with the U.S. military and the risk of halting cleanup activities that are mandated by law.”
 
In her letter, Velázquez details the decades-long record of harm caused by U.S. military operations in Vieques, including mass expropriation, weapons testing, and the health and environmental consequences that remain today.
 
“Today, Vieques has some of the worst sickness rates when compared to the rest of Puerto Rico: cancer prevalence is 27 times higher, residents are eight times more likely to die of cardiovascular disease, and seven times more likely to die of diabetes.  And, unfortunately, health and safety risks are still present, as extensive amounts of unexploded ordnance (UXO) remain across Vieques’ land and surrounding waters,” wrote Velázquez.
 
Cleanup efforts are expected to continue for at least another decade on land and even longer in surrounding waters. Velázquez stresses that any new detonations or military activities in Vieques could jeopardize that work and further erode public trust.
 
The letter also raises concerns about intensified military operations elsewhere in Puerto Rico, including expanded activity at Roosevelt Roads, Ramey, and Muñiz; amphibious and flight exercises at Camp Santiago; the arrival of F-35 fighter jets; and the deployment of the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group in southern Puerto Rico.
 
The letter notes that Puerto Ricans have been left without clear information about how these operations may affect them.
 
“While Puerto Rico’s soil and waters are actively exploited by the armed forces, the public remains in the dark about how these operations will affect the well-being of their communities,” continued Velázquez.
 
The letter calls for full transparency and firm assurances that remediation efforts in Vieques will not be disrupted.
 
“The public deserves unequivocal assurance that no military operation will undermine or delay the progress of the Vieques cleanup, which has been supported by at least $327 million appropriated by Congress.”
 
Velázquez requests a Member-level briefing from the Department of Defense no later than December 4, 2025, outlining the reasoning behind the heightened military presence, the scope of current and planned exercises, the status of cleanup efforts, and any agreements with the Puerto Rico government.

In addition to Velázquez, the letter was also signed by Representative Delia Ramirez (D-IL).
 
A PDF of the letter can be found here.
 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Frank Pallone (6th District of New Jersey)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) today issued the following statement after Acting FEMA Administrator David Richardson abruptly resigned following months of criticism over his inexperience and absence during major disasters:

 

“Good riddance. Americans deserve a FEMA leader with at least the most basic core competencies in emergency management, something David Richardson never demonstrated. His absence during the deadly Texas floods, his refusal to participate in daily operations, and his willingness to hollow out FEMA during peak hurricane season made our country less safe.

 

“Now that Richardson is gone, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem needs to go too. The Trump Administration must put public safety ahead of politics. The leaders of FEMA and DHS must understand the urgency of disaster response and rebuild the operational capacity that the Trump Administration deliberately gutted.”

 

In July, Pallone became the first member of Congress to call for Richardson’s ouster following the deadly Texas floods.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Frank Pallone (6th District of New Jersey)

LONG BRANCH, N.J. – Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) today called on the New Jersey Department of Health to schedule an additional in-person public hearing in Long Branch after hundreds of residents were denied entry to the State Health Planning Board’s November 13 hearing on the proposed relocation of Monmouth Medical Center hospital. 

 

In a letter sent this morning to Acting Commissioner Jeffrey A. Brown, Pallone reiterated that Long Branch residents were forced to stand outside for hours in freezing temperatures because the small room provided by RWJBarnabas Health quickly filled with its own employees. Most residents were never able to speak before the Board.

 

“There is no question that the hundreds of people who attended the November 13th hearing, almost all of whom were Long Branch residents opposed to the application, were left standing outside in the cold for hours because the small room provided by RWJBarnabas Health quickly reached capacity with their own employees. Many residents ultimately left before having any opportunity to speak, as temperatures dropped and there was no indication they would ever be allowed inside,” Pallone wrote.

 

Pallone noted that Acting Commissioner Brown indicated the relocation application will likely be on the agenda at the State Health Planning Board’s December 4 meeting in Trenton. While the meeting will be open to the public, Pallone stressed that it is unreasonable to expect Long Branch residents to travel even farther from home to weigh in on a proposal that directly impacts their community.

 

“…you cannot reasonably expect Long Branch residents to travel even farther from the city to speak at a hearing in Trenton. I again request that a second in-person hearing be held locally in Long Branch, in a room large enough to accommodate our residents, and at a time after normal working hours. It is simply unrealistic to expect people to take time off from their jobs between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. to participate in this meeting,” Pallone continued.

 

If the Department refuses to hold a second in-person hearing in Long Branch, Pallone urged the state to ensure that the December 4 meeting is fully accessible virtually. 

 

“This would allow Long Branch residents to gather at a suitable venue within the city with enough space and the necessary technology to accommodate everyone. Residents must be allowed to line up indoors, speak to the board via a large screen, and express their concerns until every person who wishes to be heard has that opportunity. The virtual option must afford all members of the public to comment directly to members of the board,” he wrote.

 

A full copy of Pallone’s letter to Acting Commissioner Brown is below:

 

Dear Acting Commissioner Brown,

 

Thank you for taking the time to speak with me this morning about the public hearing held by the State Health Planning Board on November 13, 2025, and about my request for an additional hearing to be held in Long Branch so that the public may have a full and fair opportunity to be heard.

 

There is no question that the hundreds of people who attended the November 13th hearing, almost all of whom were Long Branch residents opposed to the application, were left standing outside in the cold for hours because the small room provided by RWJBarnabas Health quickly reached capacity with their own employees. Many residents ultimately left before having any opportunity to speak, as temperatures dropped and there was no indication they would ever be allowed inside.

During our conversation, you expressed your view that the State Health Planning Board meeting scheduled for December 4, 2025, will likely include the Monmouth Medical Center relocation application on its agenda. You also noted that this meeting in Trenton would be open to the public, and that you would consider allowing public comment both in person and virtually.

 

However, you cannot reasonably expect Long Branch residents to travel even farther from the city to speak at a hearing in Trenton. I again request that a second in-person hearing be held locally in Long Branch, in a room large enough to accommodate our residents, and at a time after normal working hours. It is simply unrealistic to expect people to take time off from their jobs between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. to participate in this meeting.  

 

In addition, I respectfully ask that the December 4th State Health Planning Board meeting be fully accessible virtually to the public. This would allow Long Branch residents to gather at a suitable venue within the city with enough space and the necessary technology to accommodate everyone. Residents must be allowed to line up indoors, speak to the board via a large screen, and express their concerns until every person who wishes to be heard has that opportunity. The virtual option must afford all members of the public to comment directly to members of the board.   

 

Thank you again for your time and consideration.

 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Frank Pallone (6th District of New Jersey)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06), Ranking Member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, today welcomed news that the Trump Administration’s draft 2026–2031 National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program does not include the Atlantic Ocean. The exclusion comes after Pallone led more than 100 House Democrats earlier this month in a letter urging the Administration to remove the Atlantic from consideration, warning that new drilling would threaten coastal economies, marine ecosystems, and military readiness.

“New Jerseyans can breathe a sigh of relief today. The Trump Administration’s new offshore drilling plan is out, and the Atlantic Ocean is not in it. Earlier this year, the Atlantic was on the table until I led more than 100 House Democrats in a letter demanding its removal. New Jersey’s coastal economy and marine life cannot be put at risk by seismic blasting or the threat of a single spill,” said Pallone. “And while the Atlantic was spared, communities in California and along the Florida Gulf still face unacceptable risks. Their concerns must be heard.”

 

Read Pallone’s November 4, 2025 letter here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Frank Pallone (6th District of New Jersey)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) today applauded the federal court’s dismissal of the cases against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James. The judge found that Lindsey Halligan’s appointment as interim U.S. Attorney violated federal statute, rendering every action she took, including the indictments, invalid.

 

“Today’s ruling makes clear that Donald Trump tried to manipulate the justice system by installing an unconfirmed loyalist who had no legal authority to bring these charges,” Pallone said. “The statute I helped pass in 2007 was written to prevent exactly this kind of political misuse of federal prosecutors, and the court correctly enforced it. This decision is a win for checks and balances, a win for the rule of law, and a reminder that no president is above the appointment process. NJ’s sham Acting U.S. Attorney Alina Habba is next.”

 

Last month, Pallone filed an amicus brief in U.S. v. Comey challenging Halligan’s unlawful appointment under the Preserving United States Attorney Independence Act of 2007, legislation he helped pass to ensure Senate-confirmed U.S. Attorneys and protect the integrity of federal charging decisions.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Grace Meng (6th District of New York)

Letter calls for answers following reports of detainees being denied basic hygiene products

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Grace Meng (6th District of New York)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Reps. Grace Meng (D-NY) and Celeste Maloy (R-UT) today, introduced the Good Samaritan Menstrual Products Act – a bipartisan bill addressing period poverty in American communities by supporting donations of menstrual products.

Currently, certain menstrual products like tampons are considered “Class 2” medical products, and this designation deters the donation of these items. Liability concerns, even for products donated in good faith, limit both the variety and availability of menstrual products for those in need.

This legislation would provide liability protection for individuals, manufacturers, and distributors that donate menstrual products in good faith, as well as for the nonprofit groups that receive and distribute them. It is modeled after the Good Samaritan Food Donations Act, a bill enacted in 1996 that created a liability exemption for food and household donations.

“Period poverty is an unthinkable challenge for far too many Americans,” said Congresswoman Meng. “It impacts individuals’ self-perception, mental health, educational opportunities, and economic well-being. It can also be detrimental to their physical health, as the risk of infections increase with use of substitutions, such as paper towels or toilet paper, or because of an inability to change products as frequently as recommended. Today, one in four teenagers and one in three adults report struggling to secure menstrual products. Every day costs are continuing to rise, and it is more important than ever that we ensure everyone who needs menstrual products can access them. Our Good Samaritan Menstrual Products Act would help address this need by easing restrictions on charitable donations of these products. I’m proud to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle as we fight to end period poverty once and for all.”

“Donating essential hygiene products is a meaningful way to support women and girls who rely on nonprofit partners,” said Congresswoman Maloy. “This bill ensures donors can contribute openly and without legal risk, strengthening the network of help in our communities.”

Many organizations nationwide distribute menstrual products, including at least 140 nonprofits that are active members of the Alliance for Period Supplies. This change to the law would enable these organizations to give more and different types of menstrual products to people in need. This no-cost bill would make a small but impactful technical fix that would increase access to menstrual products nationwide.

“We know that 2 in 5 people in the U.S. have struggled to afford the menstrual supplies they need,” said Lacey Gero, Director of Government Relations at the Alliance for Period Supplies. “Unfortunately, the lack of legal protection has prevented companies from donating some trusted products, specifically tampons. That’s why the Alliance for Period Supplies has championed and worked directly with legislators to draft this much-needed reform.”

This legislation is cosponsored by Representatives Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ), Julia Brownley (D-CA), Sean Casten (D-IL), Judy Chu (D-CA), Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Chris Deluzio (D-PA), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Veronica Escobar (D-TX), Maxwell Frost (D-FL), Pablo Hernandez Rivera (D-PR), Julie Johnson (D-TX), Tim Kennedy (D-NY), Sarah McBride (D-DE), Terri Sewell (D-AL), Melanie Stansbury (D-NM), Jill Tokuda (D-HI), Paul Tonko (D-NY), Ritchie Torres (D-NY), Nydia Velázquez (D-NY), and Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ).

It is supported by the Alliance for Period Supplies, Period Law, IGNITE National, Helping Women Period, Days for Girls International, Unicorn, #HappyPeriod Organization, Period Education Project, Advocates for Youth, PERIOD., Girls Inc., ISSA, The Worldwide Cleaning Industry Association, Aunt Flow, Period Product Provider, The Flow Initiative, Mujeres and Menstruators United, National Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, Center for Baby and Adult Hygiene Products, National Association of School Nurses, and Kimberly-Clark.

Now introduced in the House, the bill must be approved by the House Judiciary Committee before it can be brought to the House floor for a vote.

A copy of the legislation can be viewed here. 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (3rd District of Ohio)

The Housing Financial Literacy Act of 2025 would promote housing affordability, incentivize financial literacy, and help prevent foreclosures