MIL USHOR-2b Engine

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

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Sharice Davids (KS-03), Rep. French Hill (AR-02), Rep. Jim Costa (CA-21), Rep. Donald Davis (NC-01), Rep. Max Miller (OH-07), and Rep. Blake Moore (UT-01) introduced the bipartisan Ticket to Work Awareness Act to increase awareness of an existing program that helps Americans with disabilities access job training, employment services, and support without risking their benefits.

Rep. Sharice Davids said,“Far too often, people who want to work and gain more independence don’t have clear information about the support available to them. This bipartisan bill makes sure Social Security actually reaches out to beneficiaries and clearly explains their options, so Kansans with disabilities can explore work and career opportunities without fear of losing the benefits they depend on. By improving awareness, we can help more families build financial stability and dignity through work — without adding cost or bureaucracy. I am glad to work with my Republican colleague, Representative French Hill, on this effort.”

Rep. Hill said, “Nearly two-thirds of eligible beneficiaries have no idea the Ticket to Work program exists. That is unacceptable. This commonsense bill improves outreach so people who want to work know what options are available to them, without adding new spending or growing government. I am proud to co-lead this bipartisan effort to correct the Social Security Administration’s failure to adequately communicate and promote this important program and support greater opportunities and independence for people with disabilities.”

“I’m proud to co-lead this bipartisan legislation to ensure people receiving Social Security disability benefits are aware of the Ticket to Work program,” said Rep. Costa. “Far too many individuals with disabilities across the San Joaquin Valley and the nation are unaware of the employment services readily available to them. This bill will strengthen outreach from the Social Security Administration and will allow beneficiaries to explore work opportunities without risking their benefits.”

The Ticket to Work program opens doors for eastern North Carolinians and others across the nation by offering training that leads to meaningful new careers and economic stability for their families,” said Congressman Don Davis. “True potential is unlocked when eligible participants know how to access these impactful training opportunities.”

“Too many Americans with disabilities who want to work and achieve financial independence simply don’t know the Ticket to Work program exists,” said Congressman Max Miller. “This legislation takes a simple, common-sense step to change that by requiring regular outreach, so eligible beneficiaries are aware of the opportunities and support available to them. Ticket to Work empowers Americans to pursue meaningful employment without risking their benefits, and increasing awareness will help more people gain independence, dignity, and a stronger future. I’m proud to cosponsor this bill to make sure no one is left in the dark about a program designed to help them succeed.” 

Rep. Moore said, “The Ticket to Work program exists to give disability beneficiaries access to free vocational rehabilitation, employment, and other work-related support services while maintaining their benefits. Unfortunately, many of the people who could benefit the most from this program don’t know that it exists. I’m excited to work with my friend Chairman French Hill to introduce the Ticket to Work Advertisement Act to require regular advertising for the program, bringing awareness to the opportunities and support available to SSDI beneficiaries.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jimmy Gomez (CA-34)

LOS ANGELES, CA — Yesterday, Congressman Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), in partnership with the Loyola Immigrant Justice Clinic, hosted a Legal Observer Information Session in Downtown Los Angeles to educate community members on how to safely and effectively document immigration enforcement actions and protect their First Amendment rights.

The training comes amid a sharp escalation in immigration raids across Los Angeles and the country, and follows the recent killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, both of whom were acting as legal observers when they were shot and killed by federal agents.

“Legal observers play a critical role in our democracy,” said Rep. Gomez. “If Donald Trump and Republicans in power see an opportunity to lie about the facts of an incident, we’ve already seen that they will. Legal observers are there to make sure the truth is preserved, and the facts are not swept under the rug.”

During the session, attorneys and law students from the Loyola Immigrant Justice Clinic walked attendees through best practices for observing immigration enforcement actions, how to document interactions without interfering or escalating, and how to protect themselves and others while exercising their constitutional rights.

The event drew community organizations, nonprofit partners, and concerned residents seeking tools to protect their neighbors as enforcement activity intensifies.
The Loyola Immigrant Justice Clinic has served nearly 15,000 noncitizen clients and trains law students to provide free immigration legal services to East Los Angeles communities.

Rep. Gomez emphasized that this training is only the beginning, and that additional community-facing events are planned as his office continues pushing for oversight, accountability, and an end to Donald Trump’s unchecked national police force that puts lives at risk.

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

Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries appeared on CNN News Central, where he made clear that Democrats are fighting back to protect the American people from the out-of-control, lawless behavior by ICE, DHS Secretary Noem and Donald Trump.

KATE BOLDUAN: Joining me now to talk about this is the Democratic Leader in the House, Hakeem Jeffries. Leader, thank you so much for being here. I want to ask you first about Ilhan Omar, the Congresswoman. You heard Sara has done extensive—she was in the room at the time. Capitol Police have spoken out and said this is horrendous and this man should be brought to—have the toughest charges brought against him possible. The President spoke overnight about this, admitted that he had not seen the video, but told ABC News ‘she probably had herself sprayed, knowing her.’ What’s your reaction to this?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, that’s a disgusting comment and the President’s lies and misinformation continue to fan the flames of these type of violent incidents. And it’s at a moment like this where we actually need leadership from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and it is something that we never get from this President. Ilhan Omar, of course, is a strong, courageous, hardworking public servant. This should have never happened. I’m thankful that she is physically okay. She’s mentally strong, as is always the case, and we stand by her.

KATE BOLDUAN: Much more to learn about all of that still. You posted yesterday with regard to DHS, what’s happening in Minneapolis, the Secretary of Homeland Security. You put out a statement yesterday that said, ‘dramatic changes at the Department of Homeland Security are needed…Kristi Noem should be fired immediately, or we will commence impeachment proceedings…We can do this the easy way or the hard way.’ Does that mean you now support the effort to try and impeach Kristi Noem?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Donald Trump needs to fire Kristi Noem immediately. We know that she is a malignant, corrupt, pathological liar. She’s unqualified. She never should have been confirmed by Republicans in the United States Senate. She is creating harm to the American people. Taxpayer dollars are actually being used by the Department of Homeland Security to kill American citizens and to brutalize law-abiding immigrant families, that’s unacceptable. So she’s gotta go—

KATE BOLDUAN: Okay, short of him firing her, you support moving towards impeachment?

LEADER JEFFRIES: We will commence impeachment proceedings against Kristi Noem in the absence of her being fired.

KATE BOLDUAN: Do you want to force a vote unilaterally, or do you want to launch an investigation in the minority?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, we’re in conversation with Bennie Thompson, Jamie Raskin, Robert Garcia about next steps in the process. We want to make the case to the American people as to why Kristi Noem’s continued leadership creates problems in terms of the health, the safety and the well-being of the American people. And we’ll do that in ways that Democrats have done in the past even though we’re in the minority because the issue is significant enough. We’ve held hearings on other issues such as the cost of living, protecting Social Security, the healthcare of the American people. We can hold hearings as it relates to how destructive Kristi Noem’s continued presence will be.

KATE BOLDUAN: Virtue signaling and a messaging operation is— can be worthwhile, especially when you’re trying to speak to the public, but is that enough, if that’s what this ends up being?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Congress has the power to impeach someone who has committed crimes against the Constitution and the American people. So it’s not virtue signaling—

KATE BOLDUAN: But, when you are in the majority. When you are in the majority.

LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, no. As you know, the impeachment process is one of the few areas where every single Member has the privilege to bring a resolution to the floor of the House of Representatives and, at the appropriate time, force an up-or-down vote. By the way, even though we’ve been in the minority, we’ve compelled Republicans to move legislation to release the Epstein files. We’ve compelled Republicans to move legislation to wipe away one of Trump’s most toxic executive orders, which is stripping rights away from more than a million different hardworking federal employees, collective bargaining rights. And of course, House Democrats, against all odds, were able to move a clean extension of the Affordable Care Act tax credits—in the minority—and all 213 House Democrats were joined by 17 Republicans to protect the healthcare of the American people. If we’ve done it before, we can do it again.

KATE BOLDUAN: On this issue, many Republicans are not okay with what they’re seeing in Minneapolis either. As I mentioned, this seems a break from the President on this immigration effort in a bigger way than we have seen before. I mean, John Thune yesterday called this moment after Alex Pretti’s death an inflection point. I want to play for you also what Thom Tillis said, because he is now the first, I would say, think it’s the first in his party to call for Noem’s firing. Let me play this for you.

RECORDING OF SENATOR TILLIS: I think if Noem looks at her body of work, I could not be—if I were in her position, I can’t think of any point of pride over the last year. She is taking this administration into the ground on an issue that we should own. We should own the issue of border security and immigration. But they have destroyed that for Republicans, something that got the President elected. They have destroyed it through their incompetence.

KATE BOLDUAN: Bipartisanship is not something we find on Capitol Hill very often, for sure. Do you see an ally in Thom Tillis?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, Thom Tillis is correct in his observations. The administration has been a disaster for the American people. They failed on the economy, failed to lower the high cost of living, failed on healthcare. They’re ripping healthcare away from the American people. By the way, in their One Big Ugly Bill, they enacted the largest cut to Medicaid in American history and, in the same bill, gave the Department of Homeland Security $191 billion in taxpayer money, $75 billion of which went to ICE. That taxpayer money is now being used to kill American citizens. It’s all unacceptable. We need Department of Homeland Security agents to behave like every other law enforcement agency in the country, not like a toxic paramilitary organization.

KATE BOLDUAN: Do—you say he has his facts right, but do you commend him for speaking out where a lot of Republicans don’t? Even John Thune calling this an inflection point. Do you see allies in them in this effort?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, we’re going to work with anyone on the other side of the aisle who actually understands that dramatic changes are needed to the manner in which the Trump administration has been conducting itself with respect to immigration policy. The American people are demanding change, and we’re going to aggressively support it.

KATE BOLDUAN: Change. Define change. I know—and don’t give me the line of I’m not going to negotiate in public. Thune said—

LEADER JEFFRIES: That’s not a line that I often use, by the way—

KATE BOLDUAN: True, true, true. Thune said, ‘What do Democrats want?’ in terms of changes in order to approve the funding that is now before you. Is Noem out enough to support DHS funding?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Kristi Noem being fired or removed from office is, of course, not enough. It’s a start—

KATE BOLDUAN: What is the change?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, there’s a variety of different things that have been put on the table. First of all, there’s the basic value and principle that taxpayer dollars can’t be used to kill American citizens, to brutalize American communities and to target—violently—law-abiding citizens—

KATE BOLDUAN: Currently, that’s not a policy that says you can use taxpayer dollars to kill American citizens, you see what I’m saying?—

LEADER JEFFRIES: No, that’s clearly what’s happening. We have a DHS killing machine. The American people have seen it. That’s the reality of what happened to Alex Pretti. It’s the reality of what happened to Renee Nicole Good. It’s the reality to the fact that dozens of people have actually died in ICE detention over the last year. This is an administration that promised to deport violent felons. We all support that, but that’s not what’s happening right now. We also need ICE to conduct itself like every other law enforcement agency in the country. That means judicial warrants. That means no masks. That means body cameras. That means when officers actually break the law, they should be held criminally accountable for their behavior. That’s what happens to every other law enforcement agency in the country. But you have this administration saying ICE is absolutely immune, which is part of the reason why you see these people behaving in this kind of rogue fashion.

KATE BOLDUAN: I see. Heard three suggestions at least for changes to DHS policy. Let’s see what happens. Thank you very much for coming in on a very critical day.

LEADER JEFFRIES: Thank you.

Interview can be watched here.

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

Know Your Immigration Rights

If you or a loved one encounter immigration enforcement officials, it is essential that you know your rights and have prepared your household for all possible outcomes.

Ask for a warrant: The Fourth Amendment of the Constitution protects you from unreasonable search and seizure. You do not have to open your door until you see a valid warrant to enter your home or search your belongings.

Your right to remain silent: The Fifth Amendment protects your right to remain silent and not incriminate yourself. You are not required to share any personal information such as your place of birth, immigration status or criminal history.

Always consult an attorney: You have a right to speak with an attorney. You do not have to sign anything or hand officials any documents without speaking to an attorney. Try to identify and consult one in advance.

The New York City Office of Civil Justice and the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) support a variety of free immigration legal services through local nonprofit legal organizations. To access these resources, dial 311 and say “Action NYC,” call the MOIA Immigration Legal Support Hotline at 800-354-0365 Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. or visit MOIA’s website.

Learn more here: KNOW YOUR IMMIGRATION RIGHTS  – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Brad Sherman (D-CA)

SHERMAN OAKS, CA – Today, Congressman Brad Sherman issued the following statement in response to yet another gas leak at Aliso Canyon (Porter Ranch), the site of the largest natural gas blowout in history:

“I have been fighting to close this natural gas storage facility down. Southern California Gas Company has refused to even try to develop a natural gas delivery system that is not dependent upon Aliso Canyon.

The California Public Utilities Commission has refused to require the development of a plan to shut Aliso Canyon down while continuing to provide natural gas service to the residents of Los Angeles County.

We have no idea whether today’s gas leak was more significant than described by Southern California Gas Company. But we know that today’s gas leak shows that it is long past time to shut it down.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Brad Sherman (D-CA)

PACIFIC PALISADES, CA – Today, Congressman Brad Sherman (CA-32), who represents Pacific Palisades, issued the following statement in response to President Trump’s Executive Order, regarding rebuilding after the Palisades wildfire:

“Pursuant to action taken by President Biden and at least not rescinded by President Trump, the federal government is providing $7 billion to California, including well over half the cost of rebuilding Palisades High School.

But Trump is doing everything to avoid spending a penny. Under Biden, there were supplemental appropriations to help the people hurt by Hurricane Ida, Hurricane Ian, the Maui fires, Hurricane Helene, and Hurricane Milton.

Under Trump, there has been no supplemental appropriation to help the victims of Texas, Florida, the Eaton Fire, or the Palisades Fire, or any of the disasters that occurred in 2025. Not one penny.

The President issues an executive order which is clearly unconstitutional and a nullity as an excuse for not providing a supplemental appropriation, which would put money in the pockets of uninsured disaster victims.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Scott Peters (52nd District of California)

San Diego, CA – Today, Rep. Peters and local healthcare professionals gathered at Scripps Mercy Hospital to discuss how healthcare providers and San Diegans are hurt by two recent events: drastic cuts to Medicaid made in the Republicans’ Big Beautiful Bill and the January 1 expiration of Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies. 

“If decimating Medicaid last year wasn’t enough of a hit, the expiration of ACA tax credits will now force tens of thousands of San Diegans to delay care or go without health insurance altogether,” said Rep. Peters. “Open enrollment for Covered California – our state’s health insurance marketplace created by the ACA – ends on January 31. Right now, San Diegans are shopping for health insurance, and many are worried about how to afford it.” 

Rep. Peters brought together hospital and community health center staff who spoke about what our communities are experiencing and bracing for in the midst of this healthcare affordability crisis.   

“The Affordable Care Act has made heath care insurance available to millions who might otherwise go without health insurance risking themselves, society, and our healthcare system,” said Chris Van Gorder, President and CEO of Scripps Health. “We encourage our federal legislators to extend the current subsidies until such time as a reasonable and effective replacement can be developed.”

“When coverage lapses, people do not stop needing healthcare. We anticipate that San Diegans who can no longer afford their plans will rely on sliding-scale fee options at community health centers, or delay treatment until preventable conditions become emergencies requiring hospital-level care,” said Pauline Lucatero MSN, RN, Vice President of Community Affairs at Family Health Centers of San Diego. “This places additional pressure on the healthcare safety net at a time when more Medi-Cal patients are expected to lose coverage due to federal changes under H.R.1. With the January 31 deadline to enroll in Covered California approaching, our certified enrollment staff are available to provide free, confidential assistance to help patients understand their coverage options.”

“The expiration of the enhanced premium tax credits is a devastating setback for the families we serve,” said Dr. Jorge Otañez, Associate Chief Medical Officer at TrueCare. “At TrueCare, we care for working families who maintain health coverage only with the assistance of these credits, allowing them to see a doctor, manage chronic conditions, and seek preventive care for themselves and their children without fear of financial ruin. Without congressional action, many of our patients will be forced to choose between paying rent or paying for health insurance, and too many will become uninsured altogether. This is a real and immediate threat to people’s health and stability.”

On January 8, Rep. Peters voted to extend ACA tax credits for three years to make health care coverage more affordable. The measure passed in the House and Rep. Peters continues to urge his Senate colleagues to support this extension as well. Nearly 150,000 San Diegans rely on the ACA tax credits to afford coverage, and more than 125,000 are already seeing their health care costs surge, including 28,000 people in CA-50 alone.  

A livestreamed recording of the event can be viewed here. 

Additional photos from the event, courtesy of the office of Rep. Scott Peters, can be viewed here. 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Ilhan Omar (DFL-MN)

MINNEAPOLIS–The Office of Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) issued the following statement following the incident at her town hall in North Minneapolis.

“During her town hall, an agitator tried to attack the Congresswoman by spraying an unknown substance with a syringe. Security and the Minneapolis Police Department quickly apprehended the individual. He is now in custody. The Congresswoman is okay. She continued with her town hall because she doesn’t let bullies win.”

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

House Democrats led an effort to restore the Affordable Care Act tax credits and lower health care costs, but Senate Republicans have refused to vote on the bipartisan bill

Rep. Pete Aguilar (CA-33) held a press conference at the Unicare Community Health Center in San Bernardino to highlight the impact of the Republican health care crisis on the Inland Empire and to call on Donald Trump and Senate Republicans to immediately restore the expired Affordable Care Act tax credits. 
Almost two million Californians have seen their monthly health insurance premiums skyrocket after Donald Trump and Republicans failed to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits by December 31, 2025. In California’s 33rd Congressional District, the number of new enrollees in Covered California, California’s Affordable Care Act marketplace, has decreased by 35 percent compared to last year due in part to rising costs. That’s why House Democrats are leading the effort to restore the Affordable Care Act tax credits and lower health care premiums for 21,000 residents of California’s 33rd Congressional District and more than 1.7 million Californians statewide. You can watch the full video of the press conference here.
“Right now, tens of thousands of people in my district have seen their monthly insurance premiums go up and their health care become too expensive because Donald Trump and Republicans let the Affordable Care Act tax credits expire,” said Rep. Pete Aguilar. “I’ve heard from countless people in our community who are suffering right now because of skyrocketing costs and are having to decide between paying for rent, groceries and utilities, or their health care. House Democrats delivered a real path forward to restore these vital tax credits and lower health insurance costs for hardworking people, but Senate Republicans have refused to vote on this bipartisan legislation. The American people can’t afford any more delays. It’s time for Trump and Republicans to work with Democrats to restore the Affordable Care Act tax credits and ensure that working families can get the affordable, quality health care that they need.”
“The Affordable Care Act has been instrumental in helping our patients access consistent, affordable and high-quality health care,” said Kelly Vo, Executive Vice President, Unicare Community Health Center. “However, the recent cuts to the ACA threaten the practice of our community that we have made by putting affordable coverage out of reach for many individuals and families. That is why continued support and advocacy for the ACA are so important.”
“As a physician, I’m seeing families lose their health insurance, not because they don’t work hard, but because they fall into an impossible gap,” said Dr. Cameo Carter, MD, Inland Empire Resident and Covered California Enrollee. “They make too much to qualify for assistance, but far too little to afford the soaring premiums of traditional insurance plans. The ACA premium credits allowed many of these families to stay insured. Without them, they are left with no choice but to go without coverage, living with constant anxiety about what will happen if someone in their family gets seriously ill or needs medication or diagnostic testing they simply can’t afford. I have patients who are delaying or forgoing necessary medical treatments because the cost is prohibitive. These have become daily conversations in my exam rooms, deciding which medication can wait, which test might be postponed. My call to action is simple and urgent: we need Congress to extend the ACA premium credits and protect affordable access to health care, for working families, for small businesses, and for the communities that depend on them.”
“I’m a part-time professor at San Bernardino Valley College,” said Maria Ortiz, Inland Empire Resident and Covered California Enrollee. “As a professor, I need to be healthy for my students. For this reason, I call upon Congress to respond to the needs of your constituents by acting on a solution so that hundreds of teachers can be healthy for their own families and students.”

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

Contact: Alexis Torres

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-34) announced his support for impeachment articles against U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem. 

“Secretary Noem’s continued refusal to take responsibility for the rogue and indiscriminate actions of an agency under her supervision requires accountability,” said Congressman Gonzalez. “Her cruel and incompetent leadership, which this Administration continues to condone, has resulted in the murder of two American citizens, illegal operations in South Texas and across the country, and the misuse of taxpayer dollars. For this reason, I have called on Secretary Noem to resign. If she fails to do so of her own accord, then Congress must act.”

The U.S. Constitution grants Congress sole authority on impeachment. Joining more than 100 of his House colleagues, Congressman Gonzalez is now a cosponsor of three articles of impeachment that were formally introduced by Congresswoman Robin Kelly (IL-02):

1. Obstruction of Congress

   Secretary Noem violated her constitutional oath and refused to comply with the law that prohibits the Department of Homeland Security from preventing a Member of Congress from entering a DHS facility used to detain undocumented immigrants.

2. Violation of Public Trust

   Secretary Noem has repeatedly violated the Immigration and Nationality Act, the First and Fourth Amendments of the United States Constitution. She’s also broken due process by directing ICE to conduct warrantless arrests and use violence against U.S. citizens and lawful individuals.

   During Secretary Noem’s “Operation Midway Blitz” in Chicago, federal agents used excessive force, in some cases injuring or killing residents. Federal agents used military-style tactics to raid an apartment building in South Shore, detaining U.S. citizens for hours without warrants or reason for arrest. These dangerous actions have continued in cities across the country, including in Minneapolis, where Renee Nicole Good and Alex Jeffrey Pretti were shot and killed without justification.
    

3. Self-Dealing

   Secretary Noem has misused her position for personal gain while inappropriately using $200 million taxpayer dollars to fund an ad campaign for ICE recruitment. She bypassed the normal competitive bidding process to award a contract to a firm called Strategy Group. Strategy Group was formed just days before the award and is run by the husband of senior DHS official Tricia McClaughlin, a close friend of Secretary Noem.