MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jared Huffman Representing the 2nd District of California

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jared Huffman Representing the 2nd District of California

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

Congresswoman Demands Fed Take Action to Uphold its Mandate of Maximum Employment for All Workers

Pressley Also Presses Powell on Fed Independence, Trump’s Illegal Firing of Lisa Cook

Text of Letter (PDF)

WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), a member of the House Financial Services Committee, wrote to Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell sounding the alarm on the rising unemployment rate for Black women in the United States and demanding the Fed take immediate action to uphold its mandate of maximum employment for all. The Congresswoman’s letter comes with the Trump Administration’s mass federal workforce layoffs disproportionately impacting Black women and as Donald Trump attempts to seize control of the Fed by illegally firing Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook.

“The U.S. Federal Reserve has a statutory mandate to promote maximum employment and that must be true for all people, regardless of race and gender,” the Congresswoman wrote in her letter. “Given your role as Chair of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, I write to you to request data about the impact of Black women’s job loss on the U.S. economy and a response on how this issue will be addressed.”

In August 2025, the unemployment rate among Black women spiked to 6.7%, which is above the already high national average of 4.3%. Mass federal workforce layoffs by the current Trump Administration have disproportionately impacted Black women, who comprise about 12% of the federal workforce compared to about 7% of the overall labor market.  Furthermore, the Trump Administration’s attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion have compounded the negative effects on Black women.  Economic barriers like hiring discrimination and wage disparities are more prevalent when employers are prohibited from valuing diversity, equity, and inclusion.

“The Trump Administration is harming the economy by causing the labor market to lose the wealth of knowledge, innovation, and skill that Black women have contributed to this nation,” Congresswoman Pressley continued in her letter. “It is incumbent upon the Federal Reserve to adjust its approach to ensuring a fair economy in the face of fiscally irresponsible policies from the White House.”

In her letter, Congresswoman Pressley underscored the essential role Black women play in the U.S. economy, citing research showing that diverse and inclusive workforces are more productive, innovative, and profitable. The Congresswoman also outlined the long legacy of Black women’s economic leadership, from Sadie Alexander’s groundbreaking work on economic barriers in the early 20th century to Coretta Scott King’s fight for a federal job guarantee during the Civil Rights Movement to Lisa Cook serving as the first Black woman Federal Reserve Governor.

By September 30, 2025, Congresswoman Pressley asked Chairman Powell to:

• Provide data on the impact of Black women’s job losses on the U.S. economy and discuss how these racial and gender disparities in unemployment rates affect economic inequality.
• Outline what steps the Fed will take to ensure it continues to uphold the mandate of maximum employment for Black women, including a detailed plan of how it plans to address the increasingly high unemployment rates of Black women.
• Affirm the independence of the Federal Reserve, including from unlawful firings like that of Lisa Cook.

A copy of the letter can be found here.

Rep. Pressley has consistently advocated for race-conscious policies to help close the racial wealth gap in America, uplift Black, brown, and other marginalized communities.

• Building on the legacy of Black women in the civil rights movement, Rep. Pressley led a historic resolution calling for a federal job guarantee.  
• In a House Financial Services Committee hearing, Congresswoman Pressley questioned Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell on the issue of full employment and the Civil Rights history of the Federal Reserve’s dual mandate. Powell conceded, for the first time in Federal Reserve history and on the Congressional record, that the Fed alone cannot get the United States to full employment.
• Congresswoman Pressley, along with Senator Cory Booker, is the lead co-sponsor of the American Opportunity Accounts Act—also known as Baby Bonds—legislation that would create a federally-funded savings account for every American child in order to make economic opportunity a birthright for every child and help close the racial wealth gap.
• Rep. Pressley introduced the Equity in Government Act to codify racial equity across federal agencies and improve government services for underserved communities.
• Rep. Pressley has also called on the five largest banks in America to provide a detailed update on the racial equity commitments the institutions made following the murder of George Floyd in 2020.
• Rep. Pressley was also a leading voice in Congress urging President Biden to cancel student debt. Following years of advocacy by Rep. Pressley—in partnership with colleagues, borrowers, and advocates like the NAACP—the Biden-Harris Administration announced a historic plan to cancel student debt that stands to benefit over 40 million people.

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

A Puerto Rican resident was denied a purchase after a cashier refused to accept his valid Puerto Rico Real ID

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

If advanced, it will be the biggest fracked gas pipeline approved in New York State in a decade.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Bryan Steil (Wisconsin-1)

Washington, DC – Congressman Bryan Steil (WI-01) and Congresswoman Becca Balint (VT-AL) introduced the Protecting Young Minds Online Act, which requires the Center for Mental Health Services to develop and disseminate a strategy to address the effects of new technologies, like social media, on children’s mental health. 

“Social media and emerging technologies can have a harmful impact on children, driving depression, anxiety, and in worst cases, self-harm and suicide,” said Steil. “The federal government should work alongside families, teachers, and children to provide the tools necessary to promote positive mental health and keep our children safe.”

“The loneliness crisis in this country affects us all one way or another. And young Americans are relying on social media and technology to find a sense of connection. But we know social media exposure can also have negative effects on mental health,” said Balint. “As a mom of two teens, and a former teacher, I’m deeply concerned about the mental health impact of social media on our youth. It’s critical we act to better understand the potential harms. I’m proud to reintroduce this bipartisan legislation to take the important step to promote positive use of social media and protect our youth.”

To read the full text of the legislation, click here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Bryan Steil (Wisconsin-1)

Janesville, WI (8/28/2025) – Today, Congressman Bryan Steil (WI-01) led the full Wisconsin Congressional delegation in writing to President Trump requesting he issue a Major Disaster Declaration to support recovery efforts across Wisconsin following historic flooding. A Major Disaster Declaration unlocks important federal assistance for recovery efforts in Wisconsin.

Congressman Steil previously reached out to the White House and FEMA immediately following the storms on August 10 and sent a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and FEMA officials last week.

“I am committed to helping Wisconsin families access the resources they need to recover from this disaster,” said Steil. “I will continue working with the President, my colleagues, and local leaders to ensure our community receives the support it needs as quickly as possible to recover from this storm.”

For a copy of the letter, click HERE.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bill Foster (11th District of Illinois)

Washington, DC — Tonight, as part of the PARTNER Act, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Strengthening Science Through Diplomacy Act, originally introduced by Reps. Bill Foster, Joaquin Castro (D-TX), and Dusty Johnson (R-SD). This legislation would extend appropriate privileges and immunities to CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, making it easier for CERN scientists to come to the U.S. to collaborate on scientific projects, such as Fermilab’s Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE). 

“The exchange of knowledge and ideas across borders not only promotes peace but also serves as a powerful instrument to address urgent global challenges,” said Congressman Foster.  “As a physicist, I spent more than two decades working with colleagues from around the globe at Fermilab in Illinois, where scientific collaboration transcended national boundaries and helped us better understand the world around us. I’m proud that my colleagues came together to pass this bipartisan legislation, which is an important step in solidifying our long-term partnership with CERN and maintaining our nation’s role as a leader in scientific research.” 

BACKGROUND

The International Organization Immunities Act, enacted in 1945, governs how the United States extends the rights and treaties to international organizations like CERN. The U.S. typically extends automatic privileges and immunities to international organizations to which it belongs (e.g., the UN, NATO), but a special act of Congress is needed to extend recognition to international organizations where the United States participates as an observer, rather than a full member. This legislation would amend the International Organization Immunities Act to extend necessary privileges and immunities to CERN. 

CERN currently partners in scientific experiments with six U.S. National Laboratories, including Argonne National Laboratory and Fermilab in Illinois, Brookhaven National Laboratory in New York, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee. The partnership, which is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, the National Science Foundation, and CERN, enables researchers employed by American universities and national laboratories to work on the international high energy physics experiments hosted at CERN. These experiments contribute to innovations in computing, medicine, radiation sensing, cryogenic cooling, superconducting materials, and other fields that are critical to U.S. security, technological capability, and economic development.

The PARTNER Act now heads to the Senate for consideration.

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

Washington, D.C. – Representative Gregory W. Meeks, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, today released the following statement commemorating the eighth annual Rohingya Genocide Remembrance Day, observed on August 25.

“Today we remember the victims and survivors of the Burmese military’s genocide and crimes against humanity against its Rohingya population. I am also thankful to the people of Bangladesh and other nations who are providing refuge to nearly one million Rohingya today. As the Burmese military’s violence against Rohingya continues to this day, we must redouble our pursuit for justice and accountability.

“We have a moral responsibility to support vulnerable Rohingya, find a path to safety and dignity for all the people of Burma, and hold the Burmese military accountable– a task made immensely more challenging as a result of the Trump administration’s cuts to U.S. foreign assistance. I am also deeply concerned by the administration’s lifting of sanctions on several individuals with links to the Burmese military, without explanation and contrary to the BURMA Act and U.S. law. Let today’s anniversary remind us to do better.

“Congress can start by passing my bipartisan bill, the Burma Genocide Accountability and Prevention (GAP) Act (H.R. 4140), which calls for a comprehensive policy to address the crisis facing Rohingya and authorizes $9 million per year to support both Rohingya refugees and those internally displaced in Burma.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman John Moolenaar (4th District of Michigan)

Headline: ICYMI: Moolenaar Holds Education Roundtable with Secretary McMahon

Today, Congressman John Moolenaar held a roundtable discussion at the Pembrooke Academy in Detroit between Michigan charter school leaders and Secretary of Education, Linda McMahon. The group discussed the state of education in Michigan, and how the schools are addressing educational challenges, including learning loss students faced during the COVID pandemic, as well as declining test scores in reading and math among students. The group also addressed the benefit of alternative school models offered in Michigan, such as public charter schools, and homeschooling. 

“Today, we had a productive conversation with charter school administrators on the role they play to improve the educational outcomes of students in our state. I believe when parents are given the power to choose the school that fits the needs of their students, they will make the right choice. I am grateful for Secretary McMahon’s leadership at the Department of Education and her mission to return power in education to parents and the states,” said Moolenaar.

In her opening remarks, Secretary McMahon said, “I have begun this tour because I want to see what best practices are around the country – to look at different kinds of schools: public, charter, private, religious schools, micro-schools. Just to see what these schools are teaching and how they’re teaching it, and what success they’re having, so that we can actually put together toolkits for other states.”

She continued, “Because as we return education to the states, if those states aren’t performing as well as others, or if they just generally want to look at the process that’s going on in the country, I think it’s going to be very helpful to say, this program is really working here. It’s not a mandate for you to adopt it, because we’re not giving mandates, but it is simply proven materials to show that the success has been had in many states with different programs.”

Congressman Moolenaar and Secretary of Education Linda McMahon.

Congressman Moolenaar was joined at the roundtable by Congressman Tim Walberg (R-MI), the Chairman of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, and Congressman Burgess Owens (R-UT). Moolenaar is the co-chair of the Congressional School Choice Caucus with Senator Tim Scott (R-SC). 

Moolenaar leads a roundtable discussion between Secretary McMahon and Michigan charter school administrators.