MIL USHOR-2b Engine

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 regarding her communications director, Alex Moore, appearing as a contestant on the upcoming season of the CBS reality show Survivor:

“Apparently, surviving the Republican majority in Congress was not a strong enough test for Alex! I could not be prouder of him for being cast on the upcoming season of Survivor, a truly once-in-a-lifetime adventure.

“I remember well the first time I met Alex. It was seven years ago at a local community event, and he was a young summer intern at the time. Alex was dressed in a full suit and had a huge smile on his face. He looked so professional; I almost mistook him for a fellow government official! Since that summer day back in 2018, Alex has blossomed into one of my most trusted senior advisors. I am confident that he brought the same heart, hustle, and strategy to the island that he brings to our office every day.

“Just remember, Alex, no matter what happened out there, Team Schakowsky has our popcorn ready and will be rooting for you all season long!”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO-02)

Ballwin, MO –  Congresswoman Ann Wagner (MO-02) released the following statement after the announcement that Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey has been selected by President Donald Trump to be Co-Deputy Director at the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation:

“President Trump’s outstanding selection of Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey today will strengthen law and order at the Federal Bureau of Investigation and provide much needed support to Director Kash Patel to further advance a return to law and order across the nation.  Andrew did an outstanding job leading the Attorney General’s office in Missouri, and I am confident he will bring that same passion and dedication to Washington, D.C.  As Co-Deputy Director, Andrew will help Kash Patel keep America safe and secure from all threats, while also advancing President Trump’s national security agenda.  Ray and I thank Andrew and his family for his service to our state, and wish him luck in this next chapter.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO-02)

Ballwin, MO –   Congresswoman Ann Wagner (MO-02) released the following statement after the announcement that Governor Mike Kehoe will appoint Catherine Hanaway to fill the vacancy of Missouri Attorney General.

“There is nobody more qualified to serve as Missouri’s next Attorney General than Catherine Hanaway.  From her service as United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri, to becoming the first female Speaker of the House in Missouri’s history, to heading one of the nation’s pre-eminent law firms, Catherine has the experience, temperament and management skills to lead Missouri’s law enforcement office as Attorney General. Having worked closely with Catherine for decades, I am proud to call her a close friend and someone who will always do what is right for Missouri, for the people she will represent, and to the Constitution she has sworn to uphold and protect.  I especially thank Governor Kehoe for making such a great selection, and commend Catherine and her husband Chris for stepping up to serve our great State.  Ray and I wish Catherine the best of luck in her new role.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Suzanne Bonamici (1st District Oregon)

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and U.S. Representative Janelle Bynum (OR-05) led their Oregon delegation colleagues—Senator Ron Wyden and Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Val Hoyle (OR-04), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), and Maxine Dexter (OR-03)—in demanding the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) follow the law and immediately reverse its termination of an $86.6 million federal award to Oregon under the Solar for All Program. 

“We are appalled and outraged at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) blatant and unlawful termination of $7 billion in federal funding for the 60 organizations that received awards through the Solar for All program. Solar for All funding has been approved by Congress and signed into law, and cancelling or rescinding these obligated funds is a violation of the law and the Constitution,” the Oregon delegation wrote to EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought. “Solar for All is fundamental to the EPA’s core mission of safeguarding human health and the environment, and your actions to illegally rescind these funds will result in even higher energy costs and a less reliable energy grid for families and Tribal communities.”

The $86.6 million grant went to the Oregon Department of Energy (ODOE) to deploy a statewide Solar for All Program in partnership with Bonneville Environmental Foundation and the Energy Trust of Oregon. The funds—which were awarded under the historic Inflation Reduction Act and fully obligated—are intended to help create Oregon’s only statewide residential solar incentive program, but without them, working families across the state will struggle to harness the power of clean solar energy.

The lawmakers emphasized, “If fully funded and implemented, Oregon’s Solar for All program would serve over 8,000 low-income Oregon households, helping families install solar panels on their homes with little or no up-front costs. Until you terminated these funds, the state was on track to launch its Solar for All program and start offering incentives by the end of this year. Your recent actions have jeopardized these crucial services and stripped thousands of Oregonians of access to this cost-effective program.”

As Ranking Member of the Senate Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee and a senior member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, Merkley has led the charge to hold the EPA accountable for its disastrous funding freezes that have previously targeted the Solar for All program. He continues to use his position as the top Democrat on the subcommittee that oversees funding for the EPA to ensure the agency follows the law and has the necessary resources to carry out its mission of protecting human health and the environment.

“The EPA’s termination of the Solar for All program is a blatant failure of its duty to uphold enacted spending laws and ensure Americans have access to reliable and affordable electricity. Congress has yet to receive satisfactory responses and justifications for many of your unlawful and illogical actions. This is unacceptable and the agency must comply with the law and fulfill its responsibility to protect the livelihoods of all Americans and the environments where they live,” the delegation directed.

Full text of the letter can be found by clicking here and follows below:

Mr. Zeldin and Mr. Vought:

We are appalled and outraged at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) blatant and unlawful termination of $7 billion in federal funding for the 60 organizations that received awards through the Solar for All program. Solar for All funding has been approved by Congress and signed into law, and cancelling or rescinding these obligated funds is a violation of the law and the Constitution. Solar for All funds help families across the nation access reliable energy at an affordable price. Solar energy is one of the cheapest and most reliable forms of energy, and solar deployment is critical to meeting the nation’s rapid growth in energy demand. Solar for All is fundamental to the EPA’s core mission of safeguarding human health and the environment, and your actions to illegally rescind these funds will result in even higher energy costs and a less reliable energy grid for families and Tribal communities.

In 2024, the State of Oregon received an $86.6 million award from the EPA to develop a statewide Solar for All program. These funds, awarded under the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, are fully obligated. Since January 2025, the Oregon Department of Energy (ODOE) has worked diligently in partnership with Bonneville Environmental Foundation and the Energy Trust of Oregon to design a cost-effective program with a focus on efficient procurement and project planning while also building strong partnerships with local community-based organizations across the state.

If fully funded and implemented, Oregon’s Solar for All program would serve over 8,000 low-income Oregon households, helping families install solar panels on their homes with little or no up-front costs. Until you terminated these funds, the state was on track to launch its Solar for All program and start offering incentives by the end of this year. Your recent actions have jeopardized these crucial services and stripped thousands of Oregonians of access to this cost-effective program.

If allowed to spend the federal funds it was legally awarded, the State of Oregon has plans to establish a program that would support solar panel installation on multi-family buildings and the development of community solar projects, while also investing in workforce development activities to ensure a robust and efficient solar industry in Oregon. This program would be the only statewide residential solar incentive program and without it, residential solar will not be a cost-effective option for low-income Oregonians. Now that the EPA has terminated federal Solar for All funds, thousands of low-income Oregonians will suffer from higher utility costs and less resilient energy sources.

The Solar for All program is crucial to meeting future energy needs in the Pacific Northwest while lowering household costs for working-class families. In Oregon, customers have suffered from exponentially increasing energy bills, with some utilities raising prices on residential households by 50% since 2020. Nationwide, the Solar for All program is on track to help more than 900,000 people install solar and reduce their electricity bills by at least 20 percent. The Solar for All program is designed to shield middle- and low-income families from these extreme price increases that place additional financial strain on households that are already struggling to pay their bills.

The EPA’s termination of the Solar for All program is a blatant failure of its duty to uphold enacted spending laws and ensure Americans have access to reliable and affordable electricity. Congress has yet to receive satisfactory responses and justifications for many of your unlawful and illogical actions. This is unacceptable and the agency must comply with the law and fulfill its responsibility to protect the livelihoods of all Americans and the environments where they live.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Brendan Boyle (13th District of Pennsylvania)

PHILADELPHIA, PA – Congressman Brendan F. Boyle (PA-02) joined the Urban League of Greater Philadelphia yesterday to spotlight $750,000 in federal funding he secured for the organization to develop a new permanent satellite office serving North Philadelphia.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Brendan Boyle (13th District of Pennsylvania)

PHILADELPHIA, PA – This morning, Congressman Brendan F. Boyle (PA-02) held a virtual press briefing to sound the alarm about how the SEPTA funding impasse could cost southeastern Pennsylvania tens of millions in Amtrak funding and damage Amtrak’s ability to contribute to Philadelphia’s economy.

“Tens of thousands of my constituents rely on SEPTA to get to school, go to work, and to live their lives,” said Congressman Boyle. “But the SEPTA funding crisis doesn’t just impact SEPTA – it will severely impact Amtrak’s operations in our area. Tens of millions of dollars in funding for Amtrak is at stake, and if this funding is disrupted it will risk potential service cuts and threaten Amtrak’s ability to maintain basic rail infrastructure.”

Background:

• In FY25, SEPTA contributed $71.1 million to Amtrak to cover the operation of SEPTA service across the Amtrak system.
  • SEPTA contributed $42.3 million for capital projects and infrastructure work, such as tracks and signals in FY25.
  • SEPTA contributed $28.8 million in operating expenses, such as policing and station operations in FY25.
• Amtrak calculates that if SEPTA is forced to cut service, Amtrak will face almost $50 million in lost revenue.
  • Amtrak would be responsible for $30.7 million in total additional capital renewal spending due to missing SEPTA payments.
  • Amtrak would receive $18.9 million less in operating reimbursements from SEPTA if SEPTA is forced to slash service.
• As the primary owner and operator of rail infrastructure along the Northeast Corridor (NEC) and throughout Pennsylvania, Amtrak receives payments from users of its track, including commuter services such as SEPTA, to cover both the operations and capital investments along the corridor.
   

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Alma Adams (12th District of North Carolina)

WASHINGTON, DC— Today, Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (NC-12) released a statement on Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem not signing off on more than $100 million in funds already approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for Hurricane Helene recovery efforts in Western North Carolina.

“Over the last year, the people of Western North Carolina have displayed incredible bravery and resiliency as they recover from Hurricane Helene, but they still aren’t getting the federal support they deserve,” said Congresswoman Adams. “Sec. Noem continues to withhold more than $100 million in critical funding already approved by FEMA, hurting the ability for these communities to serve their residents. My colleagues and I in the North Carolina Congressional Delegation fought hard to secure relief funding for Western North Carolina because we know this isn’t a partisan issue. It is unacceptable that the administration keeps delaying the money our constituents are owed.”

“As North Carolina is currently under a state of emergency and faces another dangerous hurricane season, North Carolinians are anxiously wondering if they’ll be met with the same delays in support Western North Carolina is still experiencing,” Adams continued. “Hurricane Erin promises to bring strong winds and heavy rains to North Carolina, and our coastal communities are unsure they’ll receive the relief they need this year. I am calling on the DHS to release all FEMA funds for Western North Carolina and put a plan in place to ensure we can finally bring an end to these catastrophic delays.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif)

Washington, DC – United States Representative Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) sent a letter to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Joseph B. Edlow expressing concern about parole policy changes, processing backlogs, and staffing reductions that have created uncertainty for constituents navigating the immigration system. In his letter, Rep. Panetta highlighted the consequences of the Trump Administration’s elimination of categorical parole programs and the impact on families and individuals in California’s 19th Congressional District.

Parole has been utilized for decades to allow people entry to the United States under extraordinary circumstances, including during war and international crises.  The current Administration reversed policies that had previously been used to admit vulnerable groups like Afghan allies persecuted by the Taliban, Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion of their country, and nationals of Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela.  USCIS reports that parole applications at the California Service Center now take up to 12 and a half months to process.  Meanwhile, USCIS has eliminated nearly 50 positions from its workforce.

“The Administration has instigated considerable changes to the parole program, including the end of categorical parole designations, significantly increased case backlogs, and concerns about staffing levels,” wrote Rep. Panetta.  “As a member of Congress, one of my proudest and most solemn roles is performing casework for my constituents, advocating on their behalf as they navigate the federal bureaucracy.  Addressing these concerns will help my constituents, help my office to better serve them, and improve the transparency and integrity of the immigration system.”

As part of legislative oversight, Rep. Panetta demanded prompt responses from the Administration on the criteria it is using to evaluate parole cases, its staffing plans, and the steps USCIS is taking to address delays in parole processing for constituents of California’s 19^th Congressional District.

The full letter to Director Edlow can be found here and below.

Dear Director Edlow:

I write to raise concerns and request clarity about new parole policies and their impact on my constituents.  The Administration has instigated considerable changes to the parole program, including the end of categorical parole designations, significantly increased case backlogs, and concerns about staffing levels.  This has led to uncertainty for my constituents as they seek to navigate the parole system, and complicated the casework process for my office.  I respectfully request that you outline the criteria and process for parole requests following the end of categorical programs, what USCIS has done to increase staffing levels, and how you plan to address backlogs and processing delays for parole and other applications.

Section 212(d)(5)(A) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) grants the executive authority to temporarily parole noncitizens into the United States.  While this is not an immigration process, and includes no direct statutory route to citizenship, parole has been utilized for decades to allow people entry to the United States under extraordinary circumstances, including during war and international crises.  The previous administration significantly increased the use of parole, in many cases as a means to swiftly admit large numbers of nonimmigrants from vulnerable groups like Afghan allies persecuted by the Taliban, Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion of their country, and nationals of Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela.  The Trump Administration has rejected such “categorical” parole, but individual constituents in my district continue to face the realities of family isolated abroad and challenges updating their own lawful statuses. 

These challenges are compounded by long application processing times at USCIS and reports of varying reductions and increases in USCIS staff.  By its own metrics USCIS reports that most I-131 parole applications at the California Service center have a processing time of up to 12 and a half months.  In February, USCIS dismissed almost 50 probationary employees amid a backdrop of sweeping and often indiscriminate DOGE reductions in force. While many of these factors are understandably in flux, taken together they raise significant and legitimate concerns for my constituents, many of whom have spent years working to secure safe passage for loved ones, or to normalize their status in the United States.

As a member of Congress, one of my proudest and most solemn roles is performing casework for my constituents, advocating on their behalf as they navigate the federal bureaucracy.  As a result, my office has a direct role in this process.  I therefore respectfully request you address the following questions in order to address my constituents’ legitimate concerns and help my office better serve them:

1. What criteria is USCIS prioritizing in parole cases?  Are people from national origins that had categorical protections under the previous administration being considered on a case by case basis?      Are the factors that were considered under the previous administration, such as instability in an applicant’s country of origin, connections in the United States, and previous service to the United States, as is the case for Afghan allies, still being considered in parole applications?
2. How much have wait times increased for California and other processing centers in 2025?      What is USCIS’s plan to address processing backlogs and wait times?
3. What does USCIS consider sufficient staffing levels to address application backlogs and constituent inquiries?  How is USCIS addressing its staffing shortages?  How is USCIS working to ensure staff are available to answer questions from congressional offices performing constituent casework?

Addressing these concerns will help my constituents, help my office to better serve them, and improve the transparency and integrity of the immigration system.  I appreciate your prompt attention to this important matter.

 

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

Washington, D.C. – Representative Gregory W. Meeks, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, today released the following statement on President Trump’s meeting with Vladimir Putin:   

“The fact that this meeting even took place—at the invitation of President Trump, on American soil, without Ukraine present, and with zero concessions from Russia—is an undeserved reward for Putin, who has continued to bomb Ukrainian schools and hospitals, abduct Ukrainian children, and refuse to negotiate meaningfully about an end to the horrific war he started. President Trump should have pressured Putin by imposing crushing sanctions on his war machine and providing Ukraine with the tools it needs to defend itself. Instead, by quite literally rolling out the red carpet, Trump has legitimized Russia’s aggression and whitewashed Putin’s war crimes. It’s shameful. 

“Diplomacy, even with our adversaries, should always be pursued—not to garner headlines, but to end brutal conflicts. But there was zero reason today to believe Putin would suddenly start negotiating in good faith, and every indication he would continue to play Trump, this time face to face.  

“As we learn more of the substance of today’s meeting and possible next steps, the Trump administration must now move forward in close coordination with our European allies and Ukraine. I implore my Republican colleagues in Congress to recapture the bipartisanship they once showed in defense of Ukraine’s democracy, territorial integrity, and freedom. We must pass new sanctions, provide new assistance to Ukraine, and put real pressure on Russia to bring about a just and durable peace to end this war.” 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE)

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) released the following statement after the Department of Homeland Security and the State of Nebraska announced plans to expand a facility in McCook, NE to house U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainees.

“While the Trump administration has taken great strides to secure our borders, more work remains. Recent arrests in Nebraska of violent gang leaders wanted in El Salvador have shown President Biden’s failure to address the border crisis has impacted more than just border communities. The initial information provided about the McCook facility appears to support these efforts, and I look forward to learning more about this project.”

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