MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose)

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology is holding a Investigations and Oversight Subcommittee hearing titled, Powering America’s AI Future: Assessing Policy Options to Increase Data Center Infrastructure.

Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) opening statement as prepared for the record is below:

Thank you, Chairman McCormick and Ranking Member Sykes, for holding this hearing. Thank you to our witnesses for appearing today. 

this hearing is a great opportunity for all of us to think carefully about an issue that has moved to the center of our political debate. Data centers loom large in the United States today. They are presented as the foundation of America’s global leadership in artificial intelligence. They are the subject of projected investment on an astonishing level, perhaps hundreds of billions of dollars in the years to come. They are a major source of economic growth and an engine of the stock market. Everything about data centers seems outsized in scale and ambition. 

Of course, there is another side to the story. The impacts of data centers on local communities can be just as huge as their national aspirations. Data centers require massive amounts of energy to operate, and their demand for electricity threatens to strain our electric grid and send energy prices surging for residents and small businesses. They consume enormous amounts of water to prevent overheating and emit air pollutants from backup diesel generators that can expose nearby communities to health hazards. They create noise pollution that can distress people living nearby. And their demand for power, if it comes from fossil fuels instead of clean energy, could deal a dangerous setback to America’s clean energy transition. 

This debate has a familiar ring to Californians. Our state has considerable experience in trying to balance the transformative economic growth that technological innovation can bring with the impacts of that growth on cost of living and affordability. Certainly for those of us in the Bay Area, this has been a crucial question for many, many years. And California will be central to this debate once again, as the state with the third-largest concentration of data centers in the country. 

I have no doubt that different communities will reach different conclusions about what is in their best interest. But there is one thing we should all be able to agree on: more data and more transparency about data center impacts is essential. Communities should not have to make decisions about whether to host a data center without access to basic information about electricity usage, water consumption, air quality, noise pollution, and the potential effect on energy prices. Researchers should be able to use real world data to improve their models and forecasts about data center impacts, instead of relying so heavily on estimates and assumptions. All of us – policymakers, regulators, researchers, local communities, the American people – need consistent, reliable, transparent data to make informed decisions about data center growth. The lack of that transparency is troubling, and I look forward to discussing it further today.  

It is worth remembering that ignoring data center impacts does not make them go away. The Trump Administration has become America’s biggest cheerleader for the data center buildout. All we ever hear from this administration is that the best thing for America is more data centers, built as quickly as possible, in as many parts of the country as possible. That strikes me as a foolish and shortsighted approach. If our country is not smart about data centers – if we fail to act with diligence and prudence – mistakes will be made that will inevitably cause a backlash, the beginnings of which are already starting to be seen. 

Data center operators and their supporters should appreciate that their social license to operate is a valuable and fragile thing. It is in their own self-interest to be as transparent as possible about data center impacts so that the country can make reasoned judgments about how to sustainably mitigate them. I hope to learn more in today’s hearing about what the federal government can do to support that kind of transparency. 

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I yield back.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose)

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (CA-18) will be attending President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address with guest Lupe Lopez, co-founder of Arteaga’s Food Center, based in Gilroy, California.

“Today marks Trump’s 400^th day in office, and it has been 400 days of disaster for the American economy,” Rep. Lofgren said. “Will he use the State of the Union tonight to try and put a positive spin on this mess he’s created? The American people are feeling the consequences of Republicans’ harmful policies. They feel it every time they go to the grocery store and are crushed by Trump’s illegal tariffs that raise the price of everyday goods. I am happy to have Lupe Lopez joining me, a local grocer who has seen firsthand the impacts of Trump’s reckless and unconstitutional tariffs.”

“As an independent grocer, I see my customers struggling every day to keep food on the table and to pay for housing and electricity,” Lupe Lopez said. “I hope Donald Trump will present a clear plan to bring real relief to our working families by lowering grocery costs, eliminating burdensome tariffs, addressing excessive credit card processing fees, and reducing energy expenses.”

The typical American family spent $310 more for groceries during Trump’s first year in office compared to 2024. This includes $76 more for ground coffee, $71 more for raw ground beef, and $52 more for eggs. Despite this, President Trump has claimed that the affordability crisis he has fueled is a Democratic “hoax”.

Lopez, in addition to being co-founder of Arteaga’s Food Center, serves as Chair of the Government Relations Committee for the National Grocers Association (NGA). She was also chosen as the 2018 Women of the Year by the Gilroy Chamber of Commerce.

Arteaga’s is a family-owned business with eight locations in northern California, including three in California’s 18^th congressional district. It has been honored as Small Business of the Year by the California State Assembly.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (District of Columbia)

Norton released her question line ahead of this morning’s 10:00 a.m. hearing.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (8th District of Illinois)

SCHAUMBURG, IL — Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08) today announced that Jaime, a University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) student and constituent whose father was detained for four days in inhumane conditions at the Broadview ICE facility — and then coerced into signing a “voluntary departure” form — will join him as his guest to President Donald Trump’s February 24 State of the Union Address.

“Donald Trump can try to rewrite his record tonight, but communities across America are living with the consequences of militarized immigration operations that have terrorized families and left Americans dead,” said Congressman Krishnamoorthi. “I’m bringing Jaime, a UIC student from my district, to the State of the Union because what happened to his father is part of a broader pattern of detainees being held in inhumane conditions, coerced into signing away their rights, and denied due process. Armed federal agents are carrying out operations in our neighborhoods without lawful restraint or accountability. I will continue working to end the Trump Administration’s abuses, restore accountability, and fight for an immigration system that actually lives up to American values.”

After federal agents seized Jaime’s father in October 2025 during the Trump Administration’s Operation Midway Blitz, he was taken to the Broadview ICE facility and held for four days in dangerously overcrowded, unsanitary conditions. Packed into a windowless room with roughly 60 men, he was denied showers, forced to sleep on the floor or standing up, and watched multiple detainees taken away on stretchers. Despite repeatedly asking to see a judge and explaining that his children were alone after their mother’s death, he was told only to sign a “voluntary departure” form — and ICE deported him the next day, even though his attorney had already secured an emergency hearing that could have halted his removal. Congressman Krishnamoorthi highlighted Jaime’s father’s experience at Broadview at an October 24 House field hearing.

Congressman Krishnamoorthi has pursued aggressive oversight of ICE, CBP, and DHS throughout Trump’s second term, including repeatedattempts to inspect Broadview — one of which ended with ICE personnel threatening to call police to block his lawful oversight visit. He has pressed DHS leadership on abuses inside Broadview, the rise in coerced “voluntary departures,” and ICE’s deployment of armed teams into Chicago-area communities under Operation Midway Blitz. By bringing Jaime to the State of the Union, Congressman Krishnamoorthi is highlighting the human consequences of these policies and reaffirming his commitment to demanding transparency, exposing abuses, and restoring lawful and accountable immigration enforcement.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Josh Harder (CA-10)

Pastor at Iglesia Luterana Santa María Peregrina in Stockton and Saron Lutheran Church in Escalon

Longtime advocate for Valley immigrant communities

 

WASHINGTON – Ahead of the 2026 State of the Union next week, Rep. Josh Harder (CA-09) announced Reverend Nelson Rabell-González, a local pastor and immigrant advocate, as his guest for the annual joint address to Congress. A Puerto-Rican native, Rev. Rabell-González serves both Spanish- and English-speaking congregations and has been a community leader in the Valley for years, especially amid recent attacks on immigrant communities.

“Here in the Valley, we’re incredibly proud of our immigrant communities, and we’re made stronger by their accomplishments and contributions. Despite recent attacks on our neighbors, our community has remained united around protecting Valley families, and Rev. Rabell-González has been at the center of those efforts,” said Rep. Harder. “As a faith leader in the Valley for years, Rev. Rabell-González has been a trusted partner and source of warmth and acceptance during these chaotic times – I’m incredibly honored to have him as my guest and to bring these stories to Washington as we work to rein in these out of control attacks.”

“Our congregations and our communities will always stand up for our immigrant neighbors because Christ was also an immigrant,” said Rev. Rabell-González. “Just as churches should be a sanctuary where anybody can come without fear, Valley communities deserve to be free from these attacks, and I’m grateful for Rep. Harder’s work to hold them accountable. I’m excited to join Rep. Harder at the 2026 State of the Union and make it clear to Washington that fear will not beat us.” 

Rev. Rabell-González serves as pastor at Iglesia Luterana Santa María Peregrina in Stockton and Saron Lutheran Church in Escalon. He is a graduate of Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia. Rev. Rabell-González is married to Dr. Fabiola Ramos and has two young adult children.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (12th District of Michigan)

Dingell, Walberg Lead Delegation to Honor Michigan’s 2026 Winter Olympians

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (15th District of Texas)

Washington, D.C.— As Americans struggle with a housing affordability crisis, U.S. Congressmen Vicente Gonzalez (TX-34), member of the House Financial Services Committee, and Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1), member of the House Ways and Means Committee, introduced H.R. 7647, the bipartisan Minimizing Outdated Restrictions that Exclude (MORE) Opportunities for Homeownership Act.

Specifically, the bill would amend the Federal Home Loan Bank Act to expand eligibility for federally insured credit unions to improve access to low-cost liquidity, collateralized advances, and affordable housing and community investment programs under the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) System. Modernizing this outdated distinction will strengthen community-based lenders, expand responsible mortgage lending capacity, and assist more families in South Texas and across the country, achieve homeownership.

“For generations, owning a home has been largely considered part of the American dream. Yet, this dream continues to be out of reach for too many South Texas families,” said Congressman Gonzalez. “Our bill offers another path to homeownership by providing credit unions the same flexibilities as small banks and saving institutions to provide loans. This will increase affordable access to homeownership for every family.”

“The housing affordability crisis is a daily reality for families who are working hard, saving responsibly, and still watching the dream of owning a home slip further away,” said Congressman Fitzpatrick. “Part of that challenge is structural. Outdated policies restrict access to capital and limit the lending capacity of trusted community institutions. The MORE Act corrects that by modernizing the Federal Home Loan Bank system to include credit unions—expanding liquidity, increasing competition, and strengthening community-based mortgage lending. When we expand access to capital, we expand access to opportunity. This bipartisan reform helps to restore balance to our housing market and bring the American Dream of homeownership back within reach.

“America’s Credit Unions welcomes bipartisan legislation from Congressmen Vicente Gonzalez and Brian Fitzpatrick that would enhance credit unions’ ability to access the Federal Home Loan Bank system. This bill is a common-sense solution that affirms what Congress has known for years, and that the Government Accountability Office recently confirmed: access to the FHLB system for small financial institutions improves their access to liquidity, lowering rates for consumers while maintaining their safety and soundness. Ultimately, expanding access to the FHLBs would benefit thousands of community-based credit unions and give them a powerful, safe tool to support homeownership, strengthen local communities, and help more people build financial security.” – Scott Simpson, president/CEO, America’s Credit Unions

“We appreciate the leadership of Reps. Vicente Gonzalez and Brian Fitzpatrick in recognizing that credit unions are vital community financial institutions. Access to the Federal Home Loan Bank system strengthens our ability to provide mortgages, manage liquidity, and serve members in good times and bad.” – Jim Phelps, EVP, chief advocacy officer, Cornerstone League. 

“We commend Representatives Fitzpatrick and Gonzalez for sponsoring this important legislation as a step toward ensuring credit unions have fair access to the Federal Home Loan Bank system. When credit unions can fully participate in the FHLB, they are better positioned to expand mortgage lending, support local housing markets, and deliver long-term stability for the members and communities who rely on them. Expanding access strengthens not just credit unions, but the communities they serve.” – Patrick Conway, president/CEO CrossState Credit Union Association.

Under current law, the Federal Home Loan Bank Act defines a “community financial institution” (CFI) as a Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)-insured depository institution with average total assets below the statutory cap—adjusted annually by the Federal Housing Finance Agency. This includes small banks and savings institutions whose deposits are insured under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act. Federally insured credit unions may join the FHLB System, but because their deposits are insured under the Federal Credit Union Act rather than the FDIC Act, they are not currently treated as CFIs.

The full bill text can be found here. 

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

Last night, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries appeared on CNN’s Anderson Cooper 360 and MS NOW’s The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell to highlight the real State of the Union under Donald Trump and Rubber Stamp Republicans, who have abdicated their responsibilities to make life better for hardworking American taxpayers.

JOHN BERMAN: Joining us now is House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York, who has lived through the storm either here or in Washington today. You can’t avoid it no matter where you go. Listen, Leader, you’ve seen the new CNN poll. You see that a majority of Americans want to hear about the economy, want to hear about cost of living. You heard the President say we have the greatest economy we’ve ever had. What are Democrats offering as an alternative vision tomorrow night?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, first of all, Donald Trump’s presidency has been a complete and total failure. He’s failed on the economy, failed to lower costs. He’s failed to fix our broken healthcare system and address the Republican healthcare crisis. He certainly has failed to deliver an immigration enforcement system that’s fair, just and humane. ICE is completely, totally out of control, and they need to be reined in. From our perspective, as Democrats, we are laser-focused on driving down the high cost of living, making life more affordable for the American people. We recognize that far too many people in this country are struggling to live paycheck to paycheck, can’t thrive and can barely survive. And that’s not acceptable in this great country of ours, the wealthiest country in the history of the world.

JOHN BERMAN: We were just talking about Iran. Kaitlan was giving us some reporting on what the White House has been saying about that. The Joint Chiefs reportedly raising some concerns about a possible U.S. strike and how difficult it would be. What do you want to hear from the President tomorrow night in terms of a possible justification for military action?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, we will have a Gang of Eight briefing at some point during the day, prior to the remarks that he delivers to the American people. I think the American people are appropriately skeptical of any further military action. The last thing that we need at this time is another failed foreign forever war that the United States of America is involved in that will be costly in terms of American lives and costly in terms of American resources. We should be using taxpayer dollars right now to make life more affordable for the American people, as opposed to engaging in another reckless adventure. And by the way, the Trump administration should not take any unilateral military action without explicit congressional approval, consistent with the Constitution and Congress’s sole authority to declare war.

JOHN BERMAN: As for tomorrow night, you’ve given Democratic Members the option to skip the event if they want to. For those who choose to attend, how would you like to see them behave?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, listen, it’s my expectation that Members who choose to attend will be there in silent defiance, of course, skeptical of the remarks that the President is going to try to deliver in terms of his spin. But he’s not going to be able to spin his way out of the failures that have occurred over the last 400 days or so in terms of Donald Trump’s presidency. This is someone who promised to lower costs on day one, but costs haven’t gone down in the United States of America. Costs have gone up. The affordability crisis is not a Democratic hoax, as the President claims. It’s very real. Housing costs out of control. Healthcare costs out of control. Grocery prices out of control. Utility costs and electricity bills out of control. Child care costs out of control. And the President has done nothing about it. In fact, the Trump tariffs have made the situation worse.

Full CNN interview can be watched here.

***

LAWRENCE O’DONNELL: Leading off our discussion tonight is House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries. Thank you very much for joining us tonight, Mr. Leader. I’d like to get your reaction to the Supreme Court decision on Donald Trump’s illegal tariffs.

LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, the Supreme Court absolutely did the right thing here. The Trump tariffs have been a major cost upon the American people. We think the average cost is about $1700 more in additional expense on everyday Americans. This is in an environment where the affordability crisis is already out of control. And of course as you pointed out, Lawrence, Donald Trump had zero authority to do this. This was unlawful and unconstitutional. And now the question is, how do we make sure, congressionally, that the businesses and the consumers and the farmers who were adversely impacted by the Trump tariffs can get their money back?

LAWRENCE O’DONNELL: The Trump administration is saying well they’ll just have to go to court to try to get their money back.

LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, what the Supreme Court decision said is that the process will be set forth by the lower court and so we’ll await the lower decision. At the same period of time, legislation has been introduced by Democrats in both the House and the Senate to try to create a mechanism to ensure that refunds are issued and that we can find a way for some of the harm that has been done to everyday Americans to be repaired.

LAWRENCE O’DONNELL: So, we saw in polling about two-thirds of Americans were opposed to the Trump tariffs before they knew from the Supreme Court that the tariffs were unconstitutional and illegal, tariffs that these people have already paid.

LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, I think Donald Trump underestimated the American people. He promised that he would lower costs on day one. Of course, costs haven’t gone down. Costs have gone up. The American people know that Republicans haven’t done a damn thing to make their life more affordable in an environment where far too many people are working hard. They’re playing by the rules. But they’re struggling to live paycheck to paycheck. Cannot thrive and can barely survive. That’s an unacceptable situation in the United States of America, the wealthiest country in the history of the world. And they know that the Trumps tariffs, by way of example, have made things worse from a President who promised to make things better. As Democrats, you know, we are going to continue to focus on driving down the high cost of living, dealing with a housing crisis, a healthcare crisis, a child care crisis, a utility bill crisis and a grocery bill crisis all at the same time that Donald Trump and Republican policies have made worse.

LAWRENCE O’DONNELL: What would you suggest voters focus on in the State of the Union address tomorrow night?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, if Donald Trump was actually being authentic to the American people—and we know that’s not going to be the case—he would acknowledge that his presidency has been a failure over the last 400-plus days. He’s failed on the economy. He’s failed on healthcare. He’s failed on immigration. ICE is completely and totally out of control. They need to be reined in. Taxpayer dollars should be spent to make life more affordable for the American people, not brutalize or kill them, as has been the case tragically with Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti. But we know Donald Trump is not going to acknowledge any of this. In fact, what he’s probably going to suggest is that he has solved the affordability crisis. But this is one of the reasons why we’re seeing presidential approval numbers that are at historic lows. Latinos abandoning Donald Trump in large numbers. Younger voters doing the same thing. Independents doing exactly the same thing. Now, Donald Trump has taken a my-way-or-the-highway approach from the very beginning, and that has failed the American people. We should see whether he comes before the Congress tomorrow and offers to change direction, but I’m not holding my breath.

LAWRENCE O’DONNELL: The Epstein Files obviously is gripping the United Kingdom as much as the United States. We have seen arrests there. We’re going to talk about that later in this program, but what would you, what should Donald Trump say tomorrow night about the Epstein Files given the country’s interest in it.

LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, he should direct his so-called Department of Justice to release all of the files in compliance with the law that he signed. The reality is the Department of Justice is withholding about three million documents from the American people. We’re thankful for the bravery and the courage and the strength of the Epstein survivors, many of whom will be in that chamber tomorrow. He should promise them the accountability and the transparency that they have fought hard to achieve.

LAWRENCE O’DONNELL: Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, the next Speaker of the House if the Democrats win the congressional elections. Thank you very much for leading off our discussion tonight.

LEADER JEFFRIES: Thank you.

Full MS NOW interview can be watched here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Johnson (LA-04)

WASHINGTON — Speaker Johnson announced his slate of guests for President Trump’s State of the Union address tonight. Read their names and Speaker Johnson’s quotes announcing their attendance below.

Claire Lai (Jointly hosted with Rep. Chris Smith): “Jimmy Lai has devoted his career to championing democracy in Hong Kong, steadfastly fighting for the freedoms we too often take for granted in America. Today, however, he sits in a Chinese prison cell for simply defending free speech and speaking out against the totalitarian repression of the Chinese Communist Party. As I made clear in my address to Parliament in the United Kingdom, America is determined to secure Jimmy’s release. Alongside my friend, Rep. Chris Smith, I will be proud to co-host his daughter, Claire Lai, who has shown extraordinary courage in the face of her father’s unjust imprisonment, as my guest for President Trump’s State of the Union address.”

“My wife, Marie, gave Claire her ticket to the State of the Union, because we are so deeply inspired by her courageous and tenacious campaign to obtain the release of her father—the Hong Kong free speech and religious liberty hero—Jimmy Lai,” Rep. Smith said. “She and her brother, Sebastien—who testified at a 2023 congressional hearing I chaired on Jimmy Lai—have been absolutely amazing in their past and ongoing appeal to Xi Jinping to release their dad. They love and respect their father so much, which further inspires us all to act—including President Trump, who has raised Jimmy Lai’s unjust incarceration numerous times. Read more in The New York Times.

Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen: “After years of meticulous planning and preparation, NASA is poised to launch its first crewed mission to venture around the moon in more than half a century. The Artemis II Crew – Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist Christina Koch, and Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen – will embark on this historic journey carrying forward the hopes and dreams of all humanity. It is my privilege to welcome these brave and courageous astronauts as my guests at the State of the Union Address.” Read more in Axios.

Hanan Lischinsky: “On May 21, 2025, Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim were murdered on the streets of Washington, D.C. These two young diplomats of the Israeli Embassy, devoted to the cause of peace and to one another, had their futures stolen in a violent act of antisemitism. Yaron’s brother, Hanan Lischinsky, has shown remarkable courage in shedding light on the extremism that took his brother’s life. I am honored to invite him as my guest for President Trump’s State of the Union address.” Read more in Jewish Insider.

Ziba Murat: “In 2018, Dr. Gulshan Abbas was forcibly detained and arrested by the Chinese Communist Party in the Xinjiang Uyghur autonomous region days after her family member spoke out about the CCP’s heinous treatment of Uyghur Muslims. As we continue to shine an international light upon China’s human rights abuses and call for the release of all those unjustly detained, it is my honor to invite Dr. Abbas’ daughter – Ziba Murat – as my guest at President Trump’s State of the Union Address.” Read more in The Hill.

Shirley Brock-Dennis, Kambreigh Smith: “It is my profound honor to host Shirley Brock-Dennis and Kambreigh Smith – the respective mother and fiancé of Vivian Police Officer Marc Brock – as my guests for the State of the Union address. In November, Officer Brock was tragically killed in the line of duty. He was an extraordinary young man who touched countless lives through his service and volunteer activities, and his passing is a somber reminder of the tremendous risks our law enforcement officers take every single day. I am grateful that Shirley and Kambreigh will join us and help share Officer Brock’s story with the nation.” Read more in Fox News Digital.

Damon Magee: “I am honored to welcome Damon Magee to the U.S. Capitol as my guest for the President’s State of the Union address. Damon and his wife, Tammy, are the proud biological parents of two grown children, the adoptive parents of two, foster parents of one, and devoted foster care and adoption advocates in North Louisiana. The Magees represent just one of millions of families who will greatly benefit from Republicans’ historic pro-family tax policies – including the doubled Child Tax Credit and enhanced Adoption Tax Credit – which strengthen, support, and encourage families nationwide.” Read more in the Daily Signal.

Trotter Hunt: “I am glad Trotter Hunt will be joining us for President Trump’s State of the Union address on Tuesday. Trotter and his team at Hunt, Guillot & Associates are a driving force for large-scale business development, domestic investment, and American energy production in North Louisiana. Republicans’ Working Families Tax Cuts directly support American economic development and growth for businesses like HGA by restoring immediate expensing of research and development and eliminating burdensome regulations to restore American energy dominance.” Read more in the Shreveport Times.

Michael Knowles: “Michael Knowles is one of America’s most influential commentators on politics and culture and a major asset to the conservative movement. As an author, podcaster, and commentator, Michael has done exceptional work advancing our cause and speaking truth with clarity and conviction. It’s my distinct honor to host him at the Capitol for President Trump’s State of the Union Address.” Read more in the Daily Wire.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07)

Pressley Has Led Efforts in Congress to Address Childhood Trauma, Championed Policies to Support Child Health, Education, Safety

Pressley Has Stood in Vigorous Defense of Immigrant Communities in MA 7^th and Nationwide, Fighting to Bring Detained Neighbors Home

WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) will be boycotting Donald Trump’s State of the Union address. In a direct rebuttal, Rep. Pressley will spend the day uplifting the stories of children detained and traumatized by ICE and Trump’s terrorizing of immigrant communities.

Rep. Pressley will be uplifting the harrowing experiences of several children in Massachusetts and children imprisoned at the for-profit Dilley Detention Center, while speaking to the harm and trauma Trump’s terror campaign is inflicting on children.

Juan Nicolás,a two-month-old who was dangerously ill and denied medical care while imprisoned at Dilley before he, his parents, and his 16-month-old sister were forcefully and suddenly deported.

Daphne, a two-year-old from the Massachusetts 7th whose father was picked up as “collateral” during an ICE operation in Chelsea and unjustly disappeared from her life from weeks.

Susej, a nine-year-old who has been detained at Dilley for over 60 days and whose pleas for help have travelled the country in her letters, in which she speaks of wanting to return to Venezuela because the United States has only shown her pain.

Liam, Ailany, and Ashley, three-year-old, six-month-old, and fourteen-year-old siblings from the Massachusetts 7^th who have been unjustly separated from their father for months, leaving their mother to navigate post-partum alone and struggle to provide for her family and care for her children without her husband.

“The state of our union is traumatizing our children, from Massachusetts to the Dilley Detention Center,” said Rep. Pressley. “No child should face the horrors that Juan, Daphne, Susej, Liam, Ailany, and Ashley are enduring. The heartless Occupant of the White House has no regard for our nation’s children— his terror campaign is wholesale child abuse —and I have no regard for a man who rips parents away from children, deports families, and imprisons our babies. Instead of giving this man an audience, I am shedding light on the stories of our children and making it known that they deserve more. They belong everywhere and they deserve a childhood free from fear.”

Today, Rep. Pressley will highlight the stories of these impacted children throughout the day in several ways:

• All Day: An installation outside her D.C. office depicting the harmful impact of ICE on children
• 10:00AM ET: House Floor Speech
• 12:25PM ET: A conversation with WGBH’s Boston Public Radio
• 2:30PM ET: An Instagram Live conversation with Brittany Packnett Cunningham
• 6:15PM ET: A Substack Live conversation with April Ryan
• 7:00PM ET: Roland Martin’s State of Our Union via live YouTube show
• 7:40PM ET: State of the People’s State of Our People via live YouTube show
• 9:45PM ET: MoveOn’s People’s State of the Union at the National Mall and via livestream

For more information on Rep. Pressley’s engagements, press can email Pressley.press@mail.house.gov.

As a leading voice and legislator, Rep. Pressley’s advocacy to protect children from abuse and trauma dates back to her days as a Boston City Councilor. In her first term in Congress, she partnered with the late Chairman Elijah Cummings to hold the first Congressional hearing on childhood trauma on the Committee on Oversight and Reform.

Rep. Pressley leads the STRONG Support for Children Act, which would support communities in addressing childhood trauma through healing-centered, neighborhood-based, gender-responsive, culturally specific, and trauma-informed approaches that acknowledge the impact of systemic racism and inequities over generations. She has called for such trauma-informed and child-centered approaches to every issue, including: surging baby formula to Gaza, addressing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on students, addressing sexual harassment targeting girls, committing to end gun violence, and more.

In recent weeks, Rep. Pressley has shone light on the inhumane attacks by ICE on immigrant communities and pushed back against the reckless agency. During Oversight Democrats’ bicameral shadow hearing on the use of violence by ICE, Rep. Pressley highlighted the urgency of the moment by uplifting stories of traumatized community members she met with during her trip to Minnesota with Rep. Ilhan Omar (MN-05) and invoking the horrifying detention case of five-year-old Liam Ramos. In the Massachusetts 7^th, Rep. Pressley has recognized and supported the many families torn apart and children suffering from the detention of a loved one—including harrowing attacks on Massachusetts families in their daily lives, abductions of dedicated workers at the Allston car wash, visiting Tufts graduate student Rümeysa Öztürk during her unlawful detention and pushing to bring her home, and more.

At last year’s State of the Union Address, Rep. Pressley was joined by Claire Bergstresser, an Everett constituent, dedicated public servant, AFGE union member, and wheelchair user who was terminated during Trump’s mass federal layoffs from her service providing fair housing with HUD. In 2024, Rep. Pressley was joined by Priscilla Valentine, Boston teacher, first-generation American, and student debt relief recipient. In 2023, Rep. Pressley was joined by Jaqueline Sanches, a Mattapan resident, early educator, and mother of two. In 2021, Rep. Pressley was joined virtually by Christina Morris, a Hyde Park resident, union carpenter, and mother of four. In 2019, Rep. Pressley was joined by Estefany Pineda, a DACA recipient, as her guest to the State of the Union Address. In 2020, she invited Nneka Hall, a professional doula and healthcare justice advocate, as her guest to the State of the Union. In 2020 in the midst of the impeachment trial, the Congresswoman personally boycotted the speech and delivered the official response to the 2020 State of the Union Address on behalf of the Working Families Party.

As immigrant communities have been under siege by the Trump administration, Rep. Pressley has been a leading voice in pushing back and defending our immigrant neighbors.

This week, Rep. Pressley convened immigrant entrepreneurs and small business owners, community advocates, and municipal leaders to hear of the essential role that immigrant-owned small businesses play in Massachusetts’ economy and communities and how they are suffering under Trump’s attacks.

In January 2026, Rep. Pressley and Senator Markey held a field hearing with members of the Haitian community on the importance of extending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti. Testimony was documented in the Congressional Record.

Rep. Pressley also leads a discharge petition that could compel the House vote on a bill to require the Trump Administration to extend TPS for Haiti for three years. 

In February 2026, during Oversight Democrats’ bicameral shadow hearing on the use of violence by ICE, Rep. Pressley demanded Congress end qualified immunity to ensure federal law enforcement officers are held accountable for breaking the law and murdering civilians. Rep. Pressley called on her colleagues not to settle for bare minimum reforms in funding negotiations for the Department of Homeland Security, instead urging them to fight to rebalance power and restore accountability.

In January 2026, at the invitation of Congresswoman Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Congresswoman Pressley went to Minneapolis to meet with organizers and community members impacted by ICE’s violent operation in Minnesota, where they have murdered bystanders, terrorized schools and small businesses, and abducted children and parents.

Following the ICE murder of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, Congresswoman Pressley and Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) introduced the Qualified Immunity Abolition Act of 2026, which builds on the lawmakers’ prior work by granting victims the right to sue federal law enforcement officers—not just state and local—for civil rights violations and abolishing the defense of qualified immunity in these suits. The expanded legislation would help deliver accountability for families abused by law enforcement, including ICE agents.

Congresswoman Pressley delivered a floor speech on the need to end qualified immunity for federal law enforcement, including immigration officers. Watch the floor speech here.

In January 2026, Congresswoman Pressley condemned the ICE murder of Renee Good in Minnesota and motioned to subpoena all records and footage related to the shooting, but Republicans obstructed it. Footage of Congresswoman Pressley’s motion to subpoena is here.

In December 2025, Rep. Pressley convened and welcomed home the workers and families impacted by the cruel and unlawful ICE raid at an Allston car wash in November. Rep. Pressley delivered a powerful speech on the House floor condemning the Allston ICE raid and defended the vibrant immigrant communities who are being maliciously stolen from their homes, ripped from their families, and unlawfully detained and deported by the Trump Administration and Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

In June 2025, Congresswoman Pressley convened immigrant justice advocates, local leaders, and impacted families to tell Donald Trump and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE): Hands off our immigrant neighbors. 

Rep. Pressley has also been an outspoken critic against the unlawful detention of Rümeysa Öztürk, a Tufts PhD student, Somerville resident, and constituent of the Congresswoman’s who was unlawfully detained for weeks in retaliation for her protected speech. After weeks of advocacy and Congressional oversight, including a visit to detention centers in Louisiana, Rep. Pressley and Senator Ed Markey welcomed Ms. Öztürk to Massachusetts following her arrival from ICE detention in Louisiana.

Rep. Pressley has also spoken out against reports of ICE activity in the MA 7th and other municipalities in Massachusetts.

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