MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Rep Ro Khanna (CA-17)

Washington, DC — Representative Ro Khanna (CA-17), member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, released the following statement on the files received by the committee yesterday from the Department of Justice: 

“Only 3% of the documents given to the Oversight Committee are new. The rest are already in the public domain. Less than 1% of files have been released. DOJ is stonewalling. The survivors deserve justice and the public deserves transparency. Congress must pass my bill with Rep. Thomas Massie, the Epstein Files Transparency Act, to force the full release of the Epstein files with redactions to protect the victims. On September 3rd, I’m holding a press conference with survivors of Epstein and Maxwell’s abuse. Some will be speaking for the first time. We’ll hear from them why releasing this information is so important,” said Rep. Ro Khanna.

For the text of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, click here. 

Press conference details below:

What: Representative Ro Khanna (CA-17) and Thomas Massie (KY-04) will hold a press conference joined by survivors of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell’s abuse –– several of whom will speak publicly about the abuse for the first time. They will also be joined by the survivors’ attorneys, Brad Edwards and Brittany Henderson. 

Date: September 3rd at 10:30am ET  

Location: House Triangle 

Media RSVP: sarah.drory@mail.house.gov   

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

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05), Ranking Member of the Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) Appropriations Subcommittee, delivered opening remarks at the House Appropriations Subcommittee Markup of the FY26 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies bill. Below is a video and transcript of his remarks:
 

Click here to watch a full video of his remarks.

“Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. You’d be surprised if I didn’t make the observation [that] this is not a markup. No amendments are going to be offered; no issues will be thoroughly discussed by both sides as to the merits of the proposal. It will be a little bit like DOGE; we’ll know how to cut, we will not know the consequences of those cuts. In one respect, we will not know the consequences of those requests, because we only had three hearings and – we had five hearings. We had two hearings at the beginning, in February, and then we had three hearings in one week. No testimony from anybody who’s worked at the Department of Education, who’s worked at the Department of Labor. Not a single witness from the National Institutes of Health was asked to testify. I’ve served on this committee when every institute was asked to testify on the merits of its budget and the prospects of success.

“This budget says, ‘You’re On Your Own.’ That is the message the Trump Administration has sent to the American people [over] the past seven months. From the Centers for Disease Control to the National Institutes of Health to the VA, Donald Trump and Russell Vought have purged researchers, suspended medical trials, and politicized American science. America will not be great if we continue along that path. One of Trump’s first actions this year was to pause all federal grants, including those for research into new cures and treatments for cancer and other life-threatening diseases. We’ve seen staffers fired from the CDC – as Ms. DeLauro pointed out – 9/11 World Trade Center Health Program, cut. Last week, The New York Times reported that Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium – an institution dedicated to treating brain cancer in children – will no longer receive federal funding. Is that what we’re for? Anybody discuss that? Did the President and his campaign that Mr. – that our Chairman spoke about say to the American people, ‘I’m going to cut research on pediatric cancer?’ Of course not. The American people don’t support that. Recently, the Supreme Court allowed Trump to maintain his freeze on some $2 billion in NIH grants. Just days ago, Trump purged the CDC Director after removing the agency’s entire Vaccine Advisory Committee earlier this summer. A contagion is burning through this Administration: utter delusion.

“I don’t like everything in this bill – as you find is no surprise – especially [that] it zeroes out funding for Full-Service Community Schools to the detriment of countless vulnerable children across the country, including tens of thousands in Maryland. Programs that have been supported over the last four decades by a bipartisan group of men and women who care about making sure that we educate our children. Bill Natcher, who chaired this committee many years ago, said, ‘If you take care of the health of your people and the education of your children, you’ll continue to live in the strongest and best nation on earth.’ I share that perspective. I think most of you share that perspective. This bill does not do that. While I am relieved, very frankly, [that] the bill doesn’t indulge some of the Trump Administration’s worst impulses, the American people deserve better than ‘better than expected.’ They deserve our best. They deserve our best thinking, collegially our best thinking.

“Trump and Vought have made it clear that they will bypass the Congress to accomplish their own political objectives and strengthen their own power. Mr. Chairman, you said we’re going to hit the ground running. There are only 28 days left until the appropriations process has failed. That’s not running. We didn’t have hearings until May. We had two informational sessions that were very helpful and I was interested in, but they were not hearings from people who were running programs or proposing how we should proceed. They were supporting things. Trump and Vought, and Vought in particular, would like to make this committee irrelevant. I speak about the Appropriations Committee, Vought has said he’d like to make it more partisan. I don’t know how it could be more partisan than 37-24. Every vote. 38-23. Who’s counting? (laughter) Some people think that’s funny.

“The legislation before us today means very little if Trump simply refuses to spend the funding we appropriated, as he just did with his pocket rescission of nearly $5 billion in congressionally approved foreign aid. My friend said ‘Amen’ to that. Maybe he thinks that was the right thing to do. If it is, then we ought to adjourn right now and not pretend that we’re making decisions that make a difference. Unless we assert our authority, the Administration will keep purging scientists, it will keep disrupt – I’m almost through – it will keep disrupting medical research, turning the Cancer Moonshot into a pipe dream, it will keep jeopardizing the health of the American people. I believe a day is going to come when Americans no longer have to live with fear of cancer, but they will not do so if we pursue these kinds of policies. I yield back the balance of the time [that] I don’t have. (laughter)”

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

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Brad Sherman (CA-32) signed the Epstein Files Transparency Act Discharge Petition, taking a bold step to force a vote in the House of Representatives to expose the full truth behind Jeffrey Epstein’s criminal network and the individuals involved.

The Trump Administration has repeatedly refused to release unclassified documents related to Epstein’s crimes — including names of co-conspirators, flight logs, DOJ communications, and information surrounding Epstein’s suspicious death. 

Congressman Sherman, a co-sponsor of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, is now using a rare procedural tool to bypass Speaker Mike Johnson to bring the bill directly to the House floor. When a majority of Members of the House of Representatives sign this petition, the House must begin debating the bill within several days, regardless of what Speaker Johnson and pro-Trump Republicans want.

“This isn’t about politics. It’s about transparency and justice,” said Congressman Sherman. “The American people have waited long enough. The DOJ can’t keep hiding behind excuses while shielding powerful individuals. If the government has nothing to hide, then it should have nothing to fear from the truth.”

The bipartisan Epstein Files Transparency Act — introduced by Reps. Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Ro Khanna (D-CA) — requires the Department of Justice to publicly release all unclassified materials related to Epstein’s crimes in a fully searchable and downloadable format. The bill makes clear: embarrassment or political fallout is no excuse for secrecy.

The legislation mandates the release of:

• Names of all individuals involved in Epstein’s sex trafficking ring
• Details on immunity deals and cover-ups
• Flight logs
• Internal DOJ communications
• All records surrounding Epstein’s death

Exemptions exist to protect victims’ identities and ensure ongoing investigations aren’t compromised—but the bill forbids withholding documents simply to avoid “reputational harm.”

“No one is above the law. And no one should be protected from accountability just because they’re rich or politically connected,” Sherman said. “This discharge petition is about ending the cover-up. Let’s shine a light.”

Congressman Sherman is urging colleagues from both parties to stand with the American people and demand transparency.

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

Pressley Continues to Call for Release of Full Epstein Files, Public Congressional Hearing to Center Survivors, Shed Light on their Stories

Video (YouTube)

WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), a member of the House Oversight Committee, held a media availability with Ranking Member Robert Garcia and Committee Democrats following a closed-door Oversight Committee roundtable with survivors of unconscionable exploitation and abuse perpetrated by Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, and their co-conspirators. The Congresswoman is continuing her push for healing and accountability, the release of the full Epstein files with survivors names redacted, and a full, transparent and public Congressional hearing that centers survivors that want to share testimony.

As a survivor of sexual abuse herself, Congresswoman Pressley has been a dedicated advocate for survivors’ justice and has led committee Democrats in calling for a full Congressional hearing to ensure survivors’ firsthand accounts are heard.

A full transcript of the Congresswoman’s remarks at the media availability is available below, and full video is available here.

Transcript: Pressley’s Remarks Following Closed-Door Meeting with Survivors of Epstein’s Abuse
September 2, 2025
Washington, DC

Thank you, Ranking Member Garcia. What we heard here today was harrowing, and it is proof of what has been an institutional, systemic betrayal for decades.

These women now who were preyed upon, groomed, exploited, violated from as young as 13 years old, their bodies violated, their minds manipulated, and their dreams denied. 

Aspiring artists, lawyers, actors, people who have big dreams, and those dreams have been dashed and denied because of the shame they carry, because of the trauma they carry. It is a lifetime sentence.

Jeffrey Epstein is dead, but his hurt and his harm is alive and well in the daily experiences of these survivors. 

Maxwell is incarcerated, but it is these survivors, these victims, who are still very much in jail, and they are deserving of transparency, of accountability and of healing. 

We are where we are today because of the leadership of Ranking Member Garcia and our Ranking Member of the Subcommittee for Law Enforcement Summer Lee in forcing that vote for a subpoena, because in order for us to hold powerful abusers to account who participated actively in a predator pedophile Ponzi scheme meant to feed on the daily perversions of a rich and powerful man and his enablers and those who were his co-conspirators. 

We want to center the victims and the survivors, not shield the powerful, the wealthy and the well-connected. 

So we forced a vote for a subpoena in a hearing that was on child trafficking to point out the hypocrisy. Then I led calls for a hearing in the Committee on Oversight, centering the victims, and my colleagues joined with me in that. 

We do believe that that did lead to pressure that resulted in today’s roundtable, where many of the victims said it was the first time that they had felt heard, on the heels of the many years of abuse that they experienced to be revictimized and traumatized by a government.

They had abusers that told them they were trash and because they’ve never gotten justice and been heard, it has contributed to the ways in which they have felt demoralized and invisible.

The role of this committee is to be in efficient and effective pursuit of the truth, and we will be until these survivors get the justice that they deserve. 

Again, we will not shield powerful abusers. They must be taken to account, and that cannot happen if we are not centering and prioritizing the voices of survivors.

…

Today’s roundtable, again it was necessary, it was long overdue, it was very powerful — and it is why I continue to call for a Congressional hearing, because their stories need to be a part of the Congressional Record, and the entire public needs to understand just how systemic and how far and wide and how deep this institutional betrayal goes.

So that Congressional hearing still needs to happen, and this discharge petition still needs to go to the floor. 

So this roundtable, you know, Oversight Dems forcing the vote for the subpoena to the DOJ, important step. Today’s roundtable, important step. A Congressional hearing centering the voices of Epstein’s survivors is essential. 

We cannot powerful abusers to account without centering those survivors and doing it on the Congressional Record to give that transparency to the public as well. 

And then, finally, this discharge petition does need to come to the floor so that we can get all of the files.

One of the things that was said over and over again today was that the investigation is not complete. The investigation is not even done, so we need all of this. 

…

I would ask my Republican colleagues to prove that they will break their legacy of treating trauma with more trauma and shielding from Jim Jordan to Matt Gaetz, to Donald Trump, and now to Jeffrey Epstein. 

They have a hell of a track record, they might want to try to break that up. 

In the words of Edmund Burke, the only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men and women to do nothing. 

Are we going to stand up and be good men and women so that evil does not triumph? 

And I’m going to close on the final thing which is the most important. For people that would wonder, how high are the stakes here? This is a matter of life and death, because Virginia  Giuffre took her life after decades of failure and there are victims that can no longer come forward because they are in a fetal position so broken by the weight of what they’ve been carrying, shame that they’ve been carrying when it is not their shame to carry. 

So Virginia Giuffre took her life because of the institutional, consecutive failures and betrayals of our government. So this is a matter of life and death. 

—

Rep. Pressley has led the demand for a hearing with survivors as the Committee has continued its investigation and after the Congresswoman successfully helped pass a motion by Ranking Member Robert Garcia and Congresswoman Summer Lee to force the Committee to subpoena the Epstein files.

In recent interviews, Rep. Pressley described why her work to subpoena the Epstein files is deeply personal to her.

Throughout her time in Congress, Rep. Pressley has been a champion for justice for survivors of sexual violence and reproductive freedom.

In July 2024, Rep. Pressley reintroduced the Bringing an End to Harassment by Enhancing Accountability and Rejecting Discrimination (BE HEARD) in the Workplace Act of 2024. In June 2024, Rep. Pressley renewed her calls for accountability and survivor-focused solutions following the damning reports of a toxic work environment at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).  In June 2024, Rep. Pressley also sent a letter to the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) requesting information about the botched closure of FCI Dublin, abuse of women while they were being transferred to other facilities, and BOP’s management of investigations into the staff sexual misconduct and abuse at FCI Dublin and other federal BOP facilities.

Rep. Pressley is also a lead co-sponsor of H.R. 5388, legislation that would prevent the Secretary of Education from rolling back Title IX protections for survivors, as well as H.Res. 560, a resolution calling for an impeachment inquiry into Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, following reporting on new allegations of sexual misconduct committed by the Associate Justice.

In April 2019, following the passage of the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2019, Rep. Pressley issued a statement honoring her mother, Sandra Pressley, a survivor of domestic violence. Rep. Pressley is also the lead co-sponsor of an amendment to the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) that would establish the first-ever grant program dedicated to supporting LGBTQ+ survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, which passed the House of Representatives in March 2021.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Earl L Buddy Carter (GA-01)

Headline: Carter Introduces Bill Extending Telehealth Access for Patients

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Reps. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA) and Debbie Dingell (D-MI) today introduced the Telehealth Modernization Act of 2025, a bill to extend telehealth flexibilities for seniors on Medicare through fiscal year 2027. 

“Telehealth is a vital part of our health care system, and we must ensure that it is available to patients who need it. By extending telehealth flexibilities for patients, we are making health care more accessible, regardless of their physical location. As a pharmacist, one of my top priorities has been increasing the accessibility and quality of health care; this bill does both, in a bipartisan manner, and paves the way for more patients and providers to use 21st century technology,” said Rep. Carter. 

“Telehealth services are an essential part of our healthcare system. It is a fact that having to physically travel to a doctor’s office or hospital can present a serious barrier to care for seniors, people with disabilities, and people who live in rural areas that are far from a health care provider. Telehealth worked during COVID and should be available and more widely adopted. The Telehealth Modernization Act takes us one step closer to protecting and expanding access to telehealth for Americans who depend on it,” said Rep. Dingell. 

A Senate companion bill is being led by Sens. Tim Scott (R-SC) and Brian Schatz (D-HI). 

“This comprehensive legislation advances many of ATA Action’s top priorities including an extension of Medicare telehealth flexibilities, the Acute Hospital Care at Home Program, the in-home cardiopulmonary rehabilitation flexibilities, temporary expansion of the Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program to allow virtual only suppliers to participate through 2030, and implementation of the SPEAK Act to improve telehealth delivery for individuals with limited English proficiency. It’s a strong step toward expanding access, improving care, and modernizing how services are delivered across the country. This signifies a pivotal moment for the industry — demonstrating that these policies work in concert and that telehealth plays an essential role across the full spectrum of the healthcare system,” said Kyle Zebley, Executive Director, ATA Action & Senior Vice President of Public Policy, ATA

Read the full bill text here. 

Read the section-by-section here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Don Bacon (2nd District of Nebraska)

Bacon Announces $7 Million Grant for Eppley Airfield’s International Expansion

Washington – Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02) announced today that Eppley Airfield has secured a $7.0 million FY24 Congressional Directed Spending (CDS) grant for its Federal Inspection Services Facility.

Throughout his Congressional career, Rep. Bacon has made improvements to Eppley Airfield one of his top priorities, helping secure more than $84.1 million through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and other funding sources. These investments expand flight capacity and inspection areas while streamlining the check-in and TSA processes for travelers, and increasing possible international flights.

“We are building essentially a new airport that will meet the travel needs of the growing metropolitan Omaha area and welcome international flights. This transformation will shape our region’s future for many decades to come and will be vital for Omaha’s economy,” said Rep. Bacon. “I’m pleased to work with the leaders at Eppley and Sen. Fischer in creating what will become the best airport in the Midwest.”

“Eppley Airport connects Nebraskans to the rest of our nation. With this important funding I helped secure alongside Rep. Bacon, Eppley Airport will connect our state with locations around the world, which will have a lasting positive impact on Nebraska for decades to come,” said Sen. Fischer.

“The addition of international flights at Eppley Airfield is one of the most exciting developments with the Build OMA Terminal Modernization Program,” said Dave Roth, Chief Executive Officer for the Omaha Airport Authority. “For the first time in Nebraska history, passengers from Omaha and throughout the State will have access to nonstop international air service opportunities. We are appreciative of the ongoing efforts of Senator Fischer and Congressman Bacon to enable this development with their support of air transportation and growth at Eppley Airfield.”

Rep. Bacon toured the ongoing construction at Eppley Airfield today to review progress on these critical improvements.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ron Estes (R-Kansas)

On the tragic shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church:

“Well, it’s really a sad story that you see another story where children are killed and injured.  There’s no place for that kind of violence in our schools or targeting elected officials or anyone … It’s sad that there’s that kind of anger and hatred that would drive these individuals to go commit those heinous acts of crime.”

On the loss of intern Eric Tarpinian-Jachym:

“Eric Tarpinian-Jachym was a 21-year-old. He was about to be a senior at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He was serving as an intern in our office, and he was a great young man. 

“It’s a sad state that in our nation’s capital, there have been over 100 people killed on the city streets this year. We should want to be proud of our capital. We should want to be able to have a showcase that we could have Americans come visit or we could have foreign dignitaries come and visit. Eric’s tragic death is one of those things that should never have happened. 

“As a parent, I want my children to have the opportunity to take advantage of some of these things. But, for him to come and lose his life because of that is a sad state. We need to make sure that we provide safe streets and we protect Americans across the country. 

“Of course, Washington, D.C.’s a federal district. It’s different than the cities in different states. President Trump’s really stepped up in terms of saying the federal government has responsibility to help maintain law and order in Washington, D.C. and helping make sure that that happens.”

On President Trump’s crime crackdown:

“…There’s a stark difference now. In the first 10 days or so that the enhanced law enforcement support from the National Guard happened, there weren’t any murders. Unfortunately, in the last couple of days there has been another one, just because of the crime in the streets. But, you know, that offsets the first seven months of the year. 

“There were over a hundred people killed on the streets in Washington, D.C., which is worse than other capitals around the world: Bogota and Lima and Madrid and even Chicago. It’s worse, six times worse, the rate of murders per 100,000 citizens, in New York City … Between the murder rate’s about 27.5 per 100,000 people and the car jackings and car thefts about 840 per 100,000 people. 

“We want to make sure that the streets are safe and the president’s been doing a good job. We’ve seen a marked decrease … Violent crime’s gone down 40% in the last couple of weeks, which is important for Americans to feel safe and foreign visitors to feel safe as well.”

On taking action after President Trump’s federal orders expire after 30 days:

“I think part of what we’ve seen is, by having the National Guard available to help patrol the streets, the police department in Washington can actually focus on solving some of the cases that have been a backlog for them … They really have not solved Eric’s death, and we want to make sure that they have the time to do that. 

“Ultimately, it also relies on some of the discussions around defunding the police … Going back several years ago, the Washington, D.C. local government, which had been granted some authority by Congress, they decided to cut the funding for their police,and it’s nowhere near recovered the same trajectory it would have been on, based on the growth rate and the inflation rate since that time. 

“I think that’s part of what needs to be addressed as well is making sure that the adequate funding is provided to help make sure that we have safe streets for our Americans, whether it’s in Washington, D.C. or Chicago or Nashville or Minneapolis or anywhere else.”

On what a potential comprehensive crime bill should look like:

“I think the primary overall goal in looking at that is we want to make sure we protect Americans. Protect them whether they’re in Washington, D.C., whether they’re in Wichita Kansas, whether they’re in New York or even in California, with some of the riots that have been there in terms of the protests against illegal immigration. 

“We want to make sure that Americans are protected. We want to make sure a crime bill actually focuses on the funding that’s being provided from the federal government is utilized to help support those law enforcement, help make sure that they do their role, that they can protect American citizens throughout their city or their state, wherever their area of responsibility is.”

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

September 02, 2025

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Representatives Joaquin Castro (D-TX) Young Kim (R-CA), Gregory Meeks (D-NY), Ed Case (D-HI), Aumua Amata Radewagen (R-AS), Johnny Olszewski (D-MD), Dusty Johnson (R-SD), Bill Foster (D-IL), and Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick’s (D-FL) Providing Appropriate Recognition and Treatment to Enhance Relations Act, or the PARTNER Act, which extends privileges and immunities under the International Organizations Immunities Act to a group of international organizations critical to U.S. leadership and foreign policy priorities, passed the House with bipartisan support.

“The PARTNER Act is a concrete step to strengthen U.S. leadership, deepen our alliances, and keep America at the center of global diplomacy and science,” said Congressman Castro (D-TX). “At a time when our competitors are working overtime to expand their influence in Asia, the Caribbean, the Pacific, and Africa, we cannot afford to sit back. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to pass this bill and get it on the President’s desk.”

“The Indo-Pacific is central to America’s national and economic security—when we show up for our allies in the region, we win,” said Congresswoman Kim (R-CA). “The PARTNER Act is a necessary reaffirmation of America’s engagement with allies and partner organizations around the world. I’m proud to work alongside Rep. Castro to strengthen key partnerships and promote a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific.”

“Extending privileges and immunities to these international organizations will help facilitate and deepen the United States’ engagement with them,” said Congressman Meeks (D-NY). “Our partnerships with ASEAN, PIF, CERN, CARICOM and the African Union’s mission to the UN have been vital to a range of U.S. national security interests and will be greatly strengthened through this common-sense legislation. I thank Ranking Member Castro for his tireless efforts advancing this bill, as well as all Members who’ve worked in a bipartisan way to move it forward.”

“Our country’s Indo-Pacific Strategy states in no uncertain terms that no region is of more consequence to the world and to everyday Americans than the Indo-Pacific,” said Congressman Case (D-HI). “The United States and our allies and partners around the world who are aligned with an international rules-based order share the common vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific whose governance, priorities, goals and prosperity are determined by the countries of the Indo-Pacific without manipulation and dominance by malicious actors. This is especially true of the Pacific Islands themselves, in the heart of the Pacific, which today face the challenges of increased natural disasters and human and drug trafficking, economic sustainability, threats to democracy and more. It is crucial that the United States continue to extend our hand of full partnership in assisting the countries of the Pacific to meet these challenges, as we have for generations.”

“I’m happy to cosponsor the bipartisan PARTNER Act, which extends important diplomatic privileges to Pacific Islands Forum nations and other key international relationships. This is another way for the U.S. to show commitment and diplomatic engagement with nations throughout the strategic Pacific region and the world,” said Congresswoman Radewagen (R-AS).

“The U.S. needs to collaborate globally to solve shared challenges, and the PARTNER Act will do just that—strengthening diplomacy and the institutions that build trust and cooperation among our allies and partners around the world,” said Congressman Olszewski (D-MD). “I am also proud that this legislation includes my bipartisan African Union Diplomatic Parity Act, which deepens our partnership with the African Union and promotes American leadership across the continent.”

“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 (D-IL). “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 the PARTNER Act, which will help solidify our long-term partnership with CERN and maintain our nation’s role as a leader in scientific research.”

“The countless contributions of the Caribbean-American community can be felt and seen across South Florida,” said Congresswoman Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL). “With the House passage of the PARTNER Act, we are strengthening our diplomatic engagement with CARICOM and laying the foundation for deeper economic, security, and cultural ties that will yield long-term, strategic benefits.”

The Partner Act will

• Extend privileges and immunities to officials of three important regional international organizations—Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Caribbean Community (CARICOM), and the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), allowing these organizations to work independently and effectively.
• Extend privileges and immunities to the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), an international organization that is engaged in cutting edge physics research.
• Extend privileges and immunities to the African Union’s Observer Mission to the United Nations, which addressed a gap in the current law that provides the African Union such privileges and immunities but not its Observer Mission to the United Nations.
• Demonstrate the United States’ commitment to our partnerships and multilateral cooperation that advance our interests and values.

Similar legislation was introduced by Senators Risch, Duckworth, Ricketts, Cortez Masto, and Ernst to extend diplomatic privileges and immunities to ASEAN, CERN, and PIF earlier this year.

View the full text of the PARTNER Act here.

Congressman Castro speaks on the House floor in support of the PARTNER Act

Congressman Castro’s Remarks (as delivered):

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the PARTNER Act.

This is a bipartisan bill—supported by colleagues on both sides of the aisle—that strengthens American diplomacy, science, and leadership in the world.

The PARTNER Act does something very simple but very important: it extends basic legal protections, known as “privileges and immunities,” to several key international organizations that the United States works closely with, but that until now have lacked the same recognition that we give to other multilateral institutions.

Let me explain why this is very important.

These legal protections are not special favors. They are the standard tools that allow international organizations to do their work effectively and independently. They protect institutions from lawsuits, taxation, or other interference that could disrupt their missions—while still ensuring that individuals remain accountable for their private actions.

And they are reciprocal. Just as American diplomats and officials enjoy these protections when we serve in international organizations abroad, we extend them to our partners here in the United States. It’s the basic infrastructure of diplomacy.

Why is this bill important right now?

First, our strategic interests in the Indo-Pacific. ASEAN—the Association of Southeast Asian Nations—is central to U.S. engagement in Asia.

Recognizing its diplomatic status here in the United States shows our commitment to the region’s future and to working with our Asian partners on equal footing.

Second, the Western Hemisphere, of which we are part, obviously is incredibly important to the United States.

CARICOM—the Caribbean Community—plays a crucial role in democratic governance, regional security, and disaster preparedness.

Extending privileges and immunities supports CARICOM as a unified voice for the Caribbean and strengthens U.S. ties to a region where our influence should be felt through real, consistent engagement.

Third, science and technology leadership.

CERN, which is the European Organization for Nuclear Research, is one of the world’s premier scientific institutions. It is partnering with U.S. researchers on the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment, a $3 billion project based right here in the United States.

This is some of the most important and cutting-edge physics research in the world that will, hopefully, allow us to better understand the universe.

By extending privileges and immunities, we can speed up the timeline for this groundbreaking work, control costs, and ensure that American scientists remain at the forefront of discovery.

Fourth, our Pacific and African partners. This bill authorizes the President to extend protections to the Pacific Islands Forum—a vital regional body in the South Pacific where small island nations are on the front lines of climate change and facing significant diplomatic overtures by China.

And the bill fixes a gap in U.S. law by ensuring the African Union’s Observer Mission to the United Nations in New York receives the same recognition as the AU itself.

Taken together, these provisions make clear that the United States values our partnerships and will invest in multilateral cooperation that advances our interests and our values.

Mr. Speaker, Congress has extended privileges and immunities before—to the European Union, to the African Union, and of course to the United Nations and the Organization of American States.

This bill simply applies the same standard to other organizations that the United States works with every single day.

At a time when our competitors are working overtime to expand their influence in Asia, the Caribbean, the Pacific, and Africa, we cannot afford to sit back.

The PARTNER Act is a concrete step to strengthen U.S. leadership, deepen our alliances, and keep America at the center of global diplomacy and science.

I want to thank all of my colleagues—Democrat and Republican—for their leadership and for their work on this bill.

This bill has broad bipartisan support. It’s good for American diplomacy, good for American science, and good for American leadership in the world.

I urge all of my colleagues to vote yes on the PARTNER Act, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Grace Meng (6th District of New York)

WASHINGTON, D.C. –  U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY), a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on National Security, Department of State and Related Programs, and Rep. Young Kim (R-CA), along with U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI) announced today that they wrote a bipartisan letter to President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio urging the administration to prioritize the reunification of Korean American families with their relatives in North Korea. The letter was sent ahead of South Korean President Lee’s upcoming visit to the White House on August 25.

Approximately 100,000 Korean Americans have been separated from their relatives in North Korea since the Korean War. Since 2000, South Korea and North Korea have held over 20 family reunions; however, there has not been an official channel for Korean Americans to be included.

In their letter, Meng, Kim, and Hirono wrote, “Across the United States, tens of thousands of members of the Korean American community are seeking to reunify with their loved ones who were separated from family as a result of the Korean War. These divided families have relatives living on both sides of the 38th parallel, marking the divide between North and South Korea. Seven decades after the armistice, the lack of reunification opportunities—or even information about the whereabouts of family members—remains a source of deep pain for many.”

Meng originally introduced her Divided Families Reunification Act in 2019. It passed the House several times and was signed into law in 2022 as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) thanks to bipartisan support from Rep. Young Kim and a companion bill in the Senate led by Senator Hirono.

The legislation required the U.S. Secretary of State, or a designee of the Secretary, to consult with South Korean officials on potential family reunion opportunities for American families and their relatives in North Korea. It also required the U.S. Special Envoy on North Korean Human Rights Issues to consult biannually with representatives of Americans who have family members in North Korea about its efforts to support family reunions, and to inform Congress of opportunities to utilize video conference technology to encourage virtual reunions.

The Members continued, “Seven decades after the armistice, time is running out. We urge you to include divided families in the conversations with South Korea as it is an issue of great importance to Korean Americans across the nation.”

The letter is supported by the Korean American Grassroots Conference and the Council of Korean Americans.

A copy can be viewed here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Grace Meng (6th District of New York)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY), a member of the Congressional Food Safety Caucus, announced today the introduction of her Ban Harmful Food Dyes Act. This legislation would amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to ban harmful dyes and petroleum-based additives that have no place in our food.

The bill was introduced following action by at least 21 states seeking to address food dyes and chemicals of concern, and the announcement of a voluntary measure earlier this year by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to phase out petroleum-based synthetic food dyes from the nation’s food supply. However, the Administration’s voluntary initiative fails to enforce the phaseout and fails to ban other harmful food additives, such as Titanium Dioxide. Titanium Dioxide has been scientifically demonstrated to be harmful to human health. The Ban Harmful Food Dyes Act continues that momentum and also includes a statutory ban on Red Dye 3, which was previously banned through regulation, but not through law. 

The full list of dyes that would be banned under Meng’s bill include:

• Red No. 40
• Red No. 3
• Yellow No. 5
• Yellow No. 6
• Blue No. 1
• Blue No. 2
• Green No. 3
• Orange B
• Citrus Red 2
• Titanium Dioxide
• Any additive that is substantially similar to those above

“Food additives with links to cancer and negative impacts on children’s health and development, including synthetic, petroleum-based dyes, do not belong in our food,” said Congresswoman Meng. “If the science says they aren’t safe, our government shouldn’t be allowing companies to use them in the first place. While efforts have been made by current and previous administrations to eliminate these chemicals from our food, there is no law banning their use. My Ban Harmful Food Dyes Act will do just that. Food safety should be a bipartisan issue, and I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to deliver this commonsense bill to the President’s desk.”

Last year, Meng joined an effort alongside 22 lawmakers to successfully push the FDA to issue a regulation banning Red 3, which has been scientifically shown to cause cancer in animals. Titanium Dioxide, often used as a whitening agent, has been fully banned as a food additive in the European Union since 2022 due to concerns it can damage DNA or chromosomes, yet it continues to be used in foods sold across the United States.

Meng’s legislation is supported by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) and Consumer Reports. Now introduced in the House, the bill must be approved by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce before it can be brought to the floor for a vote.

Meng has long supported efforts to remove harmful dyes and additives from the food families eat every day. Meng is also an original sponsor of The Food Chemical Reassessment Act of 2025, which would require the Federal Government conduct regular studies on chemical additives in food to verify their safety.  She is also a cosponsor of the Do or Dye Act, which also aims to ban a range of harmful food dyes.

A copy of the bill can be viewed here.