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

QUEENS, NY – With the 2026 tax filing season now underway, U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Queens) announced today that she has arranged for free tax preparation and filing services at her Forest Hills district office. 

The Congresswoman, in collaboration with Urban Upbound and New York City Council Member Lynn Schulman, will provide free, high-quality tax preparation services every Tuesday through April 14. Appointments are available in one-hour increments and will be conducted by Urban Upbound’s certified tax preparers. Constituents can schedule an in-person appointment at uutaxbooking.org or by calling (718) 784-0877. 

Rep. Meng’s Forest Hills district office is located at 118-35 Queens Blvd, Suite 900, Forest Hills, N.Y. 11375. Tax preparation services at this location are available in English, Chinese, Spanish, Indonesian and Tagalog. The Congresswoman’s office can also arrange for tax preparation in other languages at nearby sites. 

This collaboration is made possible by Urban Upbound’s participation in the New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection’s (DCWP) NYC Free Tax Prep Program, which ensures that eligible New Yorkers can have their taxes expertly prepared and filed, for free. Urban Upbound has partnered with DCWP for 20 years to help working families take advantage of tax credits, avoid junk fees and predatory filing services, and ultimately, maximize their tax refund. 

“I’m excited to provide these important services and I encourage constituents in need of assistance to take advantage of this no-cost tax preparation and filing service,” said Congresswoman Grace Meng. “I look forward to this valuable resource benefiting many throughout my congressional district and helping families keep as much money as possible in their pockets. Thank you to DCWP and Urban Upbound for making these services available to my constituents.”

“For too many families, tax season can feel overwhelming and expensive—but it doesn’t have to be,” said Council Member Lynn Schulman. “I’m proud to partner with Congresswoman Meng and Urban Upbound to bring free, IRS-certified tax preparation services directly to our district. This initiative helps working families claim the credits and refunds they’ve earned, avoid predatory fees, and keep more of their hard-earned money where it belongs—in their own pockets.” 

“For 20 years, Urban Upbound has partnered with DCWP to ensure working families can have their taxes filed by IRS-certified preparers, completely free of charge,” said Bishop Mitchell G. Taylor, co-founder and CEO of Urban Upbound. “By opening their district office to us, Congresswoman Meng and Council Member Schulman have made it easier for central Queens residents to access this cost-saving service. We are grateful for their collaboration.” 

In the most recent tax season, Urban Upbound prepared and filed more than 21,000 tax returns for New Yorkers–returning over 28 million dollars in refunds and achieving a 98.2 percent accuracy rate– making it the #1 free tax preparation provider in New York State and #3 in the country. 

Urban Upbound can prepare and file taxes for households generally earning $97,000 or less annually. The deadline to file federal and New York State tax returns for tax year 2025, and to submit any tax payments that are due, is April 15, 2026. 

Urban Upbound is a New York City-based nonprofit organization dedicated to helping New Yorkers achieve economic prosperity and self-sufficiency. The organization operates a large-scale free tax preparation program from over 50 locations across NYC and online via its virtual platform: uutax.org.  

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Marc Veasey (33rd District of Texas)

Headline: Congressman Veasey Announces Guest for State of the Union Address

Today, Congressman Marc Veasey (TX-33) announced that Rabbi David Stern, Senior Rabbi of Temple Emanu-El in Dallas, Texas — the largest synagogue in the South and Southwest — will join him as his guest at the State of the Union Address on Tuesday.

For nearly four decades, Rabbi Stern has helped guide one of North Texas’ most historic congregations with a focus on faith, education, and social justice. Most recently, he has highlighted the human rights injustices currently being perpetrated in our communities through immigration practices by the Trump administration.

“I am proud to announce that Rabbi Stern will be attending next week’s State of the Union Address as my guest,” said Congressman Veasey. “Rabbi Stern’s steadfast leadership and dedication to service, both within the Jewish community and across North Texas, exemplify the very best of our district. His commitment to promoting unity, combating hate, and building bridges between communities is most needed right now as we see human rights atrocities toward immigrants; that bear a strong resemblance to those carried out by Hitler towards Jews, across our nation. 

Rabbi Stern’s leadership extends beyond the synagogue pulpit. In January of 2026, he delivered a sermon titled “What Has Become of Us?” in which he reflected on America’s moral responsibilities, including how we welcome and treat immigrants. Drawing on Jewish teachings about welcoming the stranger and honoring human dignity, Rabbi Stern called on communities to extend compassion and respect to all who seek opportunity. His words emphasized that it is our moral obligation as a nation to uphold the dignity of every individual who comes to our country in search of the American dream. “In a place and a time where nobody is acting like a mensch, try to be a mensch.  In a place and a time when people are either worn down into passivity or just plain asleep, stay awake. In a place and a time where inhumanity sometimes reigns, strive to be the glory that God created you to be: a human being.”

Through partnerships with local leaders, educators, and community organizations, Rabbi has worked to ensure that DFW remains a place where diversity is celebrated and every family is welcome.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Chris Pappas (D-NH)

Pappas urges appropriations committee leaders to include language in any DHS funding to protect the ability of states and localities to make decisions about what is best for their communities

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Norma Torres (35th District of California)

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

“We need to hear the president talk about how he’s going to work with Democrats to bring grocery, utility and housing costs down,” said Wasserman Schultz. “We should be working together. But every day I put battle armor on to take on the Republicans in Congress, who only are fighting to make the rich, richer.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (25th District of FLORIDA)

Everglades City, FL – Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart (FL-26), Vice Chair of the House Appropriations Committee and Dean of the Florida Congressional Delegation, presented a $7.2 million check to the Everglades City to the Everglades City Community Center during the Everglades City Seafood Festival that took place on February 14, 2026. 

This funding will be used for the construction of a new community center, which will serve residents in Everglades City and the eastern unincorporated Collier County communities of Chokoloskee Island, Copeland, Jerome, Lee, Cypress, Ochopee, and Plantation Island.

“Since Hurricanes Irma and Ian devasted Southwest Florida, I have worked relentlessly to help our communities rebuild stronger and more resilient. I was proud to join residents at the Everglades Seafood Festival to announce this critical funding to build a new community center that will give families a safe place to gather and provide students with after-school programs and expanded learning opportunities. I am grateful to Mayor Howie Grimm and City Clerk Dottie Joiner for their strong partnership and leadership in helping deliver these results for Everglades City,” said Congressman Díaz-Balart.

Background

This $7,200,000 project received funding through Senate Amendment to H.R. 7148, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 and was signed into law by President Donald Trump on February 3, 2026.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (25th District of FLORIDA)

Hialeah Gardens, FL – Last week, Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart (FL-26), Vice Chair of the House Appropriations Committee and Dean of the Florida Congressional Delegation, presented a $2 million check to the City of Hialeah Gardens Police Department to support critical vehicle upgrades. This funding will replace aging patrol cars, reduce maintenance downtime, and put 30 new vehicles on the streets to improve public safety response.

“Every day is special in Hialeah Gardens, but last Thursday was especially meaningful–I’m honored to have been named an honorary Hialeah Gardens police officer, and to have February 19^th designated as ‘Mario Diaz-Balart Day.’ 

As a staunch supporter of our law enforcement, I’m proud to have delivered $2 million in federal funding to help the Police Department purchase 30 marked patrol vehicles that will strengthen public safety response and support the officers who serve this community every day.

I am also grateful for the outstanding local leadership I’m fortunate to work with, including Mayor Yioset de la Cruz, Police Captains Freddy Cáceres and Michael López, Chief Luis Díaz, and Deputy Chief Manuel Zardón. Their partnership is essential to keeping Hialeah Gardens safe,” said Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart.

Background

This project received funding through the H.R. 6938, the Commerce, Justice, Science; Energy and Water Development; and Interior and Environment Appropriations Act, 2026, which was approved by Congress and signed by President Donald Trump on January 23, 2026.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Haley Stevens (MI-11)

Baldwin, Mich. — Today, following Tuesday’s oversight visit to the North Lake Processing Center in Baldwin, Michigan, Congresswomen Haley Stevens (D-Birmingham) and Hillary Scholten (D-Grand Rapids) issued new demands for accountability to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director Todd Lyons based on what they saw and heard during their visit.

The letter once again reiterates the Members’ unanswered questions from their December 2025 letter regarding the death of detainee Nenko Gantchev while in ICE custody, for which they never received a response, and poses new questions regarding conditions at the facility and policies surrounding the use of solitary confinement.

In their letter, Stevens and Scholten describe what they saw and heard firsthand:

1. Detainees live in a constant state of fear inside the facility;

2. Many detainees do not have a clear understanding about the reasons for their detention, their due process rights, or what will happen to them next;

3. Detainees are being held at the facility for varying, unpredictable ranges of time, including six months or more;

4. Detainees fear retribution for speaking out about conditions at the facility;

5. Detainees and visitors are routinely denied privacy and must conduct all conversations under the supervision of facility staff;

6. Detainees reported being held in solitary confinement for unclear reasons, facing severe conditions, including extreme temperatures; and

7. Facility leadership lied about the status of a detainee who was in solitary confinement and not at the medical center. 

“During our visit to the facility, we were told that over 100 detainees signed up to speak with us about their experiences inside the facility,” wrote Reps. Stevens and Scholten. “We were allowed to see fewer than 10 before our visit was cut short, including a pregnant woman and a man who was too afraid to provide details about facility conditions while ICE staff were listening in. When we requested to speak to the detainees without ICE supervision in the room, we were denied.”

Regarding future Congressional oversight visits to ICE facilities nationwide, the Members made the following demands:

1. Members of Congress must be granted access to the North Lake Processing Center and other similar detention centers without prior notice to execute our Constitutional oversight duties on behalf of our constituents. 

2. Members of Congress must be allowed to speak with detainees at the North Lake Processing Center and other similar detention centers without supervision from facility or DHS staff. Detainees must not face any form of retaliation for speaking to Members of Congress.

The full letter is available here.

 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (9th District of Illinois)

EVANSTON – Today, U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (IL-09) released the following statement on her decision to skip Tuesday’s State of the Union Address:

“I cannot, in good conscience, sit in that House chamber on Tuesday night and pretend everything is normal while families across my district are living in constant fear of this administration and fighting every day just to keep food on the table and a roof over their heads.

“I have heard the worry and frustration in my constituents’ voices. My office has been flooded with calls asking me to skip this speech and take a stand. Families are terrified by the cruel and abusive tactics of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Seniors are scared for their Social Security and Medicare. Parents worry about their children’s future. Working people are getting squeezed while billionaires rake in more wealth. This is not normal, and it cannot be ignored.

“I stand with the people who sent me to Congress. I will keep fighting for dignity, justice, and opportunity for every family. And I will not legitimize an agenda that causes so much harm.”

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

Headline: Moolenaar Announces Guest to State of the Union Address

Today, Congressman John Moolenaar announced his guest to President Donald Trump’s State of the Union Address: Jeffrey Smith, MD, FACS, of Gratiot County. Doctor Smith is board certified by the American Board of Surgery, practicing since 1994. Doctor Smith is the president and founder of Great Lakes Surgical Associates and serves communities in Gratiot, Isabella, and Clare counties. 

“Doctor Smith serves rural Michigan residents every day and understands the challenges facing rural healthcare providers. Last year, President Trump signed into law the Rural Health Transformation Program through the One Big Beautiful Bill. This landmark program is aimed to improve health outcomes for rural residents, increase access to vital care, as well as attract and retain high-quality medical professionals like Doctor Smith to rural Michigan. I am grateful Doctor Smith has accepted my invitation to join me for President Trump’s State of the Union Address to hear firsthand the work we are doing to get our nation back on track,” said Moolenaar. 

“Michigan is fortunate to have Congressman Moolenaar working for us in Washington,” said Dr. Smith.  “Congressman Moolenaar is fighting in Congress to improve the lives and health of Michiganders. Policies he and President Trump support like the Rural Health Transformation Program will benefit my patients and improve access to life-saving care for rural residents seen at medical offices in places like Alma and Clare. It is an honor to join Congressman Moolenaar this week to hear from President Trump about his accomplishments in his first year in office and his America First agenda.” 

Doctor Smith is also the Chairman of the Board and founder of Footprints Missions, a non-profit organization which provides medical assistance for impoverished families and operates an orphanage in Sierra Leone.  

President Trump will give his State of the Union Address to Congress tomorrow night, February 24 in the House of Representatives beginning at 9:00 PM.