Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (25th District of FLORIDA)
Collier County, FL– On Wednesday, January 28, Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart (FL-26), Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the Congressional Everglades Caucus, will attend a ribbon-cutting ceremony commemorating the completion of the Picayune Strand Restoration Project, one of the largest wetland restoration efforts in the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP).
The Picayune Strand Restoration Project will restore natural water flows over an85-square-mile area(~55,000 acres), improving the area’s hydrology, allowing for the return of more balanced plant communities, increasing aquifer recharge, and sending fresh water to the coastal estuaries in a more natural manner.
Event Details:
WHO:
Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart (FL-26)
Assistant Secretary of the Army Adam Telle
Major General Jason Kelly, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Colonel Brandon Bowman, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Alexis Lambert, Florida Department of Environmental Protection
Drew Bartlett, South Florida Water Management District
Rob Moher, President, Conservancy of Southwest Florida
WHAT:
Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony for Picayune Strand Restoration Project at Miller Pump Station
WHEN:
Wednesday, January 28, 2026
1:00 p.m. ET
Media availability immediately following ribbon-cutting
WHERE:
Ceremony site at the Miller Pump Station
64thAve SE, Naples FL 34117
United States Army Corps of Engineers Picayune Strand Restoration
Congress authorized the Picayune Strand Restoration Project in 2007 as part of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP).
The South Florida Water Management District expedited construction by filling in and plugging seven miles of the Prairie Canal and completing approximately 25 percent of the road removal.
The Picayune Strand Restoration Project will restore natural water flows over an 85-square-mile area (~55,000 acres).
The project will improve the area’s hydrology, allow for the return of more balanced plant communities, increase aquifer recharge, and send fresh water in a more natural manner to the coastal estuaries.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steny H Hoyer (MD-05)
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) released the following statement in observance of International Holocaust Remembrance Day:
“Today, I join in observing International Holocaust Remembrance Day. We cannot afford to forget what Allied troops saw when they liberated the Nazi death camps eighty-one years ago. The Nazis’ industrial murder of 6 million Jews and millions of other victims revealed the darkest side of humanity.
“That oppression did not begin in the camps, however. First, Jews were removed from the civil service, universities, and other institutions. Then, they were stripped of their rights and their property. Eventually, the Nazis confined them to Ghettos. Finally, the Nazis marched innocent men, women, and children through the gates of Auschwitz, Dachau, Treblinka, and more than a thousand other camps across Europe. That evolution of hatred that led to their murder coincided with the death of democracy in Germany.
“At a time when the number of living Holocaust survivors grows ever smaller and the ranks of those who deny the Holocaust and glorify those who perpetrated it sadly grow larger, we each have a duty to combat antisemitism whenever and wherever it appears. We must remember that the Holocaust was borne not only of the Nazis’ virulent fascist ideology but also the world’s failure to stop it from spreading. Above all else, we must resolve never to see that tragedy repeated.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Julia Brownley (D-CA)
Washington, DC — Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (CA-26), Ranking Member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Health, introduced a joint resolution of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act (CRA), to formally overturn the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) recently finalized abortion rule.
House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Mark Takano (CA-39) co-led the resolution. All Democratic members serving on the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, including Rep. Chris Pappas (NH-01), Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), Rep. Morgan McGarvey (KY-03), Rep. Delia Ramirez (IL-03), Rep. Nikki Budzinski (IL-13), Rep. Timothy Kennedy (NY-26), Rep. Maxine Dexter, M.D. (OR-03), Rep. Herb Conaway, M.D. (NJ-03), and Rep. Kelly Morrison (MN-03), are original cosponsors of the resolution. The Chair of the Democratic Women’s Caucus, Representative Teresa Leger Fernández (NM-03), and the Co-Chairs of the Congressional Reproductive Freedom Caucus, Representatives Diana DeGette (CO-01) and Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), are also original cosponsors of the resolution. This effort is also supported by several veterans’ service organizations and a coalition of organizations supporting reproductive freedom.
On December 31, 2025, the Trump administration published a final rule in the Federal Register, effectively ending abortion access at VA, except in very limited life-threatening circumstances. The rule, first proposed in August of 2025, rescinds a Biden-era VA reproductive healthcare regulation that provided veterans access to abortion care in instances of rape, incest, and threat to life or health, and that allowed VA providers to discuss abortion with patients who were experiencing unwanted or high-risk pregnancies and pregnancy complications.
Democrats immediately fought back, with more than 230 Members of Congress joining a September 2, 2025, public comment letter led by Ranking Member Mark Takano and Richard Blumenthal, Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Despite this comment letter and the thousands of other public comments submitted in opposition to the proposed rule, VA moved forward without making changes to reflect the concerns of veteran stakeholders, the public, and their elected representatives.
In addition to finalizing its proposed rule, in December 2025 VA also issued an internal memo reinstating a near-total ban on abortions and abortion counseling, with no exceptions in the case of rape, incest, or threat to health. The memo was effective immediately, thereby circumventing the standard 30-day delayed implementation period in the rulemaking process.
The Congressional Review Act is a law that enables Congress to overturn agency regulations. If the joint resolution of disapproval is approved by both chambers of Congress and signed into law by the president (or if Congress overrides a presidential veto), the rule covered by the legislation cannot go into effect or continue to be in effect.
“The Trump administration’s extreme abortion ban puts veterans at risk and prevents doctors from providing the care their patients need,” saidCongresswoman Julia Brownley (CA-26), Ranking Member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Health. “House Democrats believe veterans deserve compassionate, comprehensive health care and honest conversations with their doctors — free from political interference. That is why I am leading my Democratic colleagues in introducing this resolution to make clear that this dangerous policy cannot stand. Veterans who survive rape or incest deserve care, not barriers, and doctors should never be silenced when patients are seeking medical guidance. The VA must deliver consistent, comprehensive care to all veterans — guided by medical need and science, not extremist and dangerous ideology.”
“VA’s rule leaves veterans with less access to abortion care than individuals covered by every other federal healthcare program, including the Bureau of Prisons, which covers this essential care in instances of rape, incest, and threat to life,” said Ranking Member Takano (CA-39) of the VA abortion rule.“Veterans fought for our freedoms, and now this administration is stripping them of their freedoms. We trusted them to carry out the missions of our country, but VA no longer trusts them to make their own reproductive healthcare decisions. My fellow Democrats and I will not stand by as VA undoes the critical progress we made during the last administration. I thank Congresswoman Brownley for her leadership on this joint resolution of disapproval.”
“Trump’s Department of Veterans Affairs is ripping abortion care away from our servicewomen. The Trump administration is imposing their own religious views on women veterans who were willing to make the greatest sacrifice to serve our country,” saidDemocratic Women’s Caucus Chair Teresa Leger Fernández (NM-03). “Remember, reproductive health care is essential to keep women alive during difficult pregnancies, to allow the termination of a pregnancy following rape, and to allow women the freedom to determine how and when to have a family—in essence to give women veterans the freedoms that they were willing to fight for to preserve for our country.”
“Those who fought for our freedoms abroad deserve to have their freedoms respected and needs met at home. Yet, as families across the nation gathered for the holidays, this administration mounted a targeted attack on those veterans,” said Congresswoman Diana DeGette (CO-01) and Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Co-Chairs of the Congressional Reproductive Freedom Caucus. “That was their gift from this President: a dangerous abortion ban, issued quietly overnight. Veterans and their families, not politicians, should be the ones making medical decisions about their bodies and futures. We say no to this abortion ban. We say no to compromising the quality of VA health care in the name of political extremism. And we say no to this sham of a rule.”
“The VA exists to serve all who served, including women in need of abortion counseling in extenuating circumstances,” saidDr. Kyleanne Hunter, CEO of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. “With nearly 70% of our members overwhelmingly supporting women veterans’ access to care post-Dobbs, IAVA applauds the CRA action taken in both the House and Senate, which would ensure that timely and necessary care is continued.”
“With the stroke of a pen, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) increased the risk of maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity by reducing veterans’ access to basic, necessary, and life-saving reproductive health care. The removal of abortion care and counseling places veterans at further risk, particularly women and gender-diverse veterans who have already sacrificed their health in service to this country. These actions are not merely administrative or ideological policy shifts; they are dangerous barriers to essential medical care,” saidLindsay Church, Executive Director of Minority Veterans of America. “To uphold its mission to serve those who have served, the VA must withdraw this policy. Abortion care and counseling are not simply about choice, they are matters of health, human rights, and survival. Preserving access to the full spectrum of reproductive health care is essential to honoring the service, sacrifices, and dignity of women and minority veterans.”
“Veterans were promised care, dignity, and respect when they raised their right hand to serve. This decision breaks that promise. Stripping veterans of access to abortion care and even basic medical counseling is cruel, medically dangerous, and fundamentally dishonest. Veterans, especially women veterans, face higher rates of complicated and high-risk pregnancies because of their service. Denying them full, evidence-based reproductive healthcare is not about protecting life, it is about imposing ideology at the expense of veterans’ health and autonomy. The VA exists to serve veterans, not to make their most personal medical decisions for them,” said Janessa Goldbeck, CEO of Vet Voice Foundation.
“The Department of Veterans Affairs banning reproductive healthcare is a profound betrayal of those who have sacrificed for our country. By eliminating comprehensive healthcare access that veterans have earned, this ban disregards the overwhelming public opposition demonstrated by thousands of comments, many made by Common Defense members. It’s essential that Congress overturn this ban and prioritize the health and well-being of our veterans. Our service members deserve better than this callous erosion of their rights,” saidNaveed Shah, Political Director of Common Defense, a membership organization of progressive US military veterans.
The joint resolution of disapproval is also endorsed by 12 organizations dedicated to protecting the rights and freedoms of our nation’s veterans, including the Modern Military Association of America, Service Women’s Action Network, American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists, American Society for Reproductive Medicine, Center for Reproductive Rights, Guttmacher Institute, National Council of Jewish Women, National Women’s Law Center Action Fund, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Power to Decide, Reproductive Freedom for All, and the National Partnership for Women & Families.
“After all that veterans have sacrificed to defend our freedoms, it is appalling to strip them of the right to make their own health care decisions,” said thegroup of endorsers in a joint statement. “We applaud every lawmaker who signed on to this resolution condemning the rule to ban abortion care and counseling at the VA, including in cases of rape or incest, and we urge both chambers to act swiftly to overturn this extreme policy that puts veterans’ health and safety at risk.”
Disabled American Veterans has also endorsed the joint resolution of disapproval.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Robin Kelly IL
WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly has gained 162 cosponsors, over three-fourths of House Democrats, for her impeachment articles against Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. The Members of Congress supporting impeachment of Secretary Noem represent swing to deep blue districts. After Alex Pretti was shot and killed in Minneapolis by an ICE agent, 50 Members joined as cosponsors.
“Kristi Noem has blood on her hands. Under her watch, at least six people have been killed by her rogue agents, including Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis and Silverio Villegas González in Chicago. Each time, Secretary Noem lied to our faces and tried to justify the murder of innocent lives. People are disgusted by her.
“With me stands 162 House Democrats ready to impeach Secretary Noem, but we need the majority of Congress to open their eyes to her brutality and unconstitutional actions. She wrongfully steered a $200 million ad contract to her friend, using taxpayer dollars to recruit new ICE agents with racist, neo-Nazi propaganda. She’s then given those agents free rein to terrorize our communities with no regard for human life. An ICE agent cursed Renee Good after killing her and another federal agent said, ‘Boo hoo,’ after killing Alex Pretti. In clear contempt of the Constitution, she’s prevented Congress from conducting our oversight duties to hold her accountable—but we still have one power to use against her: impeachment. All of Noem’s violations rise to impeachment, and I urge the rest of my colleagues to join us.”
These 162 Members of Congress cosponsor articles of impeachment against Secretary Noem:
Adam Smith; Adelita S. Grijalva; Adriano Espaillat; Al Green; Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez; Alma Adams; Andre Carson; Andrea Salinas; Angie Craig; April McClain Delaney; Ayanna Pressley; Becca Balint; Bennie G. Thompson; Betty McCollum; Bill Foster; Bonnie Watson Coleman; Brad Sherman; Brendan F. Boyle; Brittany Pettersen; Chellie Pingree; Chris Deluzio; Chris Pappas; Chrissy Houlahan; Dan Goldman; Danny Davis; Darren Soto; Dave Min; Debbie Dingell; Debbie Wasserman Schultz; Deborah Ross; Diana DeGette; Dina Titus; Don Beyer; Donald Norcross; Doris Matsui; Dwight Evans; Eleanor Holmes Norton; Emily Randall; Eric Sorensen; Eric Swalwell; Eugene Vindman; Frank Mrvan; Frederica S. Wilson; Gabe Amo; Gabe Vasquez; George Latimer; Gil Cisneros; Grace Meng; Greg Casar; Greg Landsman; Gregory W. Meeks; Gwen Moore; Haley Stevens; Henry C. (“Hank”) Johnson, Jr.; Ilhan Omar; J. Luis Correa; Jahana Hayes; Jake Auchincloss; James P. McGovern; James R. Walkinshaw; Jan Schakowsky; Janelle Bynum; Jared Huffman; Jasmine Crockett; Jason Crow; Jennifer L. McClellan; Jerrold Nadler; Jesús G. “Chuy” García; Jill Tokuda; Jimmy Gomez; Joaquin Castro; Joe Courtney; Joe Neguse; John Garamendi; John Larson; John Mannion; Johnny Olszewski; Jonathan Jackson; Joyce Beatty; Juan Vargas; Judy Chu; Julia Brownley; Julie Johnson; Kathy Castor; Kelly Morrison; Kevin Mullin; Kweisi Mfume; LaMonica McIver; Lateefah Simon; Laura Friedman; Laura Gillen; Linda T. Sanchez; Lizzie Fletcher; Lloyd Doggett; Lois Frankel; Lori Trahan; Luz Rivas; Madeleine Dean; Marilyn Strickland; Mark DeSaulnier; Mark Pocan; Mark Takano; Mary Gay Scanlon; Maxine Dexter; Maxine Waters; Maxwell Frost; Melanie Stansbury; Mike Levin; Mike Quigley; Mike Thompson; Morgan McGarvey; Nanette Barragán; Nikema Williams; Nikki Budzinski; Norma Torres; Nydia M. Velazquez; Pat Ryan; Paul Tonko; Pramila Jayapal; Raja Krishnamoorthi; Rashida Tlaib; Raul Ruiz; Richard Neal; Ritchie Torres; Rob Menendez; Robert C. “Bobby” Scott; Robert Garcia; Salud Carbajal; Sam Liccardo; Sara Jacobs; Sarah Elfreth; Sarah McBride; Scott H. Peters; Sean Casten; Seth Moulton; Shomari C. Figures; Shontel M. Brown; Shri Thanedar; Steny Hoyer; Stephen F. Lynch; Steve Cohen; Steven Horsford; Suhas Subramanyam; Summer Lee; Susie Lee; Suzan DelBene; Suzanne Bonamici; Sydney Kamlager-Dove; Sylvia Garcia; Teresa Leger Fernandez; Terri A. Sewell; Tim Kennedy; Troy Carter; Val Hoyle; Valerie Foushee; Veronica Escobar; Vicente Gonzalez; Wesley Bell; William R. Keating; Yassamin Ansari; Yvette Clarke; Zoe Lofgren.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Clay Higgins (R-LA)
Washington, D.C. – Congressman Clay Higgins (R-LA) and the other members of the House Freedom Caucus (HFC) Board of Directors sent a letter to President Trump, urging him to maintain Operation Metro Surge and nationwide efforts to enforce federal immigration law.
The letter encourages President Trump to:
Maintain immigration enforcement in Minneapolis and nationwide.
Use all tools necessary–even the Insurrection Act–to secure the order necessary for the law to be enforced.
End funding for Sanctuary Cities.
Ensure the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is fully funded.
The HFC Board Members wrote: “All Americans have the right to protest – including their right to speech and to bear arms consistent with our laws – but there is no right to thwart federal, state, or local law enforcement and the state of order among our citizens. The coordinated effort to stop law enforcement by politicians in Minnesota and around the country has caused chaos, and led to the tragic deaths of two Americans in Minnesota. It must end.”
“We support you in standing up for the average hardworking American who wants to restore law and order, preserve our nation, defend common sense, and remove the millions of violent criminal illegal aliens endangering our communities,” the HFC Board Members continued.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA)
SACRAMENTO, CA — Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-07) and Congressman Thompson (CA-04) held a press conference outside the John E. Moss Federal Building to call for urgent oversight, transparency, and accountability of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), warning that unchecked federal enforcement is putting lives at risk in Sacramento and across the country.
Following the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, Matsui, Thompson, and their Democratic colleagues are demanding a stop to ICE funding and Kristi Noem’s removal from office. The chaos in Minneapolis is the latest escalation in Americans’ concerns about federal agencies operating without sufficient oversight. The members also pointed to the John Moss Federal Building, which houses ICE personnel in Sacramento, as another focal point for growing concern over federal law enforcement practices operating without transparency or accountability. In recent weeks, peaceful demonstrators outside the building have been seriously harmed, including incidents involving a DHS vehicleand aviolent attackon legal observers.
“From Sacramento to Minneapolis, we are seeing the same dangerous pattern: more force, less transparency, and no accountability from DHS and ICE,” said Congresswoman Matsui. “This is the fifth time I have stood outside this building demanding answers from a rogue agency. The fact that we are here again shows how persistent and unchecked this abuse of power has become. Secretary Kristi Noem must be held accountable, ICE needs to get out of our communities, and Congress must stop funding abuse disguised as enforcement. We will not stop fighting until there is real and independent accountability.”
“Like so many Americans, I am sickened by ICE’s killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis,” said Congressman Thompson. “This is just the latest in ICE’s abuses across our country, including in Sacramento. Enough is enough. There is nothing legal, moral, ethical, nor humane with what’s going on in Minnesota and our Republican colleagues in Congress need to grow some courage and join us to impeach Kristi Noem, cut ICE funding, and stop the chaos.”
“NorCal Resist affirms our commitment to our immigrant community and to defending fundamental democratic and human rights values this administration seeks to ignore through immigration enforcement,” said Giselle Garcia, Program Director, NorCal Resist. “May all representatives in Congress oust each transgressor and hold them accountable for their crimes against humanity. May the people continue to resist in the face of repression and fight for the world we deserve.”
For months, Congresswoman Matsui has repeatedly pressedDHS leadership for information about conditionsinside the John Moss Federal Building and the treatmentof individuals detained there, as well as the conduct of federal agents operating in and around the facility. Matsui’s continued presence at the Moss Building reflects an ongoing effort to bring transparency to operations that remain largely hidden from public view, despite serious concernsraised by advocates, legal observers, and community members.
At the federal level, Congresswoman Matsui and Congressman Thompson have emerged as leading voices in demanding accountability at the highest levels of DHS. They were among the first Members of Congress to co-sponsor articles of impeachment againstDHS Secretary Kristi Noem, citing systemic failures in leadership and oversight. Last week, Matsui and Thompson also voted NOon legislation to provide funding to DHS, arguing that Congress must not continue to expand the power and resources of agencies that have demonstrated a pattern of terrorizing communities and trampling constitutional rights.
The legislative fight now moves to the U.S. Senate, where lawmakers face a critical decision: approve DHS funding or hold the line. With lives at stake, Congresswoman Matsui and Congressman Thompson reiterated that Congress cannot continue to fund DHS.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Earl L Buddy Carter (GA-01)
Headline: Carter introduces resolution condemning Minnesota church insurrectionists
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA) today introduced a resolution condemning the January 18, 2026, storming of Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, by protestors who interfered with congregants’ ability to peacefully assemble and freely exercise their faith.
The resolution states that the insurrectionists, including former CNN host Don Lemon, violated the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act and infringed on congregants’ First Amendment right to religious freedom, rendering illegal their protest against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity.
“I want to see these insurrectionists in handcuffs. Storming a place of worship and intimidating Christians in defense of pedophiles, murderers, and rapists is inexcusable. Don Lemon and every raving lunatic who participated in this mob – including politicians like Tim Walz who radicalized them – must be held accountable for inciting violence and disrupting churchgoers’ right to practice their religion,” said Rep. Carter.
The Department of Justice has launched an investigation into the incident and, to date, have made three arrests in connection to the insurrection.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Earl L Buddy Carter (GA-01)
Headline: Carter announces $4.2 million in funding for Savannah-Georgia Convention Center Authority
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA) today announced $4.2 million in funding to complete the Slip 3 Riverwalk restoration project adjacent to the Savannah Convention Center as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026.
This funding will lead to the completion of the Riverwalk Renovation and Critical Infrastructure Improvements Project at the Savannah Convention Center.
“The Savannah Convention Center is an economic driver for coastal Georgia. Hosting roughly 160 events annually, this state-of-the-art facility attracts over 200,000 visitors to Savannah, supports 28,000 jobs, and has produced $1.4 billion in statewide economic impact. With this funding, the Riverwalk Renovation Project will create a welcoming, first-class campus that will create jobs and benefit residents and tourists alike,” said Rep. Carter.
“Shoring up that seawall is a top priority. We have to protect our building from the tides and wakes of the Savannah River, and that is extensive and expensive work, and there are no shortcuts,” said Mark Smith, Chairman of the Savannah, Georgia Convention Center Authority. “We are excited about this support from Congress and deeply grateful to Congressman Carter for shepherding the appropriation.”
“The completion of this project allows visitors to our convention center to safely access the waterfront so they can enjoy the beautiful view of Savannah just across the Savannah River. We appreciate Congressman Carter and his staff for recognizing the need and helping us secure the funding,” said Joe Marinelli, President and CEO of Visit Savannah and Vice Chair of the Savannah, Georgia Convention Center Authority.
“The economic activity driven by the Convention Center benefits residents and workers on both sides of the Savannah River. Protecting the significant public and private investment made on the Convention Center campus is a top priority for our Chamber, and our thanks goes to Congressman Buddy Carter and his staff for recognizing this critical need,” said Bert Brantley, President and CEO of the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce and Secretary of the Savannah, Georgia Convention Center Authority.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (1st District of Maine)
U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representatives Chellie Pingree (D-ME-01) and Vern Buchanan (R-FL-16) today introduced the Produce Prescription for Veterans Act, new legislation that would authorize the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide produce prescriptions to veterans. These produce prescription programs would allow veterans who have diet-related chronic conditions to be “prescribed” vouchers or debit cards that allow them to purchase free or discounted fruits and vegetables.
“As food costs climb and food deserts make grocery stores inaccessible, Americans—especially our veterans—are struggling to eat enough fruits and vegetables, contributing to high rates of chronic illness in the U.S.,” Durbin said. “With the Produce Prescription for Veterans Act, we can put fresh foods within reach by implementing a ‘produce prescription’ program so that our veterans have the means to put fruits and vegetables on their plates.”
“For their service and sacrifice, our veterans deserve the best health care possible—including access to fresh, healthy food,” Pingree said. “Study after study has shown that eating more fruits and vegetables can be enormously beneficial to people suffering from chronic health conditions. This commonsense, bipartisan legislation is an important step towards improving veterans’ health, reducing long-term health care costs, and ensuring that nutritious foods are available to any veteran who needs it.”
“I’ve long believed that prevention should be at the heart of our health care system, especially when it comes to those who’ve served our country,” Buchanan said. “The Produce Prescription for Veterans Act puts the ‘food is medicine’ approach into action by helping veterans manage diet-related chronic conditions before they worsen. Making sure veterans have access to fresh, nutritious whole fruits and vegetables is a simple way to improve health outcomes and strengthen their quality of life.”
“When a doctor prescribes eating more fruits and vegetables to manage chronic illness, veterans should have access to those nutritious foods just as they would have access to a medication. We applaud Senator Durbin and Reps. Pingree and Buchanan for introducing this language, which establishes produce prescriptions as a medical service within the Veterans Health Administration and opens the door for veterans to receive the full breadth of healthcare services they deserve,” said Sam Hoeffler, Director of the National Produce Prescription Collaborative.
“Today’s legislation takes a pivotal step forward in integrating fruits and vegetables into healthcare at scale. After years of successful pilots, we know produce prescriptions work. IFPA and our members are deeply grateful to Representatives Buchanan and Pingree and Senator Durbin for their leadership in bringing this bill forward and for recognizing of the critical role fruits and vegetables play in addressing chronic disease. By incorporating this program into the standards of clinical care for the Veterans Health Administration, the results could be transformational for the health of those who have served our nation,” said Cathy Burns, CEO of the International Fresh Produce Association.
Currently, less than 13 percent of Americans consume their recommended daily serving of fruits and vegetables. Inaccessible produce, due to rising grocery costs or Americans living in food deserts, contribute to the high rate of diet-related chronic conditions – heart disease, kidney disease, diabetes, and certain cancers – in the U.S. Veterans experience a disproportionally high rate of chronic disease as compared to non-veterans, and nearly 25 percent of post-9/11 veterans report being food insecure—almost double the rate of the general population.
The American Heart Association (AHA) has found that adults who participate in produce prescription programs consume 30 percent more fruit and vegetables a day. AHA also found that all participants in a produce prescription program saw a measurable decrease in blood pressure and blood sugar.
The Produce Prescription for Veterans Act would seek to improve health outcomes for veterans by establishing new authority for the VA to provide veterans with vouchers or debit cards to purchase fruits and vegetables. The legislation would build upon the success of the pilot program launched at Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facilities in Houston and Salt Lake City in 2023. These pilot programs have been expanded to New York, North Carolina, and Maryland.
In April 2024, Durbin and Pingree wrote to then-Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough to request information about the implementation of produce prescriptions in the VA. The VA responded that it does not have the existing authorities to “provide direct support (i.e., food or money to purchase food) to veterans to address food insecurity.” The VA’s lack of authorities prevent veterans across the nation from accessing produce prescriptions to improve their diet-related chronic conditions.
The Produce Prescriptions for Veterans Act has earned the endorsement of the National Produce Prescription Collaborative.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)
Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries appeared on MS NOW’s Chris Jansing Reports, where he made clear that Democrats have called for Kristi Noem to be fired and will continue to use every avenue available to hold Donald Trump and DHS accountable for their out of control behavior.
CHRIS JANSING: Joining us now, House Minority Leader New York Congressman Hakeem Jeffries. It’s good to see you. What do you make of the President’s full-throated support of Kristi Noem? […]
LEADER JEFFRIES: Good afternoon, Chris. Thank you for having me on. Kristi Noem is a despicable, corrupt, pathological liar. We’ve seen her slander not just one but two American citizens, patriotic Americans who were killed without justification on the streets of Minneapolis in the last few weeks. She’s deeply unqualified. She never should have been confirmed to begin with by Senate Republicans. And House Democrats have called for her to be fired immediately. And in the event that she is not terminated, we are prepared to initiate impeachment proceedings against her in the House of Representatives.
CHRIS JANSING: Well, the President has given no indication that he’s ready to fire her or even thinking about it. And you, as I don’t need to tell you, are in the minority. So how do you do that? I mean, what can you do? Have you spoken to the Speaker? Do you have any sense that there are Republicans who would stand by you in an impeachment process?
LEADER JEFFRIES: We have to build the case so that we can convince a handful of Republicans, as we have done on other issues, that the time is now to hold the Department of Homeland Security accountable for their behavior. They are conducting themselves like a paramilitary organization as opposed to protecting the health, the safety and the well-being of the American people. They are violently targeting American citizens and law-abiding immigrant families and it’s unacceptable, it’s unconscionable and it’s un-American. We’re prepared to hold hearings, as we’ve done in other instances, and use every tool available to make sure that Kristi Noem is held accountable, but even more importantly, of course, we support the effort by Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Democrats to force common sense changes to the Department of Homeland Security so that these law enforcement agencies are behaving like every other law enforcement agency in the country, as opposed to like a paramilitary organization, which is what the American people have seen on the streets of Minneapolis.
CHRIS JANSING: Are there conversations going on with Republicans to make that happen? Do you see any reasonable expectation that the government is not going to shut down at the end of the week?
LEADER JEFFRIES: What has been proposed by Senate Democrats, which is something that we of course strongly support, is that there are bipartisan bills related to other aspects of the government that should move forward to avoid an extended shutdown in other areas. The issue before us is making sure that ICE, of course, is brought under control in ways that taxpayer dollars are not being spent to kill American citizens or brutalize everyday Americans. We know taxpayer dollars should actually be spent to make life more affordable for the American people. It’s shocking to me that over a year has passed since Donald Trump was inaugurated. This guy promised to lower costs on day one. Costs haven’t gone down, they’ve gone up. They’re ripping healthcare away from the American people. And now, masked federal agents on American streets are killing American citizens in cold blood. That’s all unacceptable. And we really need to make some changes to change direction here.
CHRIS JANSING: I understand, Leader Jeffries, that there are things you firmly believe, and I think many Democrats believe with you, believe should be done. But the real question, again, is what can be done? What are you willing to do? What can you do?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, as we’ve done in the past, we’re going to make our case to the American people. There were a lot of folks who never believed that the Epstein files would be released in a way that would be forced by the Congress in a bipartisan way over the objection of Donald Trump. We passed legislation to be able to do that, forced Donald Trump to sign it. And now of course we’ve got to compel the Department of Justice to actually comply with a bipartisan law that was enacted. We passed a law in the House of Representatives, sent it over to the Senate to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits for three years. Nobody thought that was possible, but all 213 Democrats joined by 17 Republicans were able to get that done. Abraham Lincoln once made the observation, ‘public sentiment is everything. With it, nothing can fail. Without it, nothing can succeed.’ And so our goal right now is to continue to make the case to the American people who know that the behavior of ICE and other law enforcement agencies within the Department of Homeland Security is immoral and it’s illegal and it’s not what they’ve signed up for. The Trump administration has gone way too far and public pressure can lead to decisive action in the Congress as we have seen over the last several months.
CHRIS JANSING: Some of that public pressure is coming from pulpits. Newark Cardinal Joseph Tobin is urging church members to tell lawmakers to vote against additional funding for immigration agencies. Here’s what he said.
RECORDING OF CARDINAL TOBIN: If we are serious about putting our faith in action, we need to say no. How will you say no? In this week when an appropriations bill is going to be considered in Congress, will you contact your Congress Representative, your congressional Representatives, the Senators and Representative from your district? We ask them for the love of God and the love of human beings, which can’t be separated. Vote against renewing funding for such a lawless organization.
CHRIS JANSING: Will you and your Caucus vote against it? Is this, as he’s presenting it, a moral imperative as well as a political one?
LEADER JEFFRIES:Democrats strongly opposed the Homeland Security funding appropriation bill when it was before us in the House. And if it comes back to us without the necessary changes to rein in a lawless organization and actually protect the health, the safety and the well-being of the American people, we’ll take the same position, and we’ve joined with our Senate colleagues in that way. It was a powerful statement by a highly distinguished member of the clergy, and we know that faith without works is dead. And we have faith that we can bring about a better society and make America the best version of herself as we move forward, pushing back against the corruption and extremism that’s being unleashed by the Trump administration day after day after day. But it’s going to take work. And it’s actually all of us. It’s elected officials, it’s community-based organizations, it’s the American people, civil rights organizations, certainly members of the clergy and the faith community, all banding together to address preventable tragedies that have occurred and ensure that they never happen again here in the United States of America.
CHRIS JANSING: Well, we heard him say that ICE is a lawless organization. And the death of Alex Pretti has changed a lot of people’s minds. President Trump—last hour—was asked about the killing of Alex Pretti. I want to play exactly what he said.
RECORDING OF REPORTER: Do you believe that Alex Pretti’s death was justified?
RECORDING OF PRESIDENT TRUMP: Well, you know, we’re doing a big investigation. I want to see the investigation. I’m going to be watching over it. I want a very honorable and honest investigation. I have to see it myself.
CHRIS JANSING: Do you believe there will be an honorable and thorough investigation? And what do you make of the President saying he is going to be watching over it?
LEADER JEFFRIES: There’s no reason to believe that the Trump administration or Kristi Noem, which is why she needs to go, will be able to preside over a credible investigation. Do we think that the Trump Department of Injustice is going to actually conduct a credible investigation? These extremists and political hacks at the Department of Justice have been weaponizing the criminal justice system against Donald Trump’s enemies. So what we need here is an independent investigation conducted by state and local authorities. And we’ll continue to call upon every single officer who has broken the law as it relates to what ICE and other parts of the Department of Homeland Security have been doing. In Minneapolis and throughout the country, they should be criminally investigated and prosecuted to the full extent of the law. That’s consistent with who we are as a nation. Nobody’s above the law. And ICE needs to conduct itself like every other law enforcement agency in the country. Focus on protecting the health, the safety and the well-being of the American people, not killing them.
CHRIS JANSING: I hear your frustration. I hear your pushback. But what good is anger and pushback if it’s not coupled with clear action? For the people who are watching, not just Democrats, but Americans who are frustrated as you are by what they’re seeing, what is the clear action you believe you, as a party, you, as the House and Senate Democrats, can take that isn’t just words?
LEADER JEFFRIES: The clear action that’s in front of us is already underway, right? It’s legislative action. Listen, we have said that we are in a four-front battle. It’s legislative, it’s the appropriations process, it’s legal and it’s moral. And we’ve got to press our case in every single lane. But in terms of the legislative lane, where there are clearly changes that need to be made to the manner in which ICE conducts itself, legislatively, we’re on that case, and we’ll continue to press our case. In terms of the appropriations process, we are working with our Senate Democratic colleagues, under the leadership of Chuck Schumer, who has taken a strong position as it relates to what needs to happen before the Homeland Security appropriations bill passes. That’s concrete action in the arena that we’re in. And of course, we’re working with Democratic Attorneys General across the country and state and local authorities to make sure that investigations occur, that the behavior that is illegal that we’re seeing coming out of the Department of Homeland Security is challenged in federal courts, as is being done to make sure that everyone is held accountable. And we’re going to continue to work with faith leaders, members of the clergy, civil rights organizations, democracy protection organizations to ensure that we are making the moral case to America that this has to end.
CHRIS JANSING: I think that you made some news in the beginning, too, about action, and that is to pursue impeachment against the DHS Secretary Kristi Noem. I wonder, and all of this is in the context, you can’t ignore it, of the midterms. We’re already hearing it in races, questions being asked and answered. How do you think this fight will go over heading into the midterms, especially for Members of your Caucus who are in those frontline tough seats?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Everyone’s going to speak for themselves as it relates to making sure they’re doing what they deem to be the right thing for the communities they are privileged to represent in the House of Representatives. What brings us together is going to continue to be our fight to make clear to the American people that you deserve better than the extremism that has been unleashed, the attacks on the economy, on healthcare, on law-abiding immigrant families, on the rule of law, on the American way of life itself, of course, on veterans and on farmers and on hardworking people who are just trying to survive in a country where the cost of living is completely and totally out of control. So we know the American people deserve better and we’re going to deliver better. We’re going to focus on driving down the high cost of living, focus on fixing our broken healthcare system and, of course, we’re going to focus on dealing with the corruption that is rampant in Washington, DC. Deal with it in the Congress, deal with it at the Supreme Court and, of course, deal with it with respect to the President and his administration, the most corrupt administration in American history. Democrats are winning races all across the country. That has been the case since January of last year. And of course, we saw that decisively throughout the country during the off-year election last November in Virginia, in New Jersey, in New York, in California, in Pennsylvania, of course, in Georgia, where we won statewide races for the first time in 20 years, in Mississippi, where we broke their supermajority in the state Senate. The American people know that Democrats are fighting to make life better for them. And we’re also fighting to push back against the extremism that Donald Trump and Republicans have unleashed on the American people.
CHRIS JANSING: House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, thank you.