MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Judy Chu (CA2-27)

Bill would protect language access for 25 million individuals in the U.S. with limited English proficiency.

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28), Chair Emerita of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), joined Rep. Grace Meng (NY-06), Rep. Juan Vargas (CA-51), and Rep. Dan Goldman (NY-10) in introducing the Language Access for All Act of 2026 to codify language access requirements for federal agencies, including translation and interpretation services under threat from the Trump administration.

In March 2025, President Trump signed Executive Order (EO) 14224 that declared English as the official language of the United States and revoked EO 13166, a 25-year-old mandate that required agencies and recipients of federal funding to provide critical language access to individuals with limited English proficiency (LEP). The Trump administration’s Department of Justice issued new guidance that minimizes multilingual services and redirects resources towards English language education and assimilation. 

These policy changes threaten language access for the over 25 million individuals in the United States—eight percent of the U.S. population—with limited English proficiency. Asian Americans have among the highest language access needs of any racial group, with 32 percent having LEP. 12 percent of Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders also have significant language access needs. And while Spanish language speakers make up the majority of those who speak another language in the United States, nearly 40 percent report speaking English “less than very well” in the most recent U.S. Census. 

The Language Access for All Act of 2026 modernizes and strengthens the federal government’s approach to language access by codifying EO 13166 and establishing a coordinated, accountable framework to ensure meaningful access for individuals with limited English proficiency. The legislation promotes consistency across agencies, increases transparency and public engagement, and updates federal language access policy to reflect evolving technologies.

“For more than 25 years, both Democratic and Republican presidents have supported language accessibility across the federal government. Trump’s roll back of these protections is simply wrong. In my district, translation services are essential for parents applying for a home loan, seniors accessing Medicare, immigrants starting a small business, and disaster survivors accessing the FEMA’s resources. That is why I’m proud to co-lead the Language Access for All Act to ensure no one is denied health care, housing, or disaster assistance because English is not their first language. Language access is a civil right and rolling back these services is an attack on our immigrant communities,” said Congressmember Judy Chu (CA-28).

“Every American deserves equal access to federal services and programs in a language they can understand. Language access is essential to ensure individuals are able to access small business loans or receive the right medical care,” said Rep. Grace Meng (NY-06), Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus. “I am proud to introduce the Language Access for All Act alongside my colleagues to safeguard translation services for individuals with limited English proficiency, including millions in the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander community. We will continue to fight against the Trump administration’s attacks on immigrants and the essential services that our communities rely on and deserve.” 

“For decades, federal language access services have helped millions of people file taxes, get emergency alerts, apply for loans, and access health care. Trump’s decision to designate English as our country’s official language and attempt to scrap these critical services is dead wrong,” said Rep. Juan Vargas (CA-51). “No one should be locked out of federal programs because of the language they speak. This legislation is critical as we fight to push back on Trump’s anti-immigrant agenda and keep in place the services our communities rely on.”

“In my district, in the most linguistically diverse city on earth, language access mandates across the federal government helps ensure that everyone has meaningful access to housing loans, health care, workforce programs, and life-saving emergency alerts. Trump’s attempt to roll back language access is just one of his many xenophobic attempts to attack immigrant communities, and it is completely unacceptable. I am proud to be introducing legislation to restore common sense requirements and ensure information about basic government services is made available to all,” said Rep. Dan Goldman (NY-10).

The Language Access for All Act of 2026: 

• Requires federal agencies to ensure that individuals with LEP can meaningfully access the federally conducted programs and activities of the agency, including through translation and interpretation.
• Creates a public complaint system to track complaints regarding barriers to meaningful access at agencies.
• Requires agencies to develop and maintain language access plans consistent with EO 13166, with public notice and comment, and to submit plans to Congress and publish them on LEP.gov.
• Establishes language access technical standards that allow individuals with LEP to access agency content. This applies to all agency communications, including AI and automated language assistance services.
• Ensures AI-assisted language services do not replace qualified translators and interpreters, comply with federal privacy requirements, and are continuously tested for bias, discrimination, and errors.
• Creates an interagency language access working group to provide guidance, coordination, and technical assistance.
• Requires each agency to designate a language access coordinator to lead implementation and serve as a point of contact.

Together, these reforms aim to improve service delivery, reduce barriers to access, and ensure federal agencies are equipped to meet the language needs of the public. 

This bill builds upon Congressmember Chu’s longstanding commitment to ensuring language accessibility, beginning with her work as a City Councilmember, fighting against an ugly “English-only” movement in her hometown of Monterey Park. On August 15, 2025, Reps. Chu, Meng, and Vargas led 58 House colleagues in a letter to President Trump and the Department of Justice, on the administration’s rollback of language access across federal agencies and its impact on LEP communities. On April 11, 2025, Rep. Chu also led an oversight letter with Rep. Meng and 54 other House Democrats opposing the initial release of President Trump’s EO 14224.

The Language Access for All Act of 2026 is endorsed by the following organizations: AAPI Equity Alliance, AIDS Foundation Chicago, Americans for Financial Reform, Apicha Community Health Center, Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF), Asian Resources, Inc, Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations (AAPCHO), Association of Language Companies, Center for Human Rights and Constitutional Law, CenterLink, Chinese for Affirmative Action, Colorado Language Access Coalition, Connecticut Fair Housing Center, Consumer Action, East Bay Sanctuary Covenant, Empowering Pacific Islander Communities (EPIC), Joint National Committee for Languages (JNCL) and the National Council for Languages and International Studies (NCLIS), Justice in Aging, Language Matters, Language Policy & Innovation Institute, Latino Community Fund INC (LCF Georgia), Latino Victory Project, League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association (NAAPIMHA), National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA), National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum (NAPAWF), National CAPACD- National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development, National Consumer Law Center (NCLC), National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA), National Health Law Program, National Immigration Law Center, North East Medical Services (NEMS), The Praxis Project, Sauti Yetu Center for African Women, Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF), Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC), Spring Institute for Intercultural Learning, Stakeholders Advocating for Safe and Ethical use of AI in Interpreting Task Force (SAFE-AI TF), Stop AAPI Hate, TESOL International Association, and UnidosUS. 

Read the full text of the bill here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Judy Chu (CA2-27)

PASADENA, CA — On Saturday, January 17, 2026, Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28) announced the winners of the 2025 Congressional App Challenge for middle and high school students in the West San Gabriel Valley. This annual computer science competition, hosted by the U.S. House of Representatives, encourages students to learn how to code and inspires them to pursue careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) fields. 

This year, 52 apps were submitted to this competition.  The winner, Anika Jha of Arcadia High School, submitted an app “Fire Up” to assist residents and first responders with an AI-powered wildfire prediction, live detection, risk-assessment and evacuation planning into real-time, localized alerts through a single, human-centered platform.  After her family was nearly evacuated during the January 2025 wildfires, she created this app so all the fragmented information from NASA, NOAA, and CalFire can be integrated into one place and visualized onto an interactive map.  Families, schools and communities can connect to low-cost hardware that can feed into the app to detect fire and smoke early, and the app also includes an evacuation planner that recommends safer routes by avoiding active danger zones.  

Rep. Judy Chu issued the following statement:

“I was thrilled to host my 7thAnnual Congressional App Challenge Competition and highlight the increasing importance of STEM education in our country.  STEM grows more valuable for our nation’s youth, and the powerful skills gained from coding and programming will ensure that our nation remains at the forefront of technological progress and advancements.  All our submissions came from talented young coders who worked collaboratively to fix problems facing the world. I’m proud of all our winners and everyone who participated in the competition. Congratulations to each one of them!”

List of Winners:

First Place: Fire Up by Anika Jha (https://youtu.be/M6boFqd9h_E)

 Second Place: SCREAM++ by Tony Kan (https://youtu.be/ONdKvxl1Xgo)

 Third Place: EyeMAX by Drexel Ngo, Alina Ramos, Evan Lau, and Athicha Chanpradub (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpZ1x8xMZCA)

 Fourth Place: No Nurdles by Bernice Deng (https://youtu.be/AF45KeqGvBQ)

Fifth Place: Chorify by Chenxi (Eva) Huang (https://youtu.be/-EDnSJqf-5I)

Honorable Mention: SeeSomething AI by Spursh Deshpande, Timofey Tkachev, and Thomas Haddad (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hR3zwcc3pQ8)

 Honorable Mention: MyMelody by Lily Chen (https://youtu.be/aQCLCxCFqhg)

 Honorable Mention: PathGuard by Aaron Shen (https://youtu.be/50tSXgX29zg)

 Honorable Mention: MediHelp by Theo Mirzakhanian and Karen Avetisyan (https://youtu.be/wferZ6MPRDw)

Honorable Mention: EcoQuest by Chloe Tam (https://youtu.be/v594sB1TY3o)

The winners were chosen by a panel of expert judges from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), and Motiv Space Systems who made their decisions based on the app’s purpose, concept, technicality, creativity, and design.  The winning app, Fire Up, will be displayed on the Congressional App Challenge Website and on a digital display in the Capitol Building. 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Robin Kelly IL

Rep. Kelly votes for three-bill minibus, which includes her maternal health bills and community project funds

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Robin Kelly IL

“I was deeply disappointed by United Healthcare’s inability to respond to my basic question of who determines health insurance denials. Mr. Hemsley could not assert whether AI is still improperly denying healthcare insurance claims,” said. Rep. Kelly. “As health insurance companies turn to AI technology, we must ensure that physicians and science-backed medicine guide all decisions. The Trump administration has gutted and broken our healthcare system, resulting in millions of Americans losing their coverage. Health insurance companies should not compound this healthcare crisis by weaponizing AI to deny Americans essential care.”

Rep. Kelly is also co-chair of the bipartisan Digital Health Caucus.

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

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Gregory W. Meeks (NY-05) voted to advance the Defense, Labor-HHS and Transportation-HUD minibus. The three spending bills delivers on Democratic priorities and blocks the Trump Administration’s plan to gut $163 billion from critical public services that American families depend on. 

The spending package invests in affordable housing, transportation, public health and childcare, while reinforcing Congress’s power of the purse, keeping a check on the Trump Administration, and giving relief to millions of Americans struggling to stay afloat amid the affordability crisis. 

It boosts FAA funding to hire more air traffic controllers and modernize facilities, supports Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor and safer roads and bridges, and strengthens support for servicemembers through medical research and a military pay raise. The package also includes $8.2 million to support local community projects in New York’s 5th Congressional District.

“I voted for a funding bill that rejects Trump’s cuts to essential public services and delivers real results for American families,” said Congressman Gregory W. Meeks. “Once again, Democrats negotiated aggressively for working people and families, delivering meaningful relief for Americans feeling the squeeze of rising costs. This bill funds housing, childcare, public health, mental health services, and groundbreaking scientific research, while protecting the services our communities rely on and investing in America’s future.”

In the funding package, Rep. Meeks secured $8,250,000 in Community Project Funding to directly support 10 local projects in New York’s 5^th Congressional District, including:

• $500,000 for the subway reconstruction and upgrades at the MTA Queens Boulevard Line -179 Street Station.
• $850,000 for the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) to support safety and security upgrades at Conlon Lihfe Tower.  
• $850,000 for NYCHA to enhance safety and building security at the International Tower.
• $850,000  for NYCHA to enhance safety and building security at the Shelton House.
• $850,000  for NYCHA to upgrade and modernize fire safety equipment at the International Tower Fire.
• $850,000 for NYCHA to replace the water tanks at Carleton Manor.
• $250,000  for New York City Department of Transportation (NYCDOT) to improve pedestrian and bicycle safety at the Beach Channel Drive intersection at Bayswater.
• $1,000,000  for NYCDOT to enhance pedestrian safety, transit access, and public amenities at Jamaica Avenue.
• $2,000,000 to the New York State Housing Trust Fund (HTFC) for the replacement of the power plant at Rochdale Village.
• $250,000 to the New York City DOT to improve bus service and pedestrian safety at Woodhaven Boulevard.  

“This funding is essential for improving transportation, infrastructure and community safety in Queens,” Congressman Meeks said. “It supports MTA station upgrades, NYCHA safety projects, street and pedestrian improvements, and critical infrastructure enhancements. These investments protect residents and strengthen neighborhoods making Queens safer and modernizing the borough.” 

This funding legislation will enact significant investments that:

• Increases funding for NIH by $400 million, including research to develop treatments and cures for cancer, Alzheimer’s, ALS, Diabetes, and other diseases.
• Increases funding for the Office of Research on Women’s Health by $30 million – a 40% increase.
• Rejects proposed cuts to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), increases funding for the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by $15 million and State Opioid Response Grants by $20 million.
• Helps tackle the cost-of-living crisis by increasing funding for Child Care and Head Start by $170 million, helping provide hard-working families access to early childhood education and childcare.
• Reinforces efforts to combat homelessness by increasing Homeless Assistance Grant funding by $366 million and rejecting President Trump’s efforts to eliminate Continuum of Care funding entirely.
• Provides $18.6 billion for the FAA, an increase of $1.6 billion, including funding to expand the air traffic controller workforce by 2,500 personnel, improve facilities and equipment, and modernize the nation’s air traffic control towers.
• Increases funding for medical research by $1.7 billion, including $1.3 billion for Congressionally Directed Medical Research Projects (CDMRP) that support efforts to develop treatments for cancer, disease, and service-related injuries.
• Fully funds the 3.8 % pay raise for military personnel.

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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, issued a statement condemning the administration’s decision to exit the U.S. from the UN World Health Organization (WHO):

“President Trump’s decision to withdraw the U.S. from the WHO will only weaken the United States’ capacity to prevent deadly diseases from reaching our shores and put American lives at risk.

“For nearly eight decades, we’ve partnered with the WHO to counter global health threats that directly affect Americans, including Ebola, malaria, and other infectious diseases. The WHO has played a critical role in disease surveillance, vaccine development including for influenza and other life-threatening diseases, and outbreak response that help stop pandemics before they spread to the United States.

“This is also the latest example of Trump forfeiting U.S. leadership and putting America last. Trump’s unilateral withdrawal will only empower malign actors who will fill the void left by our withdrawal, and grant China an unprecedented opportunity to assert greater influence. This will not make America safer, or more prosperous. It will only put Americans at risk and cede U.S. influence where it matters most.” 

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, issued the following statement in response to the Trump administration’s expansion of the global gag rule. The administration’s new policy prohibits recipients of U.S. foreign assistance from using their own private resources to engage in activities that promote comprehensive reproductive rights and fight gender inequality, racial prejudice, and discrimination against the LGBTQI+ community.

“Today’s sweeping expansion of the global gag rule is a massive weaponization of U.S. foreign assistance, further exposing the Trump administration’s blatant disregard for free speech, equal rights, and human dignity. In addition to being an affront to our Constitutional values, this policy actively undermines the goal of U.S. foreign assistance to protect our national security by improving lives, eradicating poverty, and promoting freedom around the globe.

“By attempting to silence partners and restrict their private activities as a condition of accepting U.S. funding, the Trump administration is offering a cruel ultimatum that could require abandoning their principles and the communities they serve. The consequences will be real and potentially deadly, as organizations capable of providing timely, critical assistance to those in need would be unable to save lives if their views do not conform with the Trump administration’s. Previous expansions of the global gag rule in the health sector resulted in service delays, gaps in the provision of critical health services, and diminished U.S. government credibility. 

“Expanding the global gag rule does not put America first. It does not make America safer, stronger, or more prosperous. Nor does it result in any benefits for everyday citizens, at home or abroad. Instead, the Trump administration is setting America back, undermining the United States’ global reputation as a champion of freedom, equal opportunity, and inclusion.” 

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

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Reps. Gregory Meeks (D-NY), Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Grace Meng (D-NY) and Lois Frankel (D-FL), Ranking Members of key Appropriations Subcommittees, as well as Diana DeGette (D-CO) and Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), Co-Chairs of the Reproductive Freedom Caucus (RFC), led 67 Members of Congress in sending a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio to continue demanding answers about the ongoing waste and destruction of life-saving, taxpayer-funded contraception and other health supplies.

Last year, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) purchased $9.7 million worth of contraceptive supplies including birth control pills, hormonal implants, shots, and intrauterine devices (IUDs) to be distributed to sub-Saharan African countries. When the Trump Administration shuttered USAID, it dismantled international family planning programs and decided to destroy the nearly $10 million in usable products rather than distribute them. They were scheduled to be incinerated in July 2025 but have been sitting in warehouses in Belgium since that time.

The letter asks the State Department to clarify the quantities and types of supplies currently in storage, and the Department’s plans to transport, distribute, or destroy them. It follows reports from November 12, 2025, detailing that four truckloads of contraceptive commodities remain in storage in Geel, Belgium, and could be immediately distributed to communities in need if the State Department reversed its decision to destroy them. Reports also indicated that an additional twenty truckloads of U.S.-funded health supplies were moved to another facility in Kallo, Belgium, and may have been rendered unusable due to improper storage conditions.

In their letter, the Members of Congress wrote, “The destruction of contraceptives and other medical supplies is an appalling waste of taxpayer dollars and denies people lifesaving health care, part of a troubling pattern the State Department has followed—including the spoiling and subsequent incineration of 500 metric tons of emergency food the administration could have provided to hungry people. The human toll of this Administration’s dismantling of international family planning programs is nothing short of devastating. The American people deserve to know the fate of U.S.-funded medical supplies held in Belgium—the very same types of supplies millions of people across the U.S. rely on every day to ensure their reproductive freedom—and the cost of the State Department’s actions that continue to keep lifesaving supplies from reaching communities in need.”

Estimates suggest that if distributed, the $9.7 million in contraceptive supplies could prevent 362,000 unintended pregnancies, 110,000 unsafe abortions, and prevent 718 more maternal deaths.

“It is appalling that the Trump administration has spent months dodging questions and accountability about their decision to destroy nearly $10 million worth of already-purchased contraception,” said Alexis McGill Johnson, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Action Fund. “The administration’s actions are a disgraceful attack on essential care and a complete waste of taxpayer dollars. Unfortunately, this is entirely in line with the president’s anti-sexual and reproductive health agenda abroad that has already had deadly consequences. We thank Rep. Meng, Frankel, and Meeks for championing the fight to distribute these essential commodities.”

Additionally, this letter echoes concerns raised in correspondence sent to the Acting Inspector General for the U.S. State Department in July, led by Meng, Frankel, and Don Beyer (D-VA), and signed by 80 Members of Congress.

A copy of the letter to Secretary Rubio can be viewed here.

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

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO) released the following statement after President Donald J. Trump signed into law her bipartisan Trafficking Survivors Relief Act.  This bill provides federal criminal record relief to survivors of human trafficking who committed non-violent offenses as a direct result of their exploitation.

“Traffickers and sexual abusers too often force their victims to commit crimes against their will, leaving these vulnerable individuals with a criminal record that stays with them for life.  This indelible mark perpetuates the cycle of exploitation by making it harder for victims to access critical assistance services or get a job, housing, and education that can help them break away from the abuse.  Our justice system should be helping victims, not making life harder for them, and my Trafficking Survivors Relief Act will right that wrong by providing victims with federal criminal record relief so they can live their lives and find justice.  I have worked on this legislation for years with colleagues on both sides of the aisle, and I thank President Trump for taking swift action to sign this into law.”

Congresswoman Wagner was the original sponsor of the Trafficking Survivors Relief Act in the 114th, 115th, and 116th Congresses, and has worked with Congressman Russell Fry (R-SC) as a co-lead of this legislation in the 118th and 119th Congresses.   

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

Today Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) released the following statement on his vote to pass annual appropriations for the departments of Defense, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, Health and Human Services, Labor, Education, and other related agencies:

“Yesterday I voted to pass several key appropriations bills that provide critical support for our national defense and security, including pay raises for our military, increased funding for counter-narcotic and anti-drug trafficking programs, and necessary investments in our shipyards and defense industrial base to bolster shipbuilding and develop next-generation platforms to keep this country safe. The legislation also delivers vital resources to New Hampshire to lower costs on everything from energy to child care, build new affordable housing, and fund Title X family planning, maternal and child health care, and Head Start. I urge the Senate to take up and pass this legislation and send it to the President to be signed into law.”

The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 delivers critical support and resources to New Hampshire, including provisions to:

• Fully fund a 3.8% pay raise for all military personnel;
• Strengthen Department of Defense counter-narcotics support, including a 14% increase to the National Guard Counter-Drug Program;
• Increase funding for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and ensure HHS maintains sufficient staffing to successfully administer LIHEAP;
• Increase funding for the Child Care and Development Block Grant and Head Start;
• Maintain funding for building new affordable housing units, Community Development Block Grants, and key infrastructure investments.

This legislation also includes funding secured through Pappas’s Community Project Funding submissions for projects throughout the First District, including: infrastructure upgrades in Rye, Londonderry, and Hooksett; the construction of over 150 units of housing in Dover and Portsmouth; and recreation improvements in Barrington and Manchester.