MIL USHOR-2b Engine

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.

###

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.

###

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.

###

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Al Green (TX-9)

(Washington, DC) —On Monday, February 23, 2026, Congressman Al Green announced that he will not participate in interviews conducted in the Russell Senate Office Building during the State of the Union. The Senate Office Building is named to honor Senator Richard Russell, Jr., whose record includes opposition to anti-lynching legislation, co-authorship of the “Southern Manifesto,” and resistance to the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Congressman Green has consistently called for the removal of Senator Russell’s name, asserting that the United States Senate should reflect the nation’s highest democratic values. 

Congressman Al Green stated, “I cannot, in good conscience, participate in interviews within a building that honors a legacy rooted in racial division and opposition to civil rights. Until meaningful steps are taken to rename the Russell Senate Office Building, I will continue this peaceful protest. Our public institutions should embody equality, justice, and respect for all, not the bigotry Richard Russell fought for.”

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

Dr. Cameo Carter is a pediatrician who owns her practice in Redlands, California. Dr. Carter saw both her own health insurance premiums skyrocket, in addition to those of her patients, after Trump and Republicans let the Affordable Care Act tax credits expire

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Pete Aguilar (CA-33) announced that Dr. Cameo Carter, M.D., will be his guest to President Donald Trump’s State of the Union Address on February 24, 2026. A year into the Republican health care crisis, Dr. Carter’s attendance at the State of the Union Address serves as a reminder of the urgent need for Trump and Republicans to act now to restore the Affordable Care Act tax credits and address the Republican health care crisis.
“As millions of people around the country and tens of thousands of Inland Empire residents see their health care costs increase, it’s important to hear directly from people hurt by the Republican health care crisis,” said Rep. Pete Aguilar. “Dr. Cameo Carter knows the real pain of rising health care costs. As a physician, she regularly hears from her patients who cannot afford their insurance after the Affordable Care Act tax credits expired. As a small business owner, she has also seen her own health insurance premiums increase. No matter what lies the President tells us about the Republican health care crisis during his State of the Union, Dr. Carter and the American people know the truth. I look forward to working with her as House Democrats fight back against Republican attacks on Americans’ health care.” 
“I’m honored to join Congressman Aguilar as his guest to the 2026 State of the Union,” said Dr. Cameo Carter. “As a physician, I hear from my patients every single day about the financial strain they face due to rising health care costs. I’ve seen firsthand how the loss of the Affordable Care Act premium tax credits harms our communities. Many of the people I treat now have to delay medical care or forgo it altogether because they simply can’t afford it. The American people need Congress to extend the Affordable Care Act premium tax credits and protect access to affordable health care. I hope my presence at this year’s State of the Union serves as a reminder of the urgent need to address our country’s health care crisis.”
House Democrats recently led an effort to restore the Affordable Care Act premium tax credits and stop health care costs from soaring, but Senate Republicans have been delaying voting on this bipartisan legislation. By restoring the Affordable Care Act tax credits, health care premiums will return to affordable levels for 24,000 people in California’s 33rd Congressional District and more than 1.7 million Californians.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mark DeSaulnier Representing the 11th District of California

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10) announced anti-hunger advocate and Walnut Creek resident, Caitlin Sly, as his guest to the State of the Union on February 24, 2026. As the President and CEO of the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano, Ms. Sly is at the helm of an operation that provides 2.7 million meals per month as part of its mission to end hunger both by serving residents in our local communities and by advocating for public policy to address food insecurity on a systemic level. The Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano, like food banks around the country, will see increased demand from the nearly $187 billion cuts to CalFresh/SNAP included in Republicans’ Big Ugly Bill signed into law by President Trump last year. 

“With more than 5.4 million people in California, including 2 million children, relying on CalFresh, I am honored to have Ms. Sly join me to put a human face to hunger and to call attention to the cruelty of this Administration and the urgent need for action at the federal level to fight food insecurity,” said Congressman DeSaulnier. 

“I am honored to attend the State of the Union at the invitation of Congressman DeSaulnier and to help elevate the voices of millions of Americans who face food insecurity every day,” said Caitlin Sly, President and CEO of the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano. “Hunger affects every state in this country, and federal nutrition programs like SNAP are essential to the health and well-being of our community. The cuts to SNAP and Medicaid represent an attack on the most vulnerable people we serve – seniors, children, working families, veterans, and people with disabilities. Protecting these programs should be beyond partisan politics.” 

The Congressman and Ms. Sly will be available to press prior to the event. Media interested in conducting an interview should contact Mairead Glowacki at mairead.glowacki@mail.house.gov or (202) 760-1365.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steny H Hoyer (MD-05)

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) announced that he will bring Sandy Washington, founder and CEO of LifeStyles of Maryland, as his guest to President Donald Trump’s State of the Union Address.

“I am pleased to announce that my dear friend Sandy Washington, founder and CEO of LifeStyles of Maryland, will attend the 2026 State of the Union as my guest. She and her organization have been on the frontlines of Donald Trump’s affordability crisis. Trump’s tariffs have raised costs on everything from groceries to clothing to other household essentials. His cuts to food stamps have forced thousands of Maryland families to go hungry. Additionally, Republican attacks on Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act have jeopardized health coverage for tens of thousands of Marylanders in our district,” said Congressman Hoyer.
 
“Donald Trump doesn’t have Americans’ backs. Community leaders like Sandy do,” Congressman Hoyer continued. “LifeStyles of Maryland is working tireless to feed the hungry, house the homeless, find jobs for the unemployed, heal the sick, and clothe those in need. I look forward to having her join me tomorrow night.”

Just in the last few years since the return congressionally directed spending, Congressman Hoyer has secured approximately $1,572,000 in community project funding to support LifeStyles of Maryland. This funding has helped LifeStyles build safe and affordable housing for the homeless and provide supportive services such as financial management, credit repair, workforce development and behavioral health services for Marylanders.

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

---

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman David G Valadao (CA-21)

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman David Valadao (CA-22) opened his Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) portal for Community Project Funding (CPF) requests. CPFs are federal funds that Members of Congress can request to help support specific projects within their districts to address critical local needs. These requests are designed to ensure federal investments reflect community priorities and deliver direct benefits to constituents of California’s 22nd Congressional District.

“As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, it’s my honor to work directly with our local communities to deliver critical Community Project Funding investments,” said Congressman Valadao. “This past year, I was proud to secure over $49 million to help support projects from improving our local infrastructure and building new senior housing to increasing water supplies. These targeted investments help ensure CA-22 has the resources needed to thrive, and I look forward to reviewing requests for Fiscal Year 2027.”

The deadline for Community Project Funding requests is to be determined based on when the House Committee on Appropriations announces its Member submission deadlines. Our office encourages entities requesting CPFs to complete their requests as soon as possible.

For a full list of eligibility criteria and selection guidance, click here.

###

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

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries issued the following statement on inviting Vonetta Rougier of Canarsie and family members of the late Rev. Jesse Jackson as his guests for the 2026 State of the Union Address.

“Six months after Donald Trump and extreme MAGA Republicans passed their One Big Ugly Bill imposing the largest cuts to SNAP and Medicaid in American history, the people that I am privileged to represent in Brooklyn are suffering the consequences,” said Leader Jeffries. “It is my honor to welcome Vonetta Rougier, a constituent from Canarsie, as my guest to the State of the Union Address. Ms. Rougier is a full-time bus operator and a caregiver for her family, supporting her three children and 71-year-old mother. Vonetta is working every day and picking up extra shifts just to keep up with the skyrocketing price of housing, food and healthcare. Donald Trump promised that he would lower costs for hardworking American taxpayers like Vonetta on day one. One year later, Donald Trump and Republicans have only lowered people’s quality of life. House Democrats will continue to fight for folks like Vonetta because we know that everyday Americans deserve better.”

“It is also my honor to invite the family of the late Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. to attend the State of the Union Address. Rev. Jackson was a transformative political figure and a trailblazer extraordinaire who fought to make America live up to its promise of a thriving multiracial democracy,” continued Leader Jeffries. “While far-right extremists wage an all-out attack on civil rights, voting rights and democracy itself, House Democrats are committed to carrying on Rev. Jackson’s work. In his name, we will continue to stand up for the American people until we can end this national nightmare at long last.”

In addition to Ms. Rougier and members of the Jackson family, Leader Jeffries will be honored to host Ms. Marina Lacerda. Ms. Lacerda is one of numerous brave survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s horrific abuse who are attending the address as guests of the Democratic Women’s Caucus (DWC). “As a result of the courageous advocacy of Marina Lacerda and other Epstein survivors, the fight for transparency and accountability is alive and well,” said Leader Jeffries.

###