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

 Reps. Aguilar, Ruiz and Takano demanded the immediate removal of DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and serious reforms at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

Reps. Pete Aguilar (CA-33), Raul Ruiz (CA-25), Mark Takano (CA-39) and immigrant justice advocates from the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA), the Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice and the Immigrant Defenders Law Center held a press conference in front of the ICE field office in San Bernardino. The Representatives called out the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) use of brutality and violence, demanded accountability from the Trump Administration for terrorizing communities and murdering American citizens and called for the immediate removal of DHS Secretary Kristi Noem. You can watch the full video of the press conference here. 
“Our message for President Donald Trump is strong and simple: remove Kristi Noem and reform ICE now,” said Rep. Pete Aguilar. “For a year, Americans have witnessed ICE’s complete disregard for human life, and the killings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good are just the latest and last straw. People are dying in detention centers, children like 5-year-old Liam Ramos are being snatched from preschool, masked ICE and Border Patrol agents are invading homes without warrants and protesters are being murdered for exercising their constitutional rights. That’s why Democrats are demanding four things from the Trump Administration: Kristi Noem must be fired, or we will move to impeach her; federal immigration agents must cease all operations in Minnesota and stop terrorizing our communities; the Department of Homeland Security must not interfere with the investigations into the murders of Renee Good and Alex Pretti: and Republicans must join Democrats in to pass meaningful reforms to ICE. We can do this the easy way or the hard way. We’ll accept nothing less.”
“ICE’s violent conduct is out of control,” said Rep. Raul Ruiz. “The killings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good demand real accountability. That’s why I voted no on DHS funding—Republicans blocked basic guardrails like warrants, body cameras, limits on force, and protections for U.S. citizens. Senate Democrats should reject DHS funding until reforms are included, and Leader Thune should split DHS from the broader package to fund the rest of government and avoid a shutdown. Secretary Noem should resign—if she won’t, Congress should pursue impeachment.”
“Today, I stood shoulder to shoulder with Chairman Aguilar, Rep. Ruiz, and Inland Empire community leaders to say one word: enough,” said Rep. Mark Takano. “CBP and ICE are out of control, and Congress cannot pretend this is business as usual. If Donald Trump will not fire Kristi Noem, Congress will impeach her. And without accountability and reform, DHS should not receive another dollar of taxpayer funding.”
“Today’s press conference sent a clear message: Kristi Noem must be removed from office and Trump’s ICE must be dismantled,” said Javier Herandez, Executive Director, Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice. “ICE’s violence and brutality must be stopped, and every person responsible must be held accountable for their lawless behavior. We were proud to stand with our partners on the ground, including CHIRLA and Immigrant Defenders. We applaud Congressmembers Pete Aguilar, Raul Ruiz, and Mark Takano for taking a strong stand against any additional funding for ICE, and for continuing to listen to their communities as they call for an immediate divestment of this harmful agency. The fight continues, and IC4IJ will continue to fight for justice and freedom for immigrants.”
“DHS has created an environment where masked agents can act with impunity, operating in the shadows, inflicting violence upon our neighbors, and evading responsibility,” said Melissa Shepard, Director of Legal Services, Immigrant Defenders Law Center. “When there is no accountability, abuse becomes policy. We stand in solidarity with our elected officials to demand transparency and demand accountability. Safety means nothing without accountability, and we will stand firm until dignity is restored in the immigration system.” “Under the Trump administration, immigration enforcement has focused on terrorizing working-class people while failing to deliver on promises of economic improvement,” said Yunuen Trujillo, Director of Workers’ Rights and Labor Legal Services, Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA). “Billions of our tax dollars have funded an agenda of brutality that weakens workers’ rights and erodes due process for everyone. We demand accountability for the murders of U.S. citizens and immigrants, and for the brutality and lawlessness of immigration operations—and that not one more tax dollar be given to DHS.”

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

Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries a held a press conference where he highlighted how Donald Trump and Kristi Noem’s Department of Homeland Security are behaving in an out-of-control manner while Republicans continue to abdicate their responsibility to lower costs and deliver an economy that makes life better for hardworking American taxpayers.

LEADER JEFFRIES: One year into the Trump administration, the situation here in America is a complete and total disaster. Donald Trump and Republicans have failed the American people in every possible way. Cost of living is completely and totally out of control. Housing costs, out of control. Grocery costs, out of control. Electricity bills, out of control. Healthcare costs, out of control. Child care costs, out of control. America is way too expensive and Donald Trump and the Republican Party has done nothing about it. Under Republican policies, costs haven’t gone down in America, costs have gone up, including for reasons that relate directly to Trump’s tariffs, which have increased costs by thousands of dollars per year on everyday Americans.

We have a broken healthcare system and a Republican healthcare crisis. Republicans have enacted the largest cut to Medicaid in American history. Hospitals, nursing homes and community-based health clinics have closed because of toxic Republican policies in the One Big Ugly Bill. And Republicans in the Senate refuse to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits, which is going to skyrocket healthcare costs for tens of millions of Americans who will be unable to afford to go see a doctor when they need one.

Donald Trump and Republicans promised to cut costs in America. Instead, the Republican Department of Homeland Security is cutting down American lives in cold blood. It’s completely and totally unacceptable. Taxpayer dollars should be used to make life more affordable for the American people, not brutalize everyday Americans or kill American citizens. But that’s exactly what’s happening right now in the United States of America, which is why dramatic change is needed with the Department of Homeland Security before any appropriations bill related to ICE or CBP proceeds. That’s the Democratic position, because that’s the position of the American people. 

Full press conference can be watched here.

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

Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Bryan Steil (WI-01), Chairman of the House Administration Committee, unveiled a comprehensive package of election reforms. His bill, the Make Elections Great Again (MEGA) Act, puts baseline requirements in place for state election administration. 

“Americans should be confident their elections are being run with integrity – including commonsense voter ID requirements, clean voter rolls, and citizenship verification,” said Steil. “These reforms will improve voter confidence, bolster election integrity, and make it easy to vote, but hard to cheat.”

Here’s what others are saying about the MEGA Act:

“Fair and verifiable elections are the bedrock of our democracy and the MEGA Act would restore confidence in our elections and make them safer,” said MacIver CEO Annette Olson. “MacIver has led the charge to bring election reform to Wisconsin and we are pleased to see Congressman Steil put forward such strong legislation in Congress.”

“I’ve spent the last decade registering voters across the country and empowering Americans to vote. Without fair elections, we aren’t a free nation,” said Scott Presler, founder of Early Vote Action. “Thank you to Chairman Steil for his leadership on comprehensive election reform. Let’s make elections great again!”

“The bill gives clear guidance where the original law in 1993 failed – states have an obligation to have clean voter rolls. 25,000 dead registrants in Michigan or voters supposedly living in Vegas casinos will no longer be acceptable. This bill will bring clarity to voter roll maintenance obligations under the NVRA,” said J. Christian Adams, President of the Public Interest Legal Foundation and Commissioner on the Unites States Commission of Civil Rights.

“I applaud Chairman Steil for leading efforts to reform and modernize our elections system. For too long, federal laws — especially those governing voter list maintenance — have hampered states that are serious about improving election security and enabled those that are not. Reform is long overdue,” said Justin Riemer, President & CEO, Restoring Integrity and Trust in Elections (RITE).*

The legislation, which will be introduced during the House’s Friday pro-forma session, will:

• Require photo identification to vote

• Require states to verify citizenship of individuals when registering to vote

• Implement stronger routine voter list maintenance requirements in states

• Require mail-in ballots to be received by the close of polls on election day

• Require states to use auditable paper ballots

• Ban ballot harvesting

• Ban ranked choice voting

• Ban universal vote by mail

*Title for ID purposes only

Read the full bill text here.

Background:

The Committee on House Administration has oversight authority of federal elections.

Chairman Steil previously introduced the American Confidence in Elections (ACE) Act during the 118th Congress.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23)

“Last night’s ruling in favor of TPS is a small measure of hope for my South Florida Venezuelan and Haitian constituents, who have seen more than enough pain and heartbreak. I supported this case from the start and I’m deeply grateful to all the attorneys and civil rights and labor advocates fighting tooth and nail to keep our communities safe.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23)

“Federal nutritional aid and school lunches are being cut. So it’s more important than ever because our community needs this fresh, nutritious food resource that can come directly to underserved areas and be rapidly deployed to disaster-stricken areas,” said Wasserman Schultz. “Thankfully, we managed to avoid major storms this year, but they’re going to return. And during emergencies or natural disasters, the market and the kitchen will be a resource to impacted families.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sharice Davids (KS-3)

Today, on the one-year anniversary of the tragic collision between American Eagle Flight 5342 and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter, Representative Sharice Davids honored the 67 lives lost and reaffirmed her commitment to strengthening aviation safety and accountability. Davids formally submitted a statement into the Congressional Record commemorating the victims and pledging continued action to prevent future tragedies.

Read Davids’ statement commemorating the one-year anniversary here or below:

“I rise today in somber recognition that January 29, 2026, will mark one year since the tragic collision of American Eagle Flight 5342 and U.S. Army callsign PAT 25. 

“On that night one year ago, American Airlines Flight 5342, flying from Wichita, Kansas to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, collided with a UH-60 Army Black Hawk helicopter while on final approach to Runway 33 at DCA. There were no survivors and 67 innocent lives were lost — 60 passengers; 4 flight crew; and 3 Army soldiers. They were our neighbors, our coworkers, and our loved ones.

“For Kansas, this tragedy hit especially close to home. Wichita is the Air Capital of the World, and countless Kansas families have deep ties to aviation — whether through work, training, or innovation. The loss of this flight was not an abstract headline in our state; it was felt deeply in our communities, at kitchen tables, and in workplaces across Kansas.

“While folks across the country embraced the stark reminder that we must never take our time with loved ones for granted, this event also underscored the vital need to enhance our nation’s aviation safety. 

“While nothing can be done to undo this tragedy or bring back those lost on January 29, 2025, we can do everything in our power, working across the aisle, to prevent this from ever happening again. I look forward to working with my colleagues, both Republican and Democrat, to address these issues and keep our skies safe.”

Following the tragic collision, Davids and her Kansas colleagues expressed their steadfast solidarity with the families and communities affected by the tragedy. Davids has taken several additional steps to improve aviation safety and honor the lives lost:

• Met with the victims’ families in Wichita and pledged to be a voice for transparency and reform in the investigation.
• Pressed FAA and NTSB experts in a U.S. Transportation & Infrastructure Committee hearing on air traffic controller shortages and safety protocols.
• Toured the Olathe Air Traffic Control Center to highlight critical staffing needs and renew her call for increased investments in aviation safety infrastructure.
• Responded to initial NTSB recommendations with a commitment to act on any legislative fixes needed to keep passengers and crew safe.
• Pledged to act on recommendations from an initial NTSB investigative hearing on the tragic midair collision.

Davids serves on the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and has long championed bipartisan efforts to strengthen transportation safety standards, including by helping pass into law a bipartisan FAA reauthorization.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lori Trahan (D-MA-03)

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03) announced that the U.S. House of Representatives has passed legislation including more than $7.5 million in federal funding she secured for critical community projects across Massachusetts’ Third Congressional District.

“Families across our district deserve safe roads, dependable infrastructure, and real opportunities to build a better life for themselves and their children,” said Congresswoman Trahan. “This funding will make everyday life better for residents in communities large and small by improving safety, strengthening local infrastructure, and creating pathways to economic opportunity. My team and I remain focused on cutting through the noise in Washington to deliver results like these investments that will make a tangible difference across the Third District.”

The funding will support infrastructure upgrades, public safety improvements, workforce training, and community development initiatives in cities and towns throughout the district. This new round of investments builds on the $5 million in federal funding Congresswoman Trahan secured passage of earlier this month, which was passed in the Senate and signed into law last week.

The projects funded through this legislation include:

City of Lowell’s Priority Intersection Project: $2,000,000

City of Lawrence’s Bridge Restoration Project: $1,200,000

City of Haverhill’s Merrimack Downtown Redevelopment Project: $1,000,000

City of Fitchburg’s Water Street Gateway Corridor Sidewalk and Lighting Replacement Project: $850,000

City of Methuen’s Intersection Safety Improvement Projects: $850,000

UMass Lowell’s Strategic Property Acquisition in Support of the Lowell Innovation Network Corridor (LINC): $850,000

Mount Wachusett Community College’s North Central Massachusetts Automotive Technician Training Center Expansion Project: $850,000

City of Marlborough’s Bolton Street (Route 85) and Union Street Intersection Improvement Project: $250,000

City of Gardner’s Community Center Project: $250,000

Town of Boxborough’s Sheltered Bus Stops for Boxborough/Acton Inter-Town Bus Service: $250,000

The investments passed today now move to the Senate for further consideration.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (1st District of Maine)

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) released the following statement in response to reports that the Department of Homeland Security has ended “Operation Catch of the Day” in Maine: 

I cannot independently confirm this announcement because the Department of Homeland Security has not provided my office with basic information about this operation, despite repeated requests for weeks.

On January 22, I sent a formal oversight letter to Secretary Noem asking for a full accounting of who was detained, under what legal authority, and where individuals were taken. I have received no response. Senator King and my office also requested a joint meeting with DHS leadership to discuss what was happening in Maine. We received no response. 

If these enhanced operations have in fact ceased, that may reduce the visible federal presence in our state. But I think it is important that people understand what we saw during this operation: individuals who are legally allowed to be in the United States, whether by lawful presence or an authorized period of stay, following the rules, and being detained anyway.

 

That is not limited to this one operation. That has been the pattern of this Administration’s immigration enforcement over the past year, and there is no indication that policy has changed.

The unfortunate reality is, ending this surge and removing additional officers does not mean a return to how immigration enforcement functioned in Maine “for many years.” What we have seen over the past year is radically different. The standard now appears to be broad, aggressive detentions and removals that do not distinguish between people who are here unlawfully, and people who are awaiting decisions on pending cases or have another valid status.

I continue to seek a full accounting from DHS of who was detained, what their immigration status was, and where they are currently located. Until those answers are provided, serious questions remain about how this Department is operating in our state and what Mainers should expect going forward.  

I remain ready to meet with DHS at any time to ensure that immigration enforcement in Maine is carried out lawfully, transparently, and with respect for the people and communities affected.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14)

WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14) introduced the Farmers to Families Act, bipartisan legislation co-led by Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ-02), and the New Markets for Farmers and Families Act. Together, these bills expand opportunities for farmers to sell their products and increase our community’s access to healthy, fresh, and local food.

The New Markets for Farmers and Families Act strengthens the Farmers’ Market and Local Food Promotion Program at USDA and provides dedicated funding to open new farmers’ markets in neighborhoods without them. The legislation increases funding for the program and reduces barriers for farmers to reach families in underserved areas.

The Farmers to Families Act modernizes the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) to make it easier for families to buy fresh food from local farmers. The legislation also makes it easier for local farmers to accept WIC benefits, and expands technical assistance and support for farmers and farmers’ markets at USDA.

“Illinois agriculture goes far beyond commodity crops—our farmers also grow world-class fruits and vegetables that help keep our families fed and healthy. Every family in our community should have the opportunity to purchase fresh, healthy, Illinois-grown food,” said Congresswoman Underwood. “With these bills, we are modernizing outdated systems so farmers can sell directly to their communities, and we’re making sure that families can easily use their benefits to purchase that fresh and local food.”

“This bill cuts red tape, supports local farmers, and makes it easier for families to buy fresh, healthy food,” said Congressman Van Drew. “It’s a no-cost, common-sense update that keeps federal dollars working in our local farm economy. That’s why I’m proud to co-lead this effort.”

“The Farmers Market Coalition is pleased to endorse the Farmers to Families Act,” said Willa Sheikh, Executive Director, Farmers Market Coalition, “The bill takes important steps to increase income opportunities for small-scale farmers, while providing more healthy food choices for families who rely on WIC.” 

“Federal nutrition benefits, like WIC, are essential for many low-income families to access healthy foods, yet regulations make it difficult for families to use their benefits for fresh foods from local farmers,” said Hannah Quigley, Policy Specialist, National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition. “This needlessly reduces access for families and diverts money away from local farmers to dollar or corner stores. NSAC thanks Representatives Underwood and Van Drew for their leadership in introducing the Farmers to Families Act – a pragmatic solution to allow families more access to farm fresh products for families and greater market access for farmers.” 

Farmers’ markets across northern Illinois offer families fresh food grown on Illinois farmland, such as peaches, apples, grapes, horseradish, and melons. But outdated rules make it difficult to use nutrition benefits at local markets. At the same time, many farmers are locked out of federal nutrition programs due to redundant application processes, a need for multiple payment devices, and a lack of technical support.

The Farmers to Families Act is supported by the Farmers’ Market Coalition and the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition. 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sharice Davids (KS-3)

KANSAS CITY, KS – Today, Representative Sharice Davids visited Emerson Elementary School’s afterschool program to meet with students and staff and highlight the importance of affordable, accessible afterschool care for Kansas families. During the visit, Davids discussed her newly introduced bipartisan legislation to expand access to afterschool programs by reducing cost and logistical barriers that prevent many working parents from enrolling their children.

“Afterschool programs give kids a safe place to learn and grow while giving parents peace of mind that their children are supported,” said Davids. “But for too many Kansas families, cost, transportation, and limited availability put these programs out of reach. My bipartisan bill is about using common-sense partnerships to help communities expand available slots, lower program costs, and make afterschool care work better for parents — so moms and dads can stay at work knowing their children are safe and thriving.”

WATCH: Davids speaks on her new bipartisan bill while visiting an afterschool program 

“Children throughout the Lehigh Valley and the Poconos can benefit from the after-school programs available in our community, but too many struggle to access them,” said Congressman Ryan Mackenzie (R-PA-07). “That’s why the Afterschool ACCESS Act reforms the tax code to incentivize more public-private partnerships — creating more opportunities for Pennsylvania kids. By freeing up space and transportation for temporary use by providers, this legislation provides the flexibility and versatility that children and families need.”

The Afterschool Access Through Charitable Contributions for Enrichment and Student Support (ACCESS) Act incentivizes public-private partnerships by allowing charitable tax deductions for the part-time use of private property and transportation to support afterschool programs. By unlocking access to physical space, safe transportation, and other essential resources, the bill helps communities overcome the biggest barriers facing afterschool providers — without increasing costs for families.

At Emerson Elementary School, Davids toured the afterschool program, spoke with educators and staff, and met with students participating in enrichment activities. The visit highlighted how afterschool programs support academic success, provide safe and structured environments, and help working families balance their schedules.

According to a recent Afterschool Alliance report, 75 percent of Kansas children whose parents want afterschool care are unable to access it. Cost, lack of transportation, and limited availability remain the most common obstacles. Nationwide, parents report that afterschool programs improve workplace productivity and provide peace of mind, while giving children opportunities to build critical academic and life skills.

Supporter Quotes:

“After-school programming in USD 500 plays a vital role in supporting families by providing a safe, supportive environment for students,” said Mechelle Wortham, Coordinator, KidZone program at Emmerson Elementary. “These programs help build strong partnerships between schools, families, and the broader community, while exposing students to activities they might not otherwise experience—such as partnerships with Scouting programs, martial arts, the YMCA, 4-H, and more.”

“The Kansas Enrichment Network is grateful to raise awareness around the critical role afterschool programs play across the state,” said Michael Lemon, Director, Kansas Enrichment Network. “Out-of-school time opportunities such as KidZone at Emerson Elementary connect communities, support working families, and expand learning and growth beyond school hours. To sustain programs and ensure affordable access to quality afterschool opportunities for Kansans, it is vital to align the needs of today’s youth with local, statewide, and national support.”

“To support positive youth development and the stability of working families, we must address the barriers keeping millions of children out of quality out-of-school time programs,” said John Wilson, President, Kansas Action for Children. “The Afterschool ACCESS Act provides a common-sense, bipartisan solution by incentivizing businesses to contribute the spaces and transportation necessary to maintain and expand programs. This legislation is a vital investment in our children’s future and the continued growth of our communities.”

“We appreciate the leadership from Representative Sharice Davids on this issue,” said Paul Bean, Executive Director, Franklin County Development Council. “Funding is the critical barrier for many families, especially in rural communities such as Franklin County. Affordability is the key issue among families with young children. Food prices have increased substantially, so it limits family budgets to cover afterschool cost. Representative Davids understands this affordability issue, and we appreciate her efforts to help our young families with this important service.”

“Students in afterschool programs make impressive gains in grades, school attendance, behavior, and more — but too many of our children and youth are missing out,” said Jodi Grant, Executive Director, Afterschool Alliance. “The parents of 29.6 million children want afterschool programs for their children, but just 7 million kids are currently enrolled. The bipartisan Afterschool ACCESS Act would help increase access to afterschool programs by incentivizing public-private partnerships that can remove barriers to participation like transportation and support new programs at new sites.”

“The lack of affordable child care is a significant small business issue,” said John Arensmeyer, Founder and CEO, Small Business Majority. “Small Business Majority’s research has found that when small businesses cannot access child care, it has a number of major consequences, including forcing business owners to take time away from work, hire additional help, and even shut down their business in some cases. We are glad to see lawmakers working to address this problem, and we hope this is just the beginning of policy changes that will help address America’s child care affordability crisis.”