MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (1st District of Washington)

Today, Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) hosted a roundtable with local brewers and industry leaders at Postdoc Brewing in Redmond to discuss how current trade and tariff policies are impacting Washington’s craft beer industry.

Tariffs on imported aluminum and steel have driven up costs for small breweries that rely on kegs, cans, and specialized brewing equipment. The uncertainty around future tariffs is also making it harder for brewers to invest in upgrades and expand operations, threatening local jobs and production.

Washington is home to more than 400 breweries, but 2024 marked the first year since 2005 that more breweries closed than opened. Many small, independent brewers operate on thin margins and cannot absorb higher input costs without raising prices, something that’s difficult in an already competitive market. DelBene, who co-leads the Congressional Trade Authority Act, has introduced and supported legislation to limit presidential tariff powers and ensure Congress has a role in trade decisions. These include:

“Washington’s breweries are innovative, community-focused small businesses that support jobs across our region,” said DelBene. “Rising costs and trade uncertainty are putting them in a difficult spot. I’m working to ensure our policies support growth, sustainability, and long-term success for these local businesses.”

“The vast majority of craft breweries in Washington are small businesses like ours and we are all struggling with the rising costs of goods,” said Robyn Schumacher, Co-owner of Stoup Brewing. “While we source many of our ingredients and goods from regional providers, it’s not always possible. The uncertainty around tariffs and the cost of goods hits small businesses like ours particularly hard as we are already working with small margins. It’s far more difficult for small local businesses to stay afloat when costs are so wildly unpredictable.”

“Chaotic tariff policies create uncertainty and without stable pricing it’s hard for us to plan, budget, or stay competitive,” said Tom Schmidlin, Owner and Head Brewer, Postdoc Brewing. “Unlike large corporations, small businesses don’t have the buffer or buying power to absorb sudden cost spikes, and we can’t change prices on a weekly basis to cover increased costs.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Al Green (TX-9)

(Houston, TX)—On Wednesday, July 30, 2025, Congressman Al Green issued the following statement addressing the recent proposal for congressional redistricting: 

Congressman Al Green stated, “Today, I received what appears to be the proposed redistricting congressional lines for Texas. Of the many points that can be made, I shall call three to the attention of the public now and more later. Point one: the map is extreme invidious discrimination and accomplishes what the President has demanded of the Governor and more. Two, the DOJ demanded that the race card be played, and the Governor dealt the people of Texas a racist hand. Three, I will be on the ballot and will announce more of my intentionality after I have engaged in deliberations.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Paul Tonko (Capital Region New York)

ALBANY, NY — Congressman Paul D. Tonko (NY-20), along with Representatives John Mannion (NY-22) and Joe Morelle (NY-25) today sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem urging the Trump Administration reverse its decision to terminate funding for the Exploiting Mesonet for Emergency Preparedness and Response to Weather Extremes (EMPOWER) project.

In 2023, the DHS awarded the University at Albany $3 million for this grant project to improve emergency management and deliver accurate, real-time forecasting for severe weather. But, earlier this month, that funding was abruptly terminated.

“Developed in partnership between DHS’s Science and Technology Directorate and the University at Albany, EMPOWER is exactly the kind of forward-looking, science-based emergency management program our nation needs as extreme weather, and natural disasters grow more frequent, intense, and deadly,” the lawmakers write.

The letter continues, “At the core of EMPOWER’s success is the New York State Mesonet, a state-of-the-art network of 127 weather stations that supplements National Weather Service observations. This is a moment that demands leadership and bold investment in resilience. In just the past few weeks, catastrophic flooding in Texas and record-setting heat across the country have underscored the urgency of strengthening our preparedness. Cutting off funding for a proven emergency response program amid an escalating climate crisis is not just short-sighted, it is dangerous.

“The stakes are simply too high to abandon tools and technologies that can help save lives.”

For years, Tonko has worked to strengthen and support the nation’s weather preparedness. Last Congress, he introduced the bipartisan National Mesonet Authorization Act alongside Representative Stephanie Bice (R-OK), legislation that would increase the overall coverage and accuracy of our current National Mesonet program.

Earlier this month, UAlbany sent a letter inviting DHS Secretary Noem to visit the campus and tour their facilities to lean more about how the university’s essential research supports DHS’s work and mission. UAlbany also sent a letter to the New York congressional delegation requesting support from members in helping to reinstate a $3 million DHS research grant.

The full letter to DHS Secretary Noem can be found HERE or below:

Dear Secretary Noem,

We write to express our strong objection to the Department of Homeland Security’s decision to terminate funding for the Exploiting Mesonets for Emergency Preparedness and Response to Weather Extremes (EMPOWER) project. This action not only undermines years of progress in public safety and emergency preparedness, but it also puts lives at risk. We ask you to reverse this decision and reinstate the $3 million grant supporting this initiative without delay.

Developed in partnership between DHS’s Science and Technology Directorate and the University at Albany, EMPOWER is exactly the kind of forward-looking, science-based emergency management program our nation needs as extreme weather, and natural disasters grow more frequent, intense, and deadly. It provides emergency managers and first responders with real[1]time, localized data to improve decision-making and response times, giving communities a better chance to prepare for and withstand extreme weather events.

At the core of EMPOWER’s success is the New York State Mesonet, a state-of-the-art network of 127 weather stations that supplements National Weather Service observations. The Mesonet fills gaps in our national monitoring infrastructure and provides the high-resolution, real-time data that emergency response systems increasingly depend on.

This is a moment that demands leadership and bold investment in resilience. In just the past few weeks, catastrophic flooding in Texas and record-setting heat across the country have underscored the urgency of strengthening our preparedness. Cutting off funding for a proven emergency response program amid an escalating climate crisis is not just short-sighted, it is dangerous.

For a modest federal investment, EMPOWER is delivering high-impact results. This administration has emphasized the importance of supporting state and local partners in disaster preparedness EMPOWER embodies that collaboration, demonstrating how strategic partnerships between federal science agencies, academia, and state governments can produce innovative, life-saving solutions.

We urge you to reinstate full funding for the EMPOWER initiative and ensure that the University at Albany and its partners can continue advancing this critical work. The stakes are simply too high to abandon tools and technologies that can help save lives.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jim Costa Representing 16th District of California

FRESNO, Calif. – On Medicaid Day of Action, Congressman Jim Costa (CA-21) and healthcare leaders from United Health Centers of the San Joaquin Valley warned of the devastating impacts the so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill” will have on clinics, hospitals, and patients in the Central Valley.

Earlier this month, Donald Trump and House Republicans enacted the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” more like the “One Big Ugly Bill.” Costa voted against the law, which slashes more than $1 trillion from Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Medicare, and the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the largest healthcare cuts in U.S. history. As a result, 17 million Americans are expected to lose Medicaid coverage, including 247,384 people across the San Joaquin Valley.Medicaid cuts will devastate the United Health Centers of the San Joaquin Valley, where nearly 60% of the 180,000 patients served across 37 clinics in Fresno, Kings, and Tulare counties rely on Medicaid (Medi-Cal). Losing this funding means fewer doctors, longer wait times, emergency rooms (ERs) overwhelmed, and could lead to potential closures.
Key Excerpts from Congressman Costa’s Remarks:“Medicaid payments to hospitals will be reduced by $665 billion. On average, rural hospitals are estimated to lose 21¢ out of every dollar they receive from Medicaid funding. So even if you’re not on Medicaid (Medi-Cal) and you have your own separate insurance, you’re going to see the impacts because these healthcare facilities need to figure out how to continue providing their full services with less funding. This could result in a reduction of staff, longer emergency room delays, and wait times,”said Congressman Costa.“I can tell you we’re already trying to do a lot with not enough. Almost seventy percent of our patients here are on Medicaid (Medi-Cal). If this safety net is weakened, the things that many of us take advantage of every day, simple things such as prenatal care, cancer screenings, pediatric visits, and lifesaving medications. Those things can go away for many of our patients,”said Justin Preas, CEO of the UnitedHealth Centers of the San Joaquin Valley.  “Often, we see in the [San Joaquin] Valley, kids with asthma exacerbations. Medicaid is what helps families afford these inhalers and medications that keep kids out of the hospital, threatened with cuts to Medicaid (Medi-Cal). If Medicaid (Medi-Cal) funding is cut, we will see a rise in preventable ER visits, untreated chronic disease, a rise in preventable cancers through early detection programs, and overall worse outcomes in our patients and in the community. These are real clinical consequences with long-term effects. As a physician, I can’t stand by while access to care is being threatened, and I know my colleagues across the state feel the same,”said Dr. Sharareh Shabafrooz, Associate Medical Director.Watch Congressman Costa’s full remarks HERE.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Levin (CA-49)

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Levin (CA-49)

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Sean Casten (IL-06)

July 30, 2025

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) led 92 House Democrats in a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio demanding an investigation into the ownership structure and operation of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a private, unqualified U.S.-linked aid organization at the center of the worsening starvation and humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

A copy of the letter can be found here.

GHF is a U.S.-linked aid organization with no prior experience in humanitarian aid and operates under opaque funding arrangements. GHF received a $30 million grant from the State Department, despite significant internal objections from USAID officials that the group’s funding plan failed to meet the “minimum technical or budgetary standards.” In their letter, the lawmakers criticize the organization’s lack of qualifications, noting that neither of the private firms contracted by GHF to manage distribution sites in Gaza has prior experience in humanitarian work, nor does GHF Executive Chairman Johnnie Moore, who is a close ally of President Donald Trump.

“We have serious concerns with the operations of GHF, a newly established, private, U.S.-linked organization with no prior humanitarian experience, and the possibility that it could become the sole or primary aid provider in Gaza,” the lawmakers wrote. “…Providing secure and efficient humanitarian assistance to Palestinians is not only a moral obligation—it is also vital to Israel’s long-term security and the safe return of Israeli hostages. Enhancing aid operations is essential to stabilizing the region and achieving lasting peace.”

In July 2025, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, a panel developed by the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization, issued a report warning that “the worst-case scenario of Famine is currently playing out in the Gaza Strip.” Netanyahu’s blockade and GHF’s dangerously mismanaged aid sites are directly contributing to the starvation crisis.

The lawmakers also expressed concern regarding disturbing violence at GHF distribution sites, where flawed distribution methods have caused mass panic and mass casualties.

GHF operates only four aid distribution sites in Gaza using a reckless first-come, first-served model that has resulted in deadly chaos. At least 1,000 Palestinians have reportedly been killed while attempting to access aid near GHF sites, with reports describing Israeli soldiers and U.S. contractors opening fire on desperate civilians. One former contractor said he was instructed to “shoot to kill and ask questions later.”

“Instead of using traditional aid distribution methods, based on internationally agreed-upon humanitarian principles, GHF provides food on a first-come, first-served basis,” the lawmakers continued. “As a result, when centers open, large crowds of Palestinians rush to the centers. In these situations, there appear to be few restrictions on the use of lethal force by Israeli soldiers and American contractors in the vicinity.”

In addition to Rep. Casten, the letter was signed by Amo, Gabe; Ansari, Yassamin; Balint, Becca; Barragán, Nanette; Bera, Ami; Bonamici, Suzanne; Brownley, Julia; Brown, Shontel; Carbajal, Salud; Carson, André; Carter, Troy; Castro, Joaquin; Chu, Judy; Cleaver, Emanuel; Cohen, Steve; Courtney, Joe; Craig, Angie; Crow, Jason; Davis, Danny; Dean, Madeleine; DeGette, Diana; DeLauro, Rosa; Deluzio, Christopher; DeSaulnier, Mark; Dexter, Maxine; Dingell, Debbie; Doggett, Lloyd; Escobar, Veronica; Fields, Cleo; Foster, Bill; Foushee, Valerie; Frost, Maxwell; Garcia, Robert; Garcia, Sylvia; Green, Al; Harder, Josh; Hayes, Jahana; Houlahan, Chrissy; Hoyle, Val; Huffman, Jared; Jackson, Jonathan; Jacobs, Sara; Johnson, Henry; Kaptur, Marcy; Keating, William; Kelly, Robin; Khanna, Ro; Larsen, Rick; Larson, John; Leger Fernandez, Teresa; Lofgren, Zoe; Lynch, Stephen; Magaziner, Seth; Matsui, Doris; McBride, Sarah; McClellan, Jennifer; McCollum, Betty; McGovern, James; Moore, Gwen; Mullin, Kevin; Nadler, Jerrold; Norton, Eleanor; Ocasio-Cortez, Alexandria; Panetta, Jimmy; Pappas, Chris; Pelosi, Nancy; Pettersen, Brittany; Pingree, Chellie; Pocan, Mark; Pressley, Ayanna; Quigley, Mike; Randall, Emily; Ruiz, Raul; Salinas, Andrea; Schakowsky, Janice; Schrier, Kim; Scott, Robert; Smith, Adam; Sorensen, Eric; Stansbury, Melanie; Swalwell, Eric; Takano, Mark; Thompson, Bennie; Thompson, Mike; Tokuda, Jill; Tonko, Paul; Trahan, Lori; Underwood, Lauren; Vasquez, Gabe; Velázquez, Nydia; Watson Coleman, Bonnie; and Williams, Nikema.

A copy of the letter can be found here. Text of the letter can be found below.

Dear Secretary Rubio:

As supporters of a strong U.S.-Israel relationship and advocates for humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza, we write to seek clarity on the ownership structure and operation of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).

More than two million people in Gaza currently face “critical levels” of hunger. We welcome efforts to facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid and share the objective of ensuring that Hamas does not divert such aid. However, we have serious concerns with the operations of GHF, a newly established, private, U.S.-linked organization with no prior humanitarian experience, and the possibility that it could become the sole or primary aid provider in Gaza. We agree that delivering aid promptly and securely is crucial. However, GHF’s practices and finances require increased transparency and oversight to ensure aid reaches the intended beneficiaries effectively, safely, and in accordance with international standards.

On June 24, 2025, the Department of State (DOS) approved a $30 million grant for GHF. Jeremy Lewin, a current DOS official and former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) employee, reportedly moved forward with the grant’s approval despite 58 internal objections that U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) staff experts wanted GHF to resolve before approving funding, and an assessment in a memorandum from an acting USAID official that GHF’s funding plan failed to meet required “minimum technical or budgetary standards.” As lawmakers entrusted with the authority to appropriate taxpayer funds, which were undoubtedly used for GHF’s grant, we find this troubling.

Moreover, GHF has not published a complete list of its sponsors. Registered in Delaware in February 2025, GHF also established an office in Geneva, Switzerland (which the Swiss government has since announced is to be dissolved) with the explicit intent of accommodating donors that “prefer to participate outside of the U.S. structure.” The foundation has publicly stated that it has received at least $119 million from “other government donors.” Furthermore, despite its public denial, the Israeli government has reportedly covertly contributed approximately $280 million USD to the new aid mechanism run by GHF. Full disclosure of GHF’s funding sources is imperative.

GHF runs four aid distribution sites in Gaza. It contracts two American private firms, Safe Reach Solutions (SRS) and UG Solutions (UGS), to provide security and logistics, with some pricing models reportedly provided by Boston Consulting Group consultants, who reportedly regularly met with Israeli officials in connection with the consultants’ role in helping develop ideas for GHF’s operations. None of the groups have prior humanitarian experience, nor does GHFExecutive Chairman Johnnie Moore, a close ally of President Trump. As a result, these distribution centers appear to operate at a reduced capacity at an exorbitant cost, significantly exceeding the current operating costs of experienced humanitarian organizations.

We are further alarmed at the widespread violence at GHF distribution centers. As of July 23, 2025, there have reportedly been at least 1,000 people killed while trying to access critical aid near GHF sites. Instead of using traditional aid distribution methods, based on internationally agreed-upon humanitarian principles, GHF provides food on a first-come, first-served basis. As a result, when centers open, large crowds of Palestinians rush to the centers. In these situations, there appear to be few restrictions on the use of lethal force by Israeli soldiers and American contractors in the vicinity. A former security contractor stated that he was instructed, “if you feel threatened, shoot – shoot to kill and ask questions later.” GHF centers offer desperately needed lifelines to those who receive aid without experiencing violence. However, the risk of violence, long wait times, and limited aid availability appear to force hundreds of thousands to choose between risking their lives or going without food.

The operations of the GHF sites are widely criticized by experienced humanitarian organizations as being inefficient and dangerous, and violating internationally agreed-upon humanitarian principles. Notably, GHF’s inaugural Executive Director and former Marine, Jake Wood, resigned from the organization, citing that the organization no longer aligned with “humanitarian principles.”

Providing secure and efficient humanitarian assistance to Palestinians is not only a moral obligation—it is also vital to Israel’s long-term security and the safe return of Israeli hostages. Enhancing aid operations is essential to stabilizing the region and achieving lasting peace. To address our concerns, we respectfully request responses to the following questions no later than August 14th, 2025:

1. From which congressionally appropriated account does DOS’s $30 million grant for the GHF originate?

2. What specific oversight mechanisms are in place to ensure that the GHF operates in accordance with U.S. and international humanitarian law and humanitarian principles of neutrality and impartiality?

3. The DOS reportedly stated that GHF is subject to “rigorous oversight, including of GHF’s operations and finances.”

   1. What is DOS’s role in monitoring the daily operations and financial practices of GHF, and what is the reporting mechanism?

   2. Are the GHF and the private security contractors that it partners with to distribute assistance in compliance with U.S. standards (legal, regulatory, technical, budgetary, or otherwise) for humanitarian organizations?

4. The $30 million grant to GHF was approved despite 58 internal objections that USAID staff experts wanted GHF to resolve before approving funding, and an assessment in a memorandum from an acting USAID official that GHF’s funding plan failed to meet required ‘minimum technical or budgetary standards.’ What were the details of their objections or concerns, and why were they overridden?

5. What makes GHF more qualified than other humanitarian organizations with years of experience and the operational expertise needed to handle such a complex situation?

   1. What makes the newly appointed Executive Chairman, Rev. Johnnie Moore Jr., a man with no prior humanitarian experience, but a close relationship with President Trump, the right person to lead GHF?

6. What steps is the U.S. government taking to address concerns about militarization at GHF’s aid sites, particularly regarding the involvement of U.S. private contractors and Israeli security forces?

7. Is there a formal agreement or memo of understanding between the U.S. and GHF that outlines the foundation’s operational guidelines, transparency, and accountability measures? If so, please provide a copy or summary of these terms.

8. Was the DOS involved in the decision-making processes that led to the establishment of only four aid distribution centers in Gaza to date? If so, please provide details of that communication.

9. GHF refuses to publish its sources of funding, including the $119 million it received from “other government donors.” What is the complete and most current list of GHF’s donors?

10. What are the details of the contracts between GHF, its contractors, Safe Reach Solutions (SRS), UGSolutions (UGS), and its aid providers?

    1. What does GHF pay per diem for security and logistics to SRS and UGS?

    2. Where does GHF source its aid packages from? How much does it pay for them?

11. Has the U.S. conducted any oversight or reviews of GHF’s operations in light of recent criticisms related to overcrowding, militarization, and security concerns? If so, what were the findings?

12. The Trump Administration is reportedly considering an additional $500 million grant to GHF using USAID funds. According to U.S. law, all NGO recipients of USAID grants are subject to a responsibility determination that certifies the NGO’s “necessary management competence…and that the applicant will practice mutually agreed upon methods of accountability for funds and other assets provided by USAID.”

    1. Will this funding be approved?

    2.  If so, what account will this funding come from?

13. What steps will be taken to conduct the required “responsibility determination” certifying GHF’s competence and accountability?

14. What specific benefits has GHF’s aid distribution model or operations provided for U.S. and Israeli interests that the U.S. government assesses may justify some of the apparent drawbacks of the GHF model and operations?

15. Looking ahead, what information can the Administration share about the likely roles and potential roles of GHF and other humanitarian assistance providers in Gaza, respectively, under various scenarios (ceasefire, intensified conflict, post-conflict transition)? 

    1. What are the sources of this information?

    2. What factors will the Administration use to determine whether and how to provide U.S. support to GHF and/or other providers, while actively monitoring their compliance with applicable legal and other standards?

16. How, if at all, will GHF coordinate with other humanitarian organizations already working in Gaza? Will GHF work within the already established coordinating mechanisms, and if so, how does it plan to do so?

Thank you for your attention to this critical matter.

Sincerely,

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)

Today, Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries released the following statement:

Over the last several months, the Trump administration has repeatedly and unlawfully blocked Members of Congress from carrying out oversight of potential abuses in our immigration detention system. Today, Democratic Members of Congress are fighting back with a first-of-its-kind lawsuit asserting our constitutional responsibility to serve as a check-and-balance on the executive branch and its weaponization of immigration enforcement.

Donald Trump’s Department of Homeland Security is undermining our values as a nation of immigrants and one anchored in the rule of law. ICE and DHS have repeatedly and illegally arrested and detained American citizens and lawful permanent residents without due process. These extreme tactics, like raiding churches and schools and unleashing masked ICE agents on law-abiding communities, are extreme and unacceptable. The Trump administration is determined to hide the truth from Congress and the American people. House Democrats will not be silenced or intimidated.

This is an all-hands-on-deck effort, and I thank my colleagues for their leadership in bringing this groundbreaking lawsuit forward, including: the Congressional Hispanic Caucus led by Chair Adriano Espaillat, the Rapid Response Task Force and Litigation Working Group helmed by Assistant Democratic Leader Joe Neguse and Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Jamie Raskin, Homeland Security Committee Ranking Member Bennie Thompson, Oversight and Government Reform Committee Ranking Member Robert Garcia, a group of the Members putting themselves on the frontline of this fight including Representatives Lou Correa, Jason Crow, Veronica Escobar, Dan Goldman, Jimmy Gomez, Raul Ruiz and Norma Torres and our partners at Democracy Forward and American Oversight. 

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

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Rep. Jimmy Gomez (CA-34) alongside a dozen individual members of the U.S. House of Representatives, filed the first lawsuit by members of the House of Representatives against the Trump-Vance administration, challenging its unlawful obstruction of congressional oversight into federal immigration detention facilities, where both Americans and noncitizens have been detained without due process.

“No child should be sleeping on concrete, and no sick person should be denied care, yet that’s exactly what we keep hearing is happening inside Trump’s detention centers, including the one in my own district that set off national outrage and protests across the country,” said Rep. Jimmy Gomez (CA-34). “I’ve tried repeatedly to get inside and conduct oversight, only to be turned away. When ICE and DHS block Members of Congress, they’re not just slamming the door on U.S. Representatives, they’re slamming it on the American people’s right to know how their government is treating human beings with their tax dollars. This lawsuit is our message: We as Members of Congress will do our job, and we will not let these agencies operate in the shadows.”

Congressman Gomez has made three separate oversight attempts to visit facilities where migrants, including children, are reportedly being held in harsh or inhumane conditions. On each occasion, he was either denied entry or blocked by ICE and DHS officials: 

• June 7, 2025 – Denied entry to the Roybal Federal Building Detention Center during an oversight visit with fellow Members of Congress, despite federal law granting access.
  Read statement → click
• June 9, 2025 – Returned to the Roybal facility and was again denied entry, even after presenting his official Congressional ID at the door.
  Watch video → click
• June 17, 2025 – Despite providing advance notice and following all proper protocols, Congressman Gomez was once again blocked from entering the Roybal Detention Center, marking his third denied oversight attempt in less than two weeks.
  Watch video → click 

In June 2025, the Trump-Vance Administration implemented a new, unlawful policy that mandates a seven-day notice period and prohibits access to field offices where people are being detained, despite a federal law that prevents these restrictions. This new policy blocks Members of Congress from obtaining real time information necessary to perform their constitutional duty to ensure the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is complying with federal law in operating these facilities and to oversee how billions in taxpayer dollars are being spent. 

The lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia demands that the administration comply with a federal law that guarantees Members of Congress the right to conduct oversight visits to any DHS and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) sites where noncitizens are detained without prior notice.  

At a time when the administration is detaining more individuals than ever before—over 58,000 people—and reports of mistreatment, overcrowding, unsanitary conditions, and the detention of U.S. citizens are growing, the need for real-time, on-the-ground oversight has never been more urgent. Eleven people have died in immigration custody in the first six months of this administration. DHS’s recent mass layoffs of internal oversight personnel only deepen the concerns about this conduct and possible abuse. 

The lawsuit plaintiffs include Assistant Democratic Leader Joe Neguse; Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Rep. Adriano Espaillat; Homeland Security Committee Ranking Member Rep. Bennie G. Thompson; Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Rep. Jamie Raskin; House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Ranking Member Rep. Robert Garcia; House Homeland Security Committee Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement Ranking Member Rep. J. Luis Correa; Rep. Jason Crow; Rep. Veronica Escobar; Rep. Dan Goldman; Rep. Jimmy Gomez; Rep. Raul Ruiz; and Rep. Norma Torres. 

The congressional leaders are represented by Democracy Forward Foundation and American Oversight. 

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

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart (FL-26), Vice Chair of the House Appropriations Committee, Dean of the Florida Delegation, and Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the Congressional Everglades Caucus, issued the following statement after the House Appropriations Committee approved the Fiscal Year 2026 Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill:

“I was proud to support the FY 2026 Interior funding bill, for which I obtained critical funding for Everglades preservation and restoration efforts, Big Cypress National Preserve, and the Miccosukee Tribe, among other Southern Florida priorities.

“This bill also promotes American energy independence, enhances U.S. competitiveness, ensures access to public lands, and reduces burdensome Biden-era red tape, all while cutting wasteful spending by six percent.

“My deepest gratitude to Chairman Simpson for working directly with me to address key priorities of Florida’s Miccosukee Tribe of Indians, the true stewards of our unique and treasured Everglades National Park.” 

Díaz-Balart secured these priorities for Southern Florida:

• $973,000 for the Town of MiamiLakes Big Cypress DrainageImprovements Project.
• $11.6 million for the Everglades Restoration Project through the National Park Service.
• $73.8 million for the State and Tribal Wildlife Grant Program for the development and implementation of programs benefiting wildlife and their habitats.
• $6 million to address water qualityby providing funding for critical harmful algal bloom research.
• $1 million in direct funding for South Florida to expand water quality and ecosystem health monitoring and prediction network.
• Report language supporting the Tribe’s ongoing efforts with the Department of the Interior to review subsurface mineral rights on their land.
• Report language prohibiting drilling inBig Cypress National Preserve.
• Report language recognizing the recent passage of the Miccosukee Reserved Area Amendments Act (H.R. 504), which expands the Miccosukee Reserved Area to include Osceola Camp in Everglades National Park and directs the Department of the Interior, in consultation with the Tribe, to take necessary actions to protect structures within the camp from flooding.
• Bill language ensuring that no part of Big Cypress National Preserve may be designated as wilderness, a longstanding priority of Congressman Díaz-Balart to protect access for the Tribes and broader public.
• Reduce our reliance on foreign countries for critical minerals by promoting access to resources here at home.
• Ensures chemical and pesticide manufacturers are not overburdened with requirements that would drive businesses overseas and threaten American competitiveness.
• Provides no funds for the American Climate Corps, eco-grief training, or environmental justice activities.
• Blocks Biden-era regulations that were imposing costs on American families and industry, such as:
  • EPA’s car emission regulations on light, medium, and heavy-duty vehicles;
  • EPA’s Clean Power Plan 2.0; and
  • Regulatory overreach regarding ozone emissions.

A summary of the bill is available here.

Bill Report is available here.

Bill Text is available here.

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