MIL USHOR-2b Engine

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).

Read the text of the bill here.

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Issues: 119th Congress, Education, Healthcare

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).

Read the text of the bill here.

Issues: 119th Congress, Gun Safety, Gun Violence Prevention

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).

A copy of the letter is available HERE.

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

Today, Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries held a press conference about Donald Trump canceling a planned meeting to discuss government funding and how House Democrats are continuing to hold the line against the out-of-control Republican attack on the healthcare of the American people.

Leader Jeffries: Leader Schumer and I are ready to meet with anyone, anytime, at any place to discuss the issues that matter to the American people and avoid a painful Republican-caused government shutdown. Democrats do not support the partisan Republican spending bill because it continues to gut the healthcare of the American people. Our country is in the midst of an unprecedented Republican healthcare crisis. Republicans have enacted the largest cut to Medicaid in American history. Millions of people will lose access to care.

As a result of the Republican One Big Ugly Bill, hospitals, nursing homes and community-based health clinics are closing all across the country, including in rural America. More than 20 million Americans are at risk of experiencing dramatically increased healthcare costs—premiums, copays and deductibles—because of the Republican refusal to extend the tax credits connected to the Affordable Care Act. Medicare is facing a $536 billion cut at the end of the year as a result of the One Big Ugly Bill that Republicans jammed down the throats of the American people. And at the same time, Republicans have effectively ended medical research in the United States of America, including research for children with cancer. And in the Republican appropriations spending bill, they continue the assault on the public health infrastructure in this country, vaccine availability, the National Institute of Health and the Centers for Disease Control.

Democrats are ready, willing, and able to sit down with anyone at any place, at any time, to avoid the Republican-caused government shutdown that we are on the brink of experiencing and in order to address the Republican healthcare crisis. It’s clear that Donald Trump and House Republicans and Senate Republicans are running scared, which is why they refuse to even sit down and have a conversation to discuss the Republican government shutdown and the healthcare crisis that is going to cause people in the United States of America to die because of the actions that Republicans have taken and want to continue to undertake in ways that hurt the people I represent here in Brooklyn and folks all across this country.

Full press conference can be watched here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Adam Smith (9th District of Washington)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Adam Smith (D-Wash.) today introduced a new education package that includes the Community and Technical College Investment Act and the Career and Technical Education Access Act, two bills designed to expand opportunities for students to access affordable higher education, gain in-demand skills, and build stronger pathways into the workforce. 

“Too many students are being priced out of higher education or graduating high school without a clear path to a career,” said Congressman Smith. “This legislation is about breaking down those barriers, making community and technical college tuition-free, expanding wraparound support, and creating high schools that connect academics with real-world technical skills. Together, these bills invest in students, strengthen our workforce, and help more families achieve economic stability.” 

Community and Technical College Investment Act 

The Community and Technical College Investment Act creates a federal-state partnership to make community and technical colleges tuition-free while expanding wraparound support services to help students stay enrolled and graduate. 

• States can receive grants to cover tuition for eligible students, build stronger transfer and degree-completion pathways, and coordinate education and workforce systems.
• Subgrants will support community colleges in addressing students’ non-tuition needs such as housing, childcare, transportation, food, and digital access.
• An emergency aid fund will provide direct financial support to students facing unexpected crises like job loss, housing insecurity, or family emergencies. 

Community and technical colleges like Green River, Highline, and Renton Technical College play a central role in South King County, serving diverse, first-generation, and working-class students. These institutions are well positioned to benefit from the new supports, helping more local students enroll, persist, and graduate. 

Bill text here. Fact sheet here.

Endorsements: 

This bill is endorsed by The Institute for College Access and Success, The Center for Law and Social Policy, National Council for Community and Education Partnerships, Network for Public Education. National Association for College Admission Counseling, Washington State Board of Community and Technical Colleges, Renton Technical College, Highline College, Seattle Colleges, and Green River Community College. 

• “This legislation has the power to remove critical barriers that prevent students—especially those from historically marginalized communities—from completing their education at institutions like Renton Technical College. By investing in access and supporting completion, we’re not only transforming lives—we’re fueling Washington’s workforce and ensuring our industries have the skilled professionals they need for sustained economic growth.” — Yoshiko Harden, President, Renton Technical College
• “Community and technical colleges can only be true engines of economic mobility if resources to support access, retention and completion are present for all community members. This legislation will provide those resources as it addresses financial barriers students face in paying tuition, accessing support services and covering the true cost of their education. Prospective students need to know that their pathway to economically mobility and social equity is through their local community and technical college.”  — Dr. John R. Mosby, President, Highline College
• “By providing access to higher education for all individuals, regardless of their financial situation, we are investing in our collective future and giving everyone the opportunity to succeed. Community colleges, like Green River College, are a crucial stepping stone for many students on their path to higher education and a career. Making Green River tuition-free would remove the #1 student identified barrier to access and help ensure that all students have the opportunity to prepare for a successful future.” — Dr. Suzanne Johnson, President, Green River College
• “Congressman Smith’s proposal to make community and technical colleges tuition free would be a huge boost to the over 307,000 students who come to our colleges, their families, and Washington’s economy. For people of all ages and backgrounds, Washington’s 34 community and technical colleges are proud to serve students right in their own communities as they start their educational journey, train for well-paying jobs, and learn skills they need for everyday life. With Congressman Smith’s bill, students can graduate without tuition debt, putting them on the path to success right away, an investment that would pay off many times over for our state and our country.” — Nate Humphrey, Executive Director, Washington State Board for Community & Technical Colleges (SBCTC)
• “The National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) believes that postsecondary education is a public good, delivering benefits to both individuals and society. NACAC is proud to endorse the Community and Technical College Investment Act, which strengthens equitable pathways to higher education and meets students where they are. By making community and technical colleges tuition-free, expanding wraparound supports, and providing emergency aid, this legislation addresses the barriers that prevent too many students from completing their education. It ensures that more students can access education and earn the credentials and degrees that lead to meaningful careers, while strengthening the workforce and building more resilient communities.” — Sean Robins, Director of Advocacy, The National Association for College Admission Counseling
• “The Network for Public Education is proud to support the Community and Technical College Investment Act. Community and technical colleges serve as a vital bridge, connecting K–12 learning to the world of work and higher education. This legislation will swing open the doors of opportunity for young people across our nation—especially those with limited means—by giving them the chance to gain the skills they need to launch meaningful careers and lead productive lives.” — Carol Burris, Executive Director, The Network for Public Education
• “TICAS strongly supports the Community and Technical College Investment Act. By recognizing and addressing the ongoing and significant barrier of college costs for low-income students, including food, housing, childcare and transportation- this bill will improve college access, completion rates, and basic needs security for future students. As the need for a more educated workforce continues to grow, investments like this are how we can meet that demand and ensure all students, no matter their background, can complete their educational journey.”— Jessica Thompson, Senior Vice President at The Institute for College Access and Success (TICAS)
• “Community and technical colleges are a vital resource for the American economy because they help meet the high demand for workforce training. With 37 percent of Hispanic, 26 percent of Asian, and 33 percent of Black undergraduates enrolled at public community colleges, these institutions are also valuable opportunities for underrepresented students entering higher education. Despite their importance for communities and the national economy, community and technical colleges have faced decades of consistent underfunding at the federal level, which has created a cost barrier preventing millions of students from earning credentials and entering the middle class. By allowing states to make these institutions tuition-free and increase offerings of wraparound supportive services, the Community and Technical College Investment Act is an important step toward increasing the ability for everyone to pursue and complete educational opportunities and job training programs.” — Lorena Roque, interim director of Education, Labor & Worker Justice at the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) 

Career and Technical Education Access Act 

The Career and Technical Education Access Act provides federal funding to enable states to expand and strengthen high school career and technical education programs, giving students an early start on postsecondary success and workforce training. 

• Creates a voluntary federal grant program to help states establish, expand, or improve career and technical education programs tailored to workforce needs.
• Provides flexibility for states to launch programs through standalone technical high schools, regional career centers, or hybrid models.
• Mandates workforce alignment assessments every three years to ensure programs match in-demand jobs.
• Requires automatic transfer credit recognition for students completing CTE programs.
• Permits funding for online and hybrid programs to expand access for rural and underserved areas.
• Establishes a CTE Pell Grant to allow high school students to access financial support for credentialing, apprenticeships, and dual-enrollment coursework. 

These provisions are especially significant for South King County, where students face steep barriers to higher education and employers in aerospace, healthcare, and advanced manufacturing are seeking more skilled workers. By expanding career-connected learning in high school, this legislation will help local students move into good-paying jobs or further education with stronger preparation. 

Bill text here. Fact sheet here.

Endorsements: 

This bill is endorsed by LiUNA Local 242, Northwest Education Access, Machinists Institute, and Southeast Seattle Education Coalition. 

• “At NW Education Access, we have seen the power of career-connected learning to transform lives. This bill will help ensure more students, especially those from low-income and first-generation backgrounds, can access high-quality CTE opportunities.” — Jeff Corey Deputy Director, Northwest Education Access
• “We are excited to endorse a bill that supports the livelihoods of young people while meeting the real needs of our economy. By allowing states to shape CTE pathways that reflect local industries and communities, this legislation creates access to meaningful careers for youth in places like Southeast Seattle, where early opportunity can change lives.” — Liz Huizar, Executive Director of Southeast Seattle Education Coalition
• “IAM District 751 supports the Career and Technical Education (CTE) Access Act because it puts students and workers at the center of our nation’s economic future. This legislation responds to the growing demand for skilled workers in industries such as manufacturing, healthcare, construction, and IT by creating a federal grant program that allows states to establish, expand, or improve CTE programs through high schools, regional centers, and hybrid models. It delivers modern training, builds industry partnerships, and ensures fair access to education that prepares young people for stable, well-paying union careers. By expanding CTE opportunities to every community and establishing a CTE Pell Grant to help cover costs, this bill gives the next generation the skills and support they need to succeed. Training students today is how we build a strong workforce and secure the future that working people deserve.” – IAM District 751 President Jon Holden
• “The Machinists Institute, a 501c3 offering education and registered apprenticeship pathways to aerospace and industrial trades strongly endorses the Career and Technical Education Access Act. This legislation will expand high-quality career and technical education opportunities, foster strong industry partnerships, and provide critical support for students and employers nationwide. By establishing flexible grant programs, incentivizing employer participation, and introducing CTE Pell Grants for secondary students, the Act ensures equitable access to hands-on learning, college credit, and in-demand career pathways. This Act clearly outlines a strategy and resources to strengthen our workforce and empower the next generation of skilled professionals.” — The Machinists Institute 

A Pathway to Opportunity 

Together, these bills address the affordability and accessibility crisis in education at every stage. By investing in both secondary and postsecondary education, the package creates a pipeline for students to move from high school into community college, career training, or a four-year degree without being weighed down by debt. 

“From Renton to Kent to Bellevue, students in our district deserve the chance to graduate with less debt and more opportunity,” Smith said. “This package invests in young people and families here at home, while also strengthening our economy and workforce nationally.” 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Joaquin Castro (20th District of Texas)

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

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Pete Aguilar (31 CD Ca)

In 2023, Rep. Aguilar secured $1.5 million in funding for the program to purchase heavy-duty zero-emission trucks, charging stations and state-of-the-art equipment 
Rep. Pete Aguilar recently visited the Clean Energy Hybrid and Electric Vehicle (EV) Technician Program at San Bernardino Valley College (SBVC), where he toured the facility that teaches students about zero-emission vehicles through hands-on training that will prepare them for careers in clean energy and technology.
“Programs like SBVC’s Clean Energy Hybrid and Electric Vehicle (EV) Technician Program help prepare our students for good-paying jobs right here in the Inland Empire, while also improving our air quality,” said Rep. Pete Aguilar. “I was proud to have secured $1.5 million in federal funding for Valley College to expand and improve its facility. It was great to stop by the campus and see firsthand how this funding is making a difference for students in our community and moving our region towards a clean energy future.”
“Thanks to Congressman Aguilar for bringing these federal dollars home, Valley College students are getting hands-on training with the clean-energy trucks that represent the future of transportation and goods movement,” said San Bernardino Community College District Chancellor Diana Z. Rodriguez. “This prepares local talent for local jobs and helps Inland Empire businesses stay competitive as the industry changes.”

Rep. Aguilar serves as Chair of the House Democratic Caucus and as a member of the House Committee on Appropriations.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA)

Griffith Statement on Conviction of Ryan Routh

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

Washington, DC – Congresswoman Brownley joined 153 Members of Congress in a public comment letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin in opposition to the EPA’s proposal to rescind the landmark 2009 Endangerment Finding that greenhouse gases threaten public health and welfare. The Members called on Administrator Zeldin to stop his attacks on pollution protections for the American people.

As an addendum to the public comment letter, the Members of Congress shared on-the-ground stories from their districts, highlighting the myriad of ways climate change is already impacting Americans in every corner of the nation. Given the scientific consensus surrounding climate change and its impacts already being felt around the nation, the EPA must provide answers to these lived experiences. Administrator Zeldin and his EPA must explain how rolling back the Endangerment Finding will protect Americans from the multitude of health and financial impacts of the climate crisis. 

“Rescinding the 2009 Endangerment Finding—despite overwhelming scientific and firsthand evidence that greenhouse gas pollutants are a danger to human health and welfare—is not only an egregious escalation in climate denialism but also an obvious denial of the reality that millions of Americans now face,” wrote the Members. “In addition to billions of dollars in damages, hundreds of lives lost, extensive peer-reviewed research, and overwhelming scientific consensus regarding these pollutants’ impacts, we are sharing the attached stories that we as Members of Congress have collected that reflect the impacts of climate change on our constituents. These are clear examples from our Congressional districts of how climate pollution ‘may reasonably be anticipated to endanger public health or welfare.’ We request that you respond to each and every one of these stories through the public comment process.”

“For generations, families have chosen Ventura County and the Conejo Valley as home because of its picturesque landscapes, resilient economy, and superior quality of life,” wrote Congresswoman Brownley. “From the Oxnard coastline to the inland hills of Simi Valley, residents of this vibrant region face growing risks from climate change that threaten their health, safety, and livelihoods.

“Wildfires are becoming more frequent and more destructive, fueled by hotter temperatures and prolonged droughts. In 2017, the Thomas Fire tore through over 280,000 acres, destroying homes and businesses and forcing tens of thousands to evacuate. At the time, it was the largest wildfire in California’s history, a record that stood only briefly before being surpassed by even larger blazes. Many residents live along the wildland–urban interface, where dry hillsides and encroaching flames are a constant danger. Each fire season brings renewed anxiety, lasting trauma, and harmful smoke that threatens public health across the region.

“At the same time, water insecurity threatens Ventura County’s $2 billion agricultural economy, which produces specialty crops that help feed the nation. Repeated droughts have forced farmers into impossible choices about which fields to keep alive, costing jobs and raising food prices for working families already under strain.

“Along the coast, rising seas and stronger storms are eroding beaches and bluffs, placing homes, roads, and critical infrastructure at risk. The Port of Hueneme and the Channel Islands Harbor already see flooding during storms. Naval Base Ventura County, which is critical to both our national security and local economy, faces growing risks from sea level rise and coastal erosion. These changes not only endanger property but also strain local governments, first responders, and taxpayers who must manage the growing costs of climate-related damage and the soaring costs of insurance premiums.

“The impacts of climate change are being felt now, in our homes, our workplaces, and our everyday lives. Instead of eroding the federal response to climate change, we should be maintaining, enforcing, and strengthening the protections that preserve the quality of life that has defined our communities for generations,” added Brownley. 

Background

On July 29, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced his formal proposal to rescind the Endangerment Finding – the scientific determination that greenhouse gases endanger human health and must be regulated under the Clean Air Act. Threatening the 2009 Endangerment Finding and EPA’s explicit authority to regulate greenhouse gases began as part of the Trump Administration’s Day One Executive Actions. 

In response, SEEC sent a letter in January condemning the Trump Administration’s Day One Executive Actions that rolled back a multitude of critical pollution regulations and environmental protections, including the Endangerment Finding. In February, SEEC sent another letter condemning Administrator Zeldin’s reported recommendation to rescind the Endangerment Finding and urged him to follow the science and protect Americans from planet-warming pollution. 

Last week, members of SEEC held a press conference at the Capitol to oppose EPA’s proposed rollbacks of the Endangerment Finding and vehicle emissions standards that will make our air dirtier and our lives more expensive. 

Read the text of the letter, including the climate impact stories shared by Members, here.

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Issues: 119th Congress, Climate Crisis, Environment, Environmental Protection, Local Issues