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

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Jimmy Gomez (CA-34) today announced that his constituent, journalist Emily Wilder, is safe and has been released from custody, and is on her way home. Wilder, a Los Angeles-based freelance journalist for Jewish Currents, had been detained by Israeli authorities after reporting aboard The Conscience, part of a flotilla attempting to deliver aid to Gaza. 

“I’m relieved and grateful to share that Emily Wilder has been released from custody and is on her way home,” said Congressman Gomez. “From the moment I learned of her detention, my office worked directly with the U.S. State Department, the Embassy of Israel, and our diplomatic partners to confirm her safety, ensure access to medical care, facilitate consular access, and secure her release. 

“Throughout this ordeal, we stayed in close contact with Emily’s family, including her mother and aunts, keeping them informed every step of the way and doing everything possible to bring her home safely. They expressed deep gratitude for the outpouring of support and for knowing that Emily will soon be home safely. 

“Thank you to the activists, journalists, and community members across the country whose advocacy helped make this possible,” said Gomez.  

Background:  

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Johnson (LA-04)

WASHINGTON — On Day 10 of the Democrat Government Shutdown, and the first day that federal workers will begin to miss full paychecks, Speaker Johnson joined Fox and Friends on Fox News to discuss Chuck Schumer and the Democrats’ refusal to reopen the government. Speaker Johnson also addressed President Trump’s historic peace plan between Israel and Hamas.

 

Watch Speaker Johnson on Fox here. 

On Democrats voting eight times to keep the government closed:

As you know, the measure that we sent over there three weeks ago is a clean CR. It is 24 pages in length, the bare minimum necessary to keep the lights on, so Congress can continue to do its work. They shut it down. It’s on them. For counting, yesterday, the Democrats have now voted eight times in both chambers to stop the payment of checks to troops, federal workers. We have 2 million civilian employees that will not be getting paid now and 1.3 active-duty military servicemembers. It is infuriating to us. 

On Democrats refusing to pay U.S. troops:

It’s three weeks ago today, we [Republicans] voted to pay the troops. That’s what the CR is. It continues government operations, which means they would all get their checks. Every Republican voted for that, and every Democrat, but one voted against it. Okay? So, we’ve had that vote. And now they realize the real consequences. I think the House Democrats realize the real consequences of what they’ve done, and it’s shameful.

On Congressional Democrats keeping the government shut to satisfy the Far-Left: 

It was three weeks ago today, Brian, that the House voted to pay the troops, pay federal workers, and keep the government open. We passed a clean CR three weeks ago. The ball is in the Senate’s court. That’s where the duty must be done now, but Chuck Schumer and the Democrats are playing politics with the lives of real American people. He’s getting accolades right now from the Far-Left. That was the whole objective. They had to appease the Marxist base of the Democrat Party, and so they picked this fight right now. It is absurd.

On President Trump’s historic peace plan: 

But when even Chuck Schumer has to praise Donald Trump, you know that the President has done something incredible. This is truly a landmark, historic foreign policy achievement – bringing the hostages back to their families after two years, securing our ally Israel again, and laying the foundation for a permanent peace in the Middle East. I mean, it’s an incredible thing. This has been an objective that everyone’s had for generations. President Trump is showing peace through strength again. And, it is resolving conflicts around the world. Guys, the America’s watching a split screen right now. You see President Trump and Republicans delivering for the American people, reducing their taxes, ending the crime crisis, ending the border crisis, and cutting fraud, waste, and abuse out of government, now settling conflicts around the world. And on the other screen, you see Chuck Schumer and the Democrats playing partisan games with the lives of Americans. I mean, there’s never been a stronger contrast between the two parties, and everybody can see that. 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Clay Higgins (R-LA)

LAFAYETTE, LA – Congressman Clay Higgins (R-LA) released a statement of support after President Trump announced a multibillion-dollar shipbuilding partnership, which includes construction of Arctic Security Cutters (ASC) at Bollinger Shipyards in Houma, LA.

Earlier today, President Trump hosted Finland’s President Alexander Stubb at the White House, where he signed the $6.1 billion memorandum of understanding on the U.S. Coast Guard’s acquisition of 11 icebreaker ships. These new ships will help secure the Arctic Ocean for the United States and its allies. Bollinger and its partners will build six of the icebreaker vessels, with four being constructed at the Houma shipyard.

In his role as a member of the House Armed Services Committee, Congressman Higgins has strongly advocated for Louisiana’s defense industrial base and continued investment in America’s domestic shipbuilding capabilities. 

Congressman Higgins said, “The world’s oceans would not be secure without Louisiana shipbuilders like Bollinger. Four brand new icebreaker vessels will be built in Houma, supporting hundreds of jobs in South Louisiana. Thank you, President Trump, for your commitment to strengthen our domestic shipbuilding industry.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (8th District of Illinois)

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi released the following statement on the acceptance by Israel and Hamas of the first phase of a peace agreement:

“The acceptance by Israel and Hamas of the first phase of a peace agreement—including the release of all hostages in Gaza—marks a crucial step forward. Their return must happen swiftly and completely, and hostilities must end. For two years, Israeli and Palestinian families alike have experienced profound loss, while civilians in Gaza continue to face dire humanitarian conditions. The reunification of hostages with their loved ones and the rapid delivery of lifesaving aid—food, medicine, and shelter—cannot come soon enough.

But this can only be the beginning. A durable peace will require an end to violence, respect for international law, and sustained diplomacy that delivers lasting security for both Israelis and Palestinians. It will also require a massive surge in humanitarian aid to relieve the desperate conditions in Gaza and to rebuild communities shattered by conflict.

The United States must remain deeply engaged with allies and mediators to turn this fragile moment into real progress. Every hostage’s homecoming is a step toward peace—but it must be followed by concrete commitments to a two-state solution that ensures dignity, safety, and self-determination for both peoples, moving us closer to a just and enduring resolution.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Michael Guest (MS-03)

Washington, D.C. – As of October 1, federal funding has lapsed and the government has entered a shutdown. On September 19, Congressman Guest voted for, and the House passed, a clean funding extension through November 21, but the Senate has failed to act. As a result, many agencies are operating at reduced capacity, while core programs required by law continue. 

What This Means for Fellow Mississippians  

Social Security, Medicare and Veterans’ Benefits 

• Social Security payments will still be issued. Retirees, survivors and those with disability benefits will continue to receive payments.
• Medicare and Medicaid services will continue, though some support functions may experience delays. Our office can help connect you with the appropriate agency staff if you run into difficulty.
• Veterans’ health care and disability compensation remain funded and will continue without interruption. Some VA services have been impacted.

Mail Delivery 

• The U.S. Postal Service will continue mail delivery, postage and post office services as usual.

Federal Agencies and Services 

• Air travel: TSA and air traffic controllers continue working, though wait times may be longer.
• National Parks and museums: National Parks will remain open, access to some museums may be closed or limited, and some services will be impacted.
• Small Business Administration loans, USDA services, and certain federal grants: Processing may pause or slow down. Our office can provide updates and help you explore temporary state or local resources.

Community and Economic Impacts 

• Federal employees: Furloughed workers may face delayed paychecks. Employees may qualify for temporary support in the meantime at mdes.ms.gov.
• Passports, visas, and federal permits: Processing may slow or stop. Our office can advise on urgent travel needs and help track pending applications.
• Federal contractors: Payments may be delayed. Contractors should check with their employers about contingency planning. 

Flood Insurance & Home Closings 

• National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP): During a government shutdown, NFIP-administered by FEMA, cannot sell new or renewal insurance policies. However, existing NFIP policies will remain in effect until their expiration dates, and claims will continue to be paid until the funds are depleted.
• Casework help: If you encounter problems during the shutdown, our office can help connect you with the appropriate federal contacts.

Staying Informed 

As always, our office remains open to serve constituents. If you need assistance with Social Security, Medicare, Veterans’ services or any other federal agency, please contact us at (769) 241-6120.

While we cannot expedite agency processing during a funding lapse, our office is here to help navigate available options, and keep you informed of updates as the situation develops.

For more information or to sign up for my e-newsletter, please visit my website at guest.house.gov. 

Congressman Michael Guest represents Mississippi’s Third Congressional District. Currently serving his fourth term, Congressman Guest is the Chairman of the Border Security and Enforcement Subcommittee of the Committee on Homeland Security and is also a member of the House Appropriations Committee.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Michael Guest (MS-03)

Washington, D.C. – Recently, Congressman Guest joined the Tim Young Show to discuss the Democrats’ government shutdown. Here are some key things that Congressman Guest noted in his interview:

Congressman Guest and his staff are still working:

“My staff has all been deemed essential and we’re working and serving the people of our district. I will tell you, before I came on today, I got to meet a guy by the name of Billy Byrd. Billy is a 100 year old World War II Veteran. He came in my office and gave me a copy of a book he had written. He was actually on the first wave of Marines that invaded Iwo Jima. He was on the island for 32 days fighting the Japanese, so got a chance got meet with a war hero. Somebody who fought for our country, somebody who served, served in combat – part of that greatest generation. While I am not in D.C. working, I am still here in the district, and I am getting to spend, at least today, some time with two great Americans.”

The shutdown is over ACA Subsidies and the political playground of Democrats: 

“This is clearly a political shutdown. This is not over policy. The Democrats have tried to make it over policy particularly the expanding the Obamacare enhanced subsidies that will expire at the end of the year. These are policies that the Democrats put in place. These are things in which the Democrats set when these expiration dates would occur. These were supposed to be temporary in light of COVID. Now, we see that they want to make these permanent. The cost of that would be over $500 billion and so the Democrats are asking for $500 billion in new funding to keep the government open for a mere 7 weeks. You’re right, some of the healthcare they’re talking about would go to illegal aliens. And so, this is not a shutdown where they have a key issue that they really disagree with. They are just throwing a bunch of things at the wall hoping that they can make something stick. And some of it, I think much of it, is driven by Chuck Schumer and his fear of a very popular Democratic member in his district. She may not be popular in my district, but she is popular in New York- Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who was threatening to primary Chuck Schumer for his U.S. Senate seat.”

The shutdown is over ACA Subsidies:  

“If the issue of the enhanced Obamacare subsidies is worth shutting the government down, which is what Chuck Schumer has told us, then our Republican leadership has said we’re willing to have a conversation with you about that. But what we want to do is we want to know a couple of things. We want to put some income limits on that because right now what most people don’t know is that 35% of those enhanced Obamacare subsidies go to families making more than $100,000. So, Democrats want you to believe that this is a program for those people who are in poverty or at the poverty limit. That’s not the case. 35% of those subsidies go to people or families making $100,000 or more. So, we need income limits. We need to put safeguards in place to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse. And again, if this is something that is so important that the Democrats are willing to shut down the government, tell me how you are going to pay for it. That’s what we need. If we are going to put government programs in place, how are we going to pay for those programs? Don’t say we are going to add half a trillion dollars to our national debt. We’ve done that for far too long. If this is a program and a hill worth dying on from the Democrats, tell me what programs you’re willing to cut to have for that.”

Some Democrats have refused to condemn violence:  

“The recent resolution in light of Charlie Kirk’s passing. The number of Democrats that refused to support that. It was a resolution that did two things. One, it talked about some of the major accomplishments that Charlie had given to our country, but the second is that it condemned political violence. We have Democrats, more than half of the Democrats, either voted against it or didn’t vote for the resolution at all. Which is in stark contrast to every Republican who voted to condemn violence in light of the state representatives and state senators in Minnesota who were killed. So, it kind of goes to show that Democrats are great about talking about bringing down the temperature but when it actually comes to voting for that, they’re not willing to put their money where their mouth is.”

Congressman Guest continues to work hard and keep his office open during this time. 

Tune into the entire interview here.

Congressman Michael Guest represents Mississippi’s Third Congressional District. Currently serving his fourth term, Congressman Guest is the Chairman of the Border Security and Enforcement Subcommittee of the Committee on Homeland Security and is also a member of the House Appropriations Committee.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Lloyd Doggett (D-TX)

Contact: Alexis Torres

Washington, D.C.—Today, U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-Austin) released the following statement:

“As usual, Greg Abbott is an eager accomplice to Trump’s wrongdoing. The illegal deployment of U.S. troops against U.S. citizens has never been about crime or immigration; Trump only wants to normalize the misuse of our military against his opponents. Having previously declared that ‘I need the kind of generals that Hitler had,’ Trump seeks a military personally loyal to him, not the Constitution—the kind of subservient military that any able dictator requires to stay in power.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Lloyd Doggett (D-TX)

Contact: Alexis Torres

Washington, D.C.—With the beginning of this National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-Austin) announced $16,989,375 million in federal funds for the National Domestic Violence Hotline, “The Hotline,” based in Austin, to continue serving as the country’s designated crisis hotline to provide confidential and lifesaving support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

“A world free of violence begins with a home free from violence,” said Rep. Doggett. “For many survivors and victims, The Hotline is the first call they make when seeking safety, guidance, and/or immediate services for an abusive situation. Last year, in Texas alone, more than 26,000 people relied on these services, which often help fill the gap when local programs are overburdened and resources are stretched thin. Since first securing The Hotline’s headquarters in Austin, I have been pleased to support their invaluable work and additional funds that will save lives, reduce crime, protect families, and strengthen our communities.”

Since 1996, The Hotline has delivered services operated by experts and other staff members—who have extensive training in crisis intervention, safety planning, education, advocacy, and referrals for survivors—to assist adults and youth victims of family violence, domestic violence, or dating violence. In 2024, The Hotline answered 444,178 contacts, with more than 2,000 calls, chats, and texts received each day, more than double the rate of just a few years ago. This data and reporting are critical as Congress works in a bipartisan manner to better understand the impacts of domestic violence on Americans and the resources needed to serve millions of survivors across the country in their time of need.

While a federal government shutdown brought on by Republicans will not impact the already disbursed funds for The Hotline, partner organizations and programs seeking any additional federal funds may experience allocation delays and disruptions in services. 

To learn more about The Hotline and how to connect with a live advocate, click here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Adriano Espaillat (NY-13)

WASHINGTON, DC – Representative Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) and New York State Assemblymember Eddie Gibbs issued the following statement in response to the Trump Administration’s efforts to freeze funding for New York City transit and infrastructure, including vital support for the Gateway Project and Second Avenue Subway expansion to East Harlem and New York’s 13th congressional district.   

“The White House’s decision to threaten the Gateway Project and Second Avenue Subway, our nation’s most critical infrastructure projects, is another exhibit of the reckless partisanship and bad governance that triggered this Republican government shutdown,” said Rep. Espaillat. “Shame on Russell Vought and the Trump administration for harming our national security and punishing New Yorkers with this DC political gamesmanship and negatively impacting the tens of thousands of East Harlem residents who have suffered without transportation access for decades.”

“Let’s be clear: this isn’t about ‘DEI’, this is retaliation, plain and simple, and East Harlem is the one paying the price. It’s always poor communities that suffer the most from these games. This isn’t a game — stop treating it like one. Stop playing with people’s lives. We need fewer professional politicians and more people-ticians. To President Trump, let’s sit down and talk this out felon-to-felon, and figure this thing out for real working-class Americans,” said Assemblymember Eddie Gibbs.

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Representative Espaillat is the first Dominican American to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives and his congressional district includes Harlem, East Harlem, West Harlem, Hamilton Heights, Washington Heights, Inwood, Marble Hill and the north-west Bronx. First elected to Congress in 2016, Representative Espaillat is serving his fifth term in Congress. Representative Espaillat currently serves as a member of the influential U.S. House Committee on Appropriations responsible for funding the federal government’s vital activities and serves as Ranking Member of the Legislative Branch Subcommittee of the committee during the 119th Congress. He is Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC), and serves as a Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus. To find out more about Rep. Espaillat, visit online at https://espaillat.house.gov/.

Media inquiries: Candace Person at Candace.Person@mail.house.gov

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Adriano Espaillat (NY-13)

Constituent update on the harm a shutdown poses to NY-13 working families, our economy, and our national security.