MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA)

SACRAMENTO, CA – Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-07) issued the following statement after the passing of Reverend Don Fado. 

“We have lost a powerful voice for justice and compassion with the passing of my friend Reverend Don Fado,” said Congresswoman Matsui. “Throughout his decades of ministry, Don embodied the true spirit of service—standing with the marginalized and living his faith through action. His commitment to LGBTQ+ rights and social justice reflected his dedication to ensuring that love and dignity knew no bounds. In retirement, he poured his heart into the Sacramento community—feeding the hungry, sheltering the unhoused, and making sure everyone felt they belonged. Don leaves behind a legacy rooted in courage, kindness, and an unwavering devotion to the greater good. My prayers are with Jean, their children, and all of Don’s loved ones during this difficult time.” 

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

Washington, D.C. – Today, Representative Gregory W. Meeks, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Senator Jeanne Shaheen, Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement on the anniversary of the August 7, 1998, attacks on U.S. embassies in Nairobi, Kenya and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

“Today we honor the heroes who were killed in the August 7, 1998, attacks on the U.S. embassies in Nairobi, Kenya, and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania when Al Qaeda attacked with near-simultaneous truck bombs. Among the 213 people who lost their lives in the tragic attacks were 12 Americans—career diplomats, intelligence officers and Department of Defense personnel—alongside foreign service nationals and local staff. Their families successfully advocated for the creation of the State Department’s Office of Casualty Assistance (OCA) in 1999 to ensure support for the loved ones of U.S. personnel killed or injured overseas. As we reflect on their sacrifice—and the contributions of the brave American and local personnel who rebuilt our diplomatic presence in these countries after that tragedy—we must also reaffirm our commitment to those who serve the United States today. The abrupt closure of the OCA dishonors the memory of the 1998 victims, and the service of Americans stationed abroad. The U.S. must continue to ensure that in the face of tragedy, our diplomats and their families receive the respect, care and support they deserve.” 

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 sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio requesting information and documents in light of concerning reports that the Trump administration would destroy hundreds of tons of now-spoiled emergency food commodities after it failed to distribute them before they expired. 

The food provisions have already been paid for by the American taxpayer and could have provided life-saving nourishment to millions of hungry people around the world. These reports come even after the Secretary testified before the House Foreign Affairs Committee in May that there would be “no State Department delays” in distributing life-saving emergency food aid abroad. Following that testimony, Meeks had sent a letter to Secretary Rubio asking him to clarify his dubious claim that no one had died as a result of the administration’s deep cuts to foreign assistance.  

Text of the letter is below. A PDF copy of the letter is available here.

Dear Secretary Rubio,

I write to express serious concern regarding reports that nearly 500 metric tons of emergency food assistance procured by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is set to be destroyed instead of reaching recipients in need. The U.S. government had reportedly already purchased $800,000 worth of high energy biscuits, which were stored in a warehouse in Dubai and could have fed as many as 1.5 million children for a week. It is unacceptable that USAID and Department of State officials would allow these supplies to expire on shelves rather than distribute them to food insecure populations, and the agency leaders who permitted this morally reprehensible waste of taxpayer dollars must be held accountable.

Media reports indicate that the U.S. government must pay an additional $125,000 to incinerate the emergency food in line with a policy requiring the destruction of any expired food commodities. This is an egregious misuse of taxpayer funding that will result in nearly $1 million dollars of waste. It also could have been avoided, given that USAID staff made agency leadership aware of the need to distribute this emergency food aid well before its expiration date, including by documenting the situation in memoranda reportedly sent to agency leadership on May 5, 2025, and May 19, 2025. If not for President Trump’s harmful aid freeze and agency officials’ inaction to approve this shipment in the proper timeframe, this emergency food aid would have reached beneficiaries in time.

This situation is emblematic of challenges arising from the Trump Administration’s hasty and haphazard dismantling of USAID and its efforts to subsume it into the State Department—namely, sweeping terminations of experienced staff, program freezes and cancellations, and disruptions to waiver and distribution authorities.

During your testimony before the House Foreign Affairs Committee on May 21, 2025, Committee Vice Ranking Member Gabe Amo specially inquired about the State Department’s delays in shipping Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) supplies. He detailed a situation involving 123,000 boxes of lifesaving RUTF purchased by the U.S. government to feed malnourished children in Sudan left sitting in a Rhode Island warehouse for months because the appropriate government officials had not signed off on the transportation contracts needed to move it. You responded that “there were no State Department delays” in getting that food out and stated, “we are going to continue to do food aid.” Yet at that very moment, it appears that memoranda sat in front of your USAID leadership team warning them that emergency food assistance was at risk of expiring, and no one acted to send the food out in time.

The Washington Post’s “Fact Checker” has already awarded you four Pinocchios for your claim during your May testimony to the Committee that “no one has died” because of USAID cuts. Now it seems your assertions that there were no delays in food aid distribution are also false. As the Congressional committee responsible for oversight of foreign assistance, the Foreign Affairs Committee has a clear interest in understanding the stewardship of foreign assistance resources and in agencies’ capacity to accountably manage lifesaving aid, including commodities. As such, I request that you please respond in writing to the following questions by August 12, 2025.

1. Has the State Department now destroyed the approximately 500 metric tons of expired high energy biscuits reportedly allowed to expire? Are there additional U.S. food assistance commodities in warehouses that are at risk of expiring?
2. Are press reports accurate that estimate nearly $1 million in total cost to the American taxpayer associated with the procurement and incineration of these food supplies? What is the exact cost?
3. Which official(s) received memoranda requesting their approval on the delivery of this assistance before it expired?
4. Why did such officials fail to approve the distribution of these commodities before they expired?
5. Have any senior USAID or State Department staff been held accountable for this failure to use USAID-procured emergency food assistance before it expired? If so, what position(s) do they hold and what disciplinary action did the State Department take? If not, why not?

Additionally, I request copies of all USAID and State Department communications (to include, but not limited to, cables, memoranda, emails, and electronic messages) generated since January 20, 2025 that refer or relate to the distribution or potential expiration of food assistance commodities, with productions of these agency documents to begin on a rolling basis by August 19, 2025 and conclude on a timeline negotiated on a good-faith basis with the Committee.

This Administration has displayed a troubling pattern of squandering lifesaving foreign assistance resources and commodities rather than using them to reach people in need around the globe to extend American influence and goodwill. This is a textbook example of government waste and an affront to the generosity of the American people. I look forward to your responses and transparency regarding this important matter.

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

Washington, D.C. – Today, Ranking Member Gregory W. Meeks (D-NY) of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Ranking Member Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the U.S. and the CCP, and Congressman Greg Stanton (D-AZ), Co-Chair of the Congressional Taiwan Caucus, sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressing “grave concern” over reports that the Trump Administration blocked Taiwan President Lai Ching-te from transiting through New York en route to Central America.

The lawmakers call the reported decision “a stark departure from precedent” and warn that it “sends a dangerous signal to Beijing about our willingness to make concessions with regard to our national strategic interests.”

The letter notes that permitting transits by Taiwan’s leaders is longstanding, bipartisan policy and legally encouraged by the Taiwan Travel Act. The lawmakers write that since the Taiwan Travel Act became law in 2018 “Taiwan’s Presidents Tsai Ing-wen and Lai Ching-te made five total transits through the United States. Each of these visits demonstrated the United States’ steadfast support for Taiwan and its right to participate in global affairs.”

The members also criticized reports that the transit was denied at the request of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). In a pointed rebuke, they write: “America’s strategic relationships should not be concessions in trade talks, and Taiwan should be off the table in any negotiation with the PRC.”

In the letter, the lawmakers urge Secretary Rubio to approve any transit request by President Lai and reaffirm the United States’ commitment to Taiwan. They warn that failure to do so will only “reinforce Chinese Communist Party (CCP) narratives that the United States will not live up to its commitments.”

“The Administration’s blocking of President Lai’s proposed transit undermines the warmth, friendship, and mutual respect that Taiwan and the United States have shared for decades,” they write. “It unnecessarily raises doubts about U.S. credibility and reliability among our allies and partners in the region.”

The full letter can be found here.

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

Washington, D.C. – Representatives Gregory W. Meeks, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs; Rosa DeLauro, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Appropriations; Jim Himes, Ranking Member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence; and Jamie Raskin, Ranking Member of the House Committee on the Judiciary, today sent a letter to President Donald Trump calling on him to fulfill his campaign pledge to end the war in Gaza by working urgently to return all parties to the negotiation table without delay.

The Ranking Members called on the President to make a permanent ceasefire a core objective of his administration’s diplomatic efforts, along with securing the release of all hostages and advancing a credible effort to address Gaza’s humanitarian crisis. The letter also implores the President to ensure that Gaza is returned to control by Palestinians unaffiliated with Hamas and to ensure that any efforts to permanently displace Palestinians are rejected.

The full text of the letter can be found below. A PDF copy can be found here.

Dear Mr. President,

As Democratic Ranking Members of House of Representatives Committees, we write to you today with a deep sense of urgency and moral responsibility. The ongoing war in Gaza has reached a point of profound humanitarian crisis, geopolitical instability, and perilous risk for all involved. We urge you to use the full weight of American diplomacy to bring about an immediate, just, and durable end to the conflict.

It is our firm belief that the primary military objectives of this war have long since been achieved. Continued fighting threatens not only to exacerbate regional tensions and increase the humanitarian catastrophe, but also to undermine the long-term strategic security of both Israelis and Palestinians. Now is the time for you to bring all relevant parties—Israel, Palestinian leaders, regional stakeholders, alongside the United States and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff—back to the negotiating table without delay.

Despite recent indications that new humanitarian access will be granted, there is an acute need to dramatically scale up humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza to save the lives of starving, sick, and suffering civilians. We implore your administration to ensure unfettered access for humanitarian aid and to work in close coordination with reputable, experienced aid organizations that understand the region and can operate effectively through time-tested humanitarian mechanisms to ensure food and medical aid reaches civilians without diversion or delay. Time has run out for countless innocent people, and the United States must act swiftly and decisively to save lives.

Moreover, we call on you to make a permanent ceasefire a core objective of your diplomatic efforts. A lasting end to the violence must include the unconditional release of all hostages, whose continued captivity prolongs suffering and impedes any pathway toward peace. Further, Gaza must be returned to Palestinian civilian control without Hamas, and any plans for the forcible displacement of Palestinians from Gaza must be rejected.

Mr. President, while on the campaign trail, you pledged to end the war in Gaza and to restore stability in the Middle East. This is your moment to fulfill that promise. The United States has long been a broker of peace, and stepping back from that vital role is done at our own peril. The path to securing lasting peace, regional stability, and America’s interests in the Middle East lies not in protracted war, but in dialogue, diplomacy, and bold American leadership based on our longstanding democratic and humanitarian values.

Finally, we must underscore that the long-term protection of a Jewish and democratic Israel, as well as a just and secure future for the Palestinian people, are inextricably linked to the possibility of a viable two-state solution. There is no better, more feasible alternative than a two-state solution, which has been U.S. foreign policy for decades and is also a requirement to achieve Israel’s full normalization into the region and the long-delayed creation of a democratic Palestinian state. That vision will not materialize overnight, but it will remain forever out of reach if we do not act now to create the conditions for its future realization.

We respectfully urge you to lead with moral clarity, diplomatic strength, and a renewed commitment to peace.

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

August 1, 2025

ICYMI This Week: Congressman Meeks Recognizes the 60th Anniversary of Medicare and Medicaid  

Republicans’ Big, Ugly Law Rips Healthcare Away from Working Americans

For 60 years, Medicaid and Medicare have helped Americans receive affordable health care. Under Trump’s Big, Ugly Law, we are facing the largest cuts to health care in history. Republicans’ latest agenda rips coverage away from 15 million people, guts Medicaid protections, and increases costs for millions of Americans. It is clear, the Republicans’ plan will leave families sicker, poorer, and more vulnerable just to pay for tax breaks for their billionaire buddies. Democrats are not going for that! Every day we are fighting for affordable access to health care for the American people.

Meeks, DeLauro, Himes, Raskin Call on Trump to Negotiate End to War in Gaza and Surge Humanitarian Aid

I sent a letter to President Donald Trump calling on him to fulfill his campaign pledge to end the war in Gaza and seriously increase humanitarian assistance to the people in Gaza who are starving, sick, and suffering.

Meeks to Introduce Resolution Terminating Brazil Tariffs

“Donald Trump’s decision to impose 50% tariffs on Brazil isn’t in the interest of American families, who will bear the brunt of these taxes. It’s simply to protect attempted Brazilian coup leader Jair Bolsonaro from prosecution after he, like Trump, tried and failed to overturn the results of a free and fair election.”

Student Internship Opportunities Now Open for the Fall Semester

Want to gain real-world experience, sharpen your skills, and work alongside a passionate, high-energy team? Fall Internship applications for my office are now open! This is a great opportunity to gain hands-on experience and see the impact of public service up close in the nation’s capital. Apply now and take the next step in your professional journey.

Share Your Story: How Have You Been Impacted by President Trump’s Executive Orders?

I’d like to hear from my constituents about how the Trump administration’s actions have affected you and your loved ones. Over the past few months, we’ve witnessed mass layoffs across government agencies, executive orders impacting various issues, threats against immigrants, potential tariffs on neighboring countries, and much more. My office is working with state and local officials to learn more about how these actions could affect our district and provide resources for people who have been affected.  Please complete the form here to explain how these actions are affecting you and the organizations, nonprofits and businesses you support.

Sign up for my newsletter to get updates on this issue and others!

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

Today, Representative Sharice Davids welcomed the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) announcement that they will begin hiring up to 450 staff to shore up critical operations at the National Weather Service (NWS) — a move that follows her June demand for urgent action from the Trump Administration amid dangerous staffing cuts and a severe Kansas storm season.

 

In June, Davids raised alarms about NWS field offices in Kansas being unable to maintain 24/7 coverage due to hiring freezes and staff cuts ordered by the Trump Administration and Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). She specifically called out the Goodland Weather Forecast Office, which was forced to scale back just days before a devastating EF-3 tornado touched down.

 

“This is what happens when Kansans speak up and hold Washington accountable,” said Davids. “After months of pressing the Trump Administration on dangerous staffing shortages at the National Weather Service, we’re finally seeing movement to get this life-saving agency back on track. These new hires are critical to making sure families, farmers, and first responders across Kansas have the timely, accurate weather information they rely on — especially as storms grow more frequent and severe.”

 

The Trump Administration confirmed this week that NOAA has received permission to begin filling critical roles — including meteorologists, hydrologists, and electronics technicians — despite the hiring freeze currently in effect until at least October 15. These exemptions follow increasing pressure from Davids and others demanding action to restore basic public safety functions.

 

Davids has consistently advocated for federal support that keeps Kansas families safe and informed, including introducing bipartisan legislation to update weather technology and emergency preparedness. She continues to call out the harmful impacts of the Trump Administration’s reckless federal workforce cuts and push for swift action to rebuild critical public safety infrastructure. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins admitted to Davids that certain federal firings have been an “imperfect process.”

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

OVERLAND PARK, KS — Yesterday, Representative Sharice Davids joined a Planned Parenthood Great Plains event to reflect on the current state of reproductive health care in Kansas and the continued challenges ahead. The event, which featured leaders in medicine, law, and community advocacy, marked three years since Kansans overwhelmingly rejected the restrictive abortion amendment. 

“Reproductive health care is essential health care — and it must remain a decision between a person and their doctor, free from political interference,” said Davids. “Even after the clear message Kansans sent three years ago, we continue to see dangerous efforts at the state and federal levels to restrict access to care, including recent federal policies that cut Medicaid and block funding to providers like Planned Parenthood. I remain steadfast in fighting these attacks by supporting legislation that restores access and protects the health and dignity of every Kansan.”

“The August 2 vote showed what’s possible when Kansans lead with compassion, but three years later, access to care is still inaccessible to some and under threat for all,” said Emily Wales, President & CEO, Planned Parenthood Great Plains. “We’re proud to stand with Rep. Sharice Davids and all those working to turn that historic vote into meaningful progress not just in law, but in people’s lives.”

Davids recently voted against President Trump’s extreme budget, which includes severe Medicaid cuts and a provision prohibiting Medicaid payments to providers offering abortion services, disproportionately impacting Planned Parenthood. In response, she helped introduce the Restoring Essential Healthcare Act, which would repeal this harmful provision.

Despite the clear will of Kansans expressed three years ago, Republican lawmakers in the Kansas Legislature have continued to push extreme measures aimed at restricting abortion access. While several of these laws have been struck down by the Kansas Supreme Court for violating constitutional rights, the persistent threats and political attacks create an environment of fear and uncertainty for reproductive health care providers and patients alike. Davids condemns these relentless assaults and stands firmly with Kansans in defending their fundamental rights.

Additionally, Davids reintroduced the Expanding Access to Family Planning Act, which aims to secure mandatory federal investment for the Title X Family Planning Program — a vital resource for low-income individuals seeking reproductive health services, including STI testing and birth control. Davids continues to support critical bills such as the EACH Act, which seeks to repeal the Hyde Amendment, and the Women’s Health Protection Act, which would establish a federal right to abortion.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bill Foster (11th District of Illinois)

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) introduced a resolution to promote science diplomacy. The resolution calls for greater international cooperation, while seeking new ways to advance scientific research and innovation.

“The exchange of knowledge and ideas across borders not only promotes peace but also serves as a powerful instrument to address urgent global challenges. As a physicist, I spent more than two decades working with colleagues from around the globe at Fermilab in Illinois, where international collaboration allowed us to better understand each other and the world around us,” said Foster. “As the Trump Administration continues to attack science, dismiss facts, and weaken international cooperation, it is more important than ever to reaffirm our commitment to global scientific collaboration.”

Before running for office, Congressman Foster worked for over 20 years as a high-energy particle physicist at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory in Batavia, Illinois, managing several multimillion-dollar projects for accelerator construction and research. Foster represents both Fermilab and Argonne National Laboratory as part of the 11th Congressional District.

This resolution is cosponsored by Rep. Laura Friedman (D-CA). A copy of the resolution is available here. 

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Source: {United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bobby Scott (3rd District of Virginia)

Headline: Scott Demands Answers from HHS Secretary After Firing 10,000 Public Servants

“As a result of these actions, operations of vital programs are in jeopardy—threatening to deprive individuals and families in the most vulnerable communities of invaluable services.”