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Jayapal Welcomes Home Americans, While Condemning Trump Administration’s Unlawful Removals

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (7th District of Washington)

SEATTLE, W.A. — U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Immigration, Integrity, Security, and Enforcement, issued the following statement regarding the reported deal between the United States, El Salvador, and Venezuela:

“I am grateful that United States citizens held by the oppressive Maduro regime are finally able to come home and be reunited with their loved ones. Many of these Americans had been unjustly detained for years.

“At the same time, I am outraged that President Trump and his administration continue to lie to the American people. For months, the Trump administration had been telling U.S. courts. They claimed that the individuals he had shipped off to El Salvador with no due process were under the complete control of the El Salvadoran government, and the administration had no ability to bring them back to the United States for their fair day in court.  Today’s announcement shows that it was false.

“I am also devastated for the many Venezuelans who came to the U.S., who never committed a crime, and many of whom were fleeing persecution from the Maduro regime, are now being sent back into the hands of their persecutors.  These individuals, like Andry Hernandez Romero, were never able to present their asylum claim and were sent out of this country in violation of our constitution and our laws.

“We will hold this administration accountable for its continued lawlessness.”

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Wasserman Schultz, Díaz-Balart, Gonzales, Espaillat Lead Latino-Jewish Caucus in Marking Anniversary of AMIA Jewish Center Bombing, Demand Accountability

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23)

“More than three decades after the tragic AMIA Jewish Center bombing, and there’s still no justice for the 85 victims, the hundreds of injured, and countless people who were traumatized by this attack,” said Wasserman Schultz. “With antisemitism skyrocketing around the world, this gruesome attack on Argentina’s thriving Jewish community cannot go unanswered. Congressmen Diaz-Balart, Espaillat, Gonzales, and I are all proud to honor the victims of this attack and keep up the vital pursuit of justice for their loved ones.”

Washington, D.C. – This week, U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25), Co-Chair of the Latino-Jewish Caucus, was joined by fellow Co-Chairs, Reps. Mario Díaz-Balart (FL-26), Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) and Tony Gonzales (TX-23) in sponsoring a resolution to commemorate the 31st anniversary of the 1994 bombing of the AMIA Jewish Community Center in Buenos Aires and demanding justice and accountability for those responsible for the attack.

“More than three decades after the tragic AMIA Jewish Center bombing, and there’s still no justice for the 85 victims, the hundreds of injured, and countless people who were traumatized by this attack,” said Wasserman Schultz. “With antisemitism skyrocketing around the world, this gruesome attack on Argentina’s thriving Jewish community cannot go unanswered. Congressmen Diaz-Balart, Espaillat, Gonzales, and I are all proud to honor the victims of this attack and keep up the vital pursuit of justice for their loved ones.”

“Today, we honor and mourn the 85 innocent lives, overwhelmingly members of Argentina’s Jewish community, who were brutally murdered, and the more than 300 injured, in the deadliest antisemitic terrorist attack in Argentina’s history. On July 18, 1994, the Asociación Mutual Israelita Argentina (AMIA) in Buenos Aires was targeted in an act of blatant antisemitism,” said Diaz-Balart. “I remain committed to demanding justice and accountability for the vile perpetrators of this crime, including Iran’s former Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi and other terrorists. We must never forget the victims, and we must continue to condemn the alarming rise of antisemitism wherever it appears and hold accountable those who engage in such heinous acts.”

“As co-chair of the Latino-Jewish Congressional Caucus, I am proud to join my colleagues to reintroduce this resolution that recognizes the 31st anniversary of the attack on the AMIA in Buenos Aires, which was the deadliest terrorist attack in Argentine history,” said Espaillat. “Today’s bipartisan resolution demonstrates the Caucus’ commitment to ensuring justice for each of the victims as we embrace their families and loved ones. Terrorism and antisemitism have no place in our society, and the reintroduction of this legislation reaffirms our solidarity with the Jewish community in Argentina and around the world.”

“31 years ago, 85 souls were taken from our world far too soon in the AMIA Jewish Center bombing in Buenos Aires. We will never forget the victims, their families, and all those touched by this horrific tragedy,” said Gonzales. “Now more than ever, America needs steady voices in Congress in the fight to eradicate antisemitism. As leaders of the Latino-Jewish Caucus, this is central to our mission.” 

“This week, Argentine and Jewish communities worldwide mark the 31st anniversary of the bombing of the Argentine Israelite Mutual Association (AMIA) building in Buenos Aires, the deadliest antisemitic attack since the Holocaust until Hamas’ October 7 terrorist attack on Israel. For over three decades, American Jewish Committee (AJC) has persistently advocated for justice, urging Argentina to hold those responsible accountable. The AMIA bombing, carried out by Hezbollah operatives, is a reminder of the global threat posed by the Iranian regime and its proxies. We commend the co-chairs of the Latino-Jewish Congressional Caucus, Representatives Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Mario Díaz-Balart (R-FL), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), and Tony Gonzales (R-TX), for their leadership and steadfast commitment to advancing truth and justice, and for sustaining awareness of the Iranian regime’s continuous destabilizing activities around the world. Let this anniversary renew our commitment to ensure the victims are never forgotten, that justice is ultimately served, and that dangerous proxies can no longer sow terror across the globe,” said Dina Siegel Vann, Director, The Arthur and Rochelle Belfer Institute for Latino and Latin American Affairs, AJC.

First established in 2011 with support from the American Jewish Committee, the bipartisan Latino-Jewish Congressional Caucus has cemented stronger bonds based on Latino and Jewish communities’ shared histories as immigrants and minorities. It has also been vocal in responding to the growing wave of antisemitism across the globe in the U.S. The 25-member Caucus is now led by Reps. Wasserman Schultz, Díaz-Balart, Espaillat, and Tony Gonzales. Last July, Rep. Wasserman Schultz joined a Congressional delegation to Buenos Aires to participate in the formal 30th anniversary commemoration of the AMIA attack.

The text of House Resolution 597 can be found here and below:

Condemning the attack on the Argentine Jewish Mutual Association Jewish Community Center in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in July 1994, and encouraging accountability

for the attack.

Whereas, 31 years ago, on July 18, 1994, 85 innocent people were killed and more than 300 were injured when the Asociación Mutual Israelita Argentina (AMIA) was bombed in Buenos Aires, Argentina;

Whereas at that time, the AMIA bombing was the deadliest attack on Jewish people outside Israel since the Holocaust;

Whereas it is reported that considerable evidence links the attack to the terrorist group Hezbollah, which is based in Lebanon, and sponsored by Iran, a U.S.-designated state

sponsor of terrorism since 1984;

Whereas, two years earlier, Hezbollah operatives also blew up the Israeli embassy in Buenos Aires, killing 29 civilians and injuring 242;

Whereas the 31 years since the bombing have been marred by a failure to bring those responsible, including Iran backed operatives and their Hezbollah proxies, to justice;

Whereas, in September 2004, ten years after the attack, Alberto Nisman was appointed as the Special Prosecutor in charge of the 1994 AMIA bombing investigation;

Whereas, in October 2006, Argentine prosecutors Alberto Nisman and Marcelo Martinez Burgos formally accused the Iranian regime of directing the bombing, and the Hezbollah militia of carrying it out;

Whereas the Argentine prosecutors charged Iranian nationals as suspects in the AMIA bombing, including—

(1) Ali Fallahijan, Iran’s former intelligence minister;

(2) Mohsen Rabbani, Iran’s former cultural attache´ in Buenos Aires;

(3) Ahmad Reza Asghari, a former Iranian diplomat posted to Argentina;

(4) Ahmad Vahidi, Iran’s former defense minister;

(5) Ali Akbar Velayati, Iran’s former foreign minister; (6) Mohsen Rezaee, former chief commander of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps;

(7) Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, former President of Iran; and

(8) Hadi Soleimanpour, former Iranian ambassador to Argentina;

Whereas Ibrahim Hussein Berro, a member of the terrorist group Hezbollah, was identified as the AMIA bomber;

Whereas, in November 2006, an Argentine judge issued arrest warrants for 8 Iranian nationals, including high ranking regime and military operatives, and one Lebanese national, who were named as suspects in the AMIA bombing;

Whereas, in November 2007, INTERPOL voted to put the following suspects in the 1994 AMIA attack on its most wanted list—Ali Fallahijan, Mohsen Rabbani, Ahmad Reza Asghari, Ahmad Vahidi, Mohsen Razaee from Iran, and Imad Fayez Moughnieh from Lebanon;

Whereas INTERPOL currently has three red alerts in place in relation to the AMIA attack ;

Whereas, on January 13, 2015, prosecutor Alberto Nisman alleged in a complaint that then-Argentinian President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner and then-Minister of Foreign Relations Hector Timerman conspired to cover up Iranian involvement in the 1994 terrorist bombing, and reportedly agreed to negotiate immunity for Iranian suspects and help get their names removed from the INTERPOL list;

Whereas prosecutor Alberto Nisman was scheduled to present his new findings to the Argentinian Congress on January 19, 2015;

Whereas prosecutor Alberto Nisman was found shot in the head in his apartment in Buenos Aires on January 18, 2015;

Whereas the investigation of the AMIA bombing has been marked by judicial misconduct and undue influence;

Whereas, to date, no one has been brought to justice for the 1992 bombing of the Israeli Embassy in Argentina, the 1994 bombing of the AMIA Jewish Community Center in Buenos Aires, or the death of Argentine prosecutor Alberto Nisman;

Whereas former Federal judge Juan Jose Galeano and former State Intelligence Secretariat intelligence head Hugo Anzorreguy have both been convicted and sentenced to prison for subverting the investigation and concealing evidence;

Whereas, in 2019, the Argentine Government declared Hezbollah a terrorist organization, expelled all members of the organization from the country, and froze their assets in Argentina;

Whereas, in 2020, Argentine President Alberto Fernandez reaffirmed the commitment of the Argentine Republic to bring those responsible for the attack to justice;

Whereas, on April 12th, 2024, Argentina’s highest criminal court, the Argentine Court of Cassation, broke the extended silence of the justice system by affirming Iran’s responsibility for the deadly bombing and declaring it a ‘‘crime against humanity’’;

Whereas according to news reports of the ruling, the court identified ‘‘top Iranian officials and paramilitary Revolutionary Guard commanders in its determination that Iran carried out the bombings in response to Argentina scrapping three contracts that would have provided Tehran with nuclear technology in the mid-1980s’’;

Whereas Argentine President Javier Milei commended the high court’s ruling, noting that the determination was a ‘‘significant step’’ that put an end to decades of ‘‘delays and cover-ups’’;

Whereas leaders in Argentina’s Jewish community, including AMIA President Amos Linetzky, noted that the historic ruling would finally provide an opportunity for survivors and relatives of victims to seek legal action against Iran;

Whereas the Foreign Ministry of Argentina responded to the court’s ruling by requesting that INTERPOL issue an immediate international arrest notice for Ahmad Vahidi, who is now the Iranian Interior Minister, ‘‘as one of those responsible for the attack on AMIA’’

Whereas, in March 2025, Argentina passed Law No. 27.784, which allows trial in absentia, opening the door for prosecuting foreign suspects not present in the country;

Whereas, in April 2025, AMIA special prosecutor Sebastia´n Basso requested both national and international arrest warrants for Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei under the authority of Law No. 27.784;

Whereas, on June 26, 2025, Federal Judge Daniel Rafecas ruled that a trial in absentia would be held for the 10 men accused of planning and ordering the terrorist attack on the AMIA; and

Whereas, today, Argentina is home to more than 250,000 Jewish people, making it the largest home to Jews in Latin America and the 6th largest in the world:

Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives—

(1) condemns the 1994 attack on the Asociación Mutual Israelita Argentina (AMIA) in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and remembers the victims of this heinous act;

(2) honors the memory of the victims and expresses sympathy to their relatives, who have waited for more than 3 decades without justice for the loss of their loved ones;

(3) underscores the concern of the United States regarding the continuing delay in the proper resolution of this case;

(4) calls for the perpetrators of this horrific act, including Iranian and Hezbollah operatives, to be held accountable for their crimes;

(5) commends the Government of Argentina for designating Hezbollah and Hamas as terrorist organizations and urges other United States allies and partners in Latin America and the Caribbean to do the same;

(6) demands that INTERPOL member countries comply with arrest orders for individuals responsible for the deadly attack on the AMIA Jewish Community Center; and

(7) stands in solidarity with the Jewish community of Argentina and the broader Latin American and Caribbean Jewish diaspora at a time of surging antisemitism around the world.

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Rep. Mike Levin Reintroduces Bipartisan Bill to Combat Automatic Recurring Campaign Contributions

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

July 17, 2025

Washington, D.C.—Today, Reps. Mike Levin (CA-49), Nick LaLota (NY-01), Joe Neguse (CO-02), and Jay Obernolte (CA-08) reintroduced the bipartisan Uncheck the Box Act to prevent political campaigns from using pre-checked boxes to solicit recurring contributions.

The bipartisan legislation would require political campaigns across the board to receive affirmative consent, without passive action such as failing to uncheck a pre-checked box, for recurring contributions and prohibit a person from soliciting a recurring contribution to a political committee, independent expenditure, or any electioneering communication that does not require the contributor to provide affirmative consent.

“Politicians can’t claim to protect Americans from fraud and abuse while simultaneously shaking them down with confusing fundraising techniques,” said Rep. Levin. “Preventing scams is not a partisan issue. This bill should be a no-brainer for every member of Congress who cares about the financial security of their constituents. I thank Reps. LaLota, Neguse, and Obernolte for their bipartisan partnership on this bill and look forward to moving it through the legislative process.”

“No one should be tricked into making recurring donations they didn’t intend to authorize. The Uncheck the Box Act is a common-sense step to protect consumers from deceptive fundraising tactics,” said Rep. Nick LaLota. “As someone who oversaw elections in my previous role as Suffolk County Elections Commissioner, I know how important it is to maintain trust in our political system, and I’m proud to work across the aisle to deliver this important consumer protection.”

“Americans want a fix to dysfunction in American politics and our broken campaign finance system,” said Congressman Neguse. “The Uncheck the Box Act is a common-sense way to restore integrity and transparency, preventing campaigns from taking advantage of voters engaging in the electoral process. And I’m incredibly proud to join a bipartisan coalition of representatives in working to usher this bill across the finish line.”

In 2021, the bipartisan Federal Election Commission (FEC) unanimously recommended that Congress ban political campaigns from using prechecked boxes to default donors into making recurring contributions. This deceptive fundraising technique has led a large number of Americans to file complaints with the FEC, which has been unable to assist without statutory authority from Congress.

The Uncheck the Box Act would also improve transparency between committees and Americans by forcing committees and independent expenditures to provide a receipt disclosing terms of recurring contributions, include the information needed to cancel any contribution on all communications, and immediately cancel all subsequent contributions on request.

Reps. Levin and LaLota preciously introduced the Uncheck the Box Act in 2024.

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BABIN VOTES TO RESCIND $9.4 BILLION IN WASTEFUL SPENDING

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Brian Babin (R-TX)

Today, the U.S. House of Representatives voted on H.R. 4, the Rescissions Act of 2025, a major step in House Republicans’ ongoing mission to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse from the bloated federal bureaucracy. The bill, based on recommendations from President Trump and the newly established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), rescinds $9.4 billion in previously appropriated funds deemed unnecessary or wasteful.

“Americans work hard for their money. They deserve a government that works just as hard to spend it wisely,” said Rep. Babin. “This rescissions package is a critical step in getting our government back on track and putting America First. This bill reflects our commitment to Promises Made, Promises Kept. It’s just the first tranche in our broader strategy—alongside the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and the appropriations process—to restore fiscal sanity in Washington and prioritize the needs of the American people.”

The rescinded funds span 21 budget line items across numerous agencies, including the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and the United States Institute of Peace.

Examples of spending being cut include:

·       $5 million to subsidize green energy in Europe.

·       $1 million for Voter ID in Haiti, while Democrats block it here at home.

·       $18 million for “gender diversity” in the Mexican street lighting industry.

·       $3 million to promote abortion in Venezuela.

·       $135 million in contributions to the World Health Organization.

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Brownley, California Democrats Demand Immediate Release of $928 Million in Education Funding Owed to California

Source: United States House of Representatives – Julia Brownley (D-CA)

Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA) joined Congresswoman Norma Torres (D-CA), Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Congresswoman Sara Jacobs (D-CA), Congressmen Derek Tran (D-CA), Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA), Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA), and the entire California Democratic Congressional Delegation in demanding the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) immediately release nearly $7 billion in Congressionally-appropriated funding for K-12 schools and adult education — including $928 million owed to California.

With the start of the new school year approaching in California, the Trump administration gave states only one day’s notice that these critical funds would be indefinitely frozen past their typical release on July 1, 2025. As a result, California schools are already being forced to roll back programs, lay off staff, and cut student services.

“These programs support some of the most vulnerable and underserved students and communities in California and have been demonstrated to have lifelong benefits to students’ educational attainment, income, and other measures of well-being. Each passing day that these funds are unlawfully withheld hurts our schools and students and strains already limited budgets,” said the Members. “In California alone, the Trump administration’s funding freeze is affecting hundreds of thousands of students and educators. For many of California’s school districts, this funding had already been accounted for in school budgets for the upcoming school year. Now, our schools are being forced to delay hiring and reduce resources to help students.”

The withheld funding includes vital investments in:

  • Reducing class sizes and teacher recruitment and retention, especially in underserved areas.
  • After-school, before-school, and summer learning programs in low-income communities.
  • School-based mental health services, accelerated learning courses, STEM education, and college and career counseling.
  • Academic Support for English learners and children of migrant workers.
  • Adult education and workforce readiness programs.

With nearly 5.8 million K-12 students in California, the illegal freezing of these funds is already hurting our schools and students. Many school districts had already budgeted for these federal dollars, leaving them scrambling to fill massive funding gaps just weeks before the school year begins.

“We demand that the Department of Education and the Trump Administration stop holding K-12 student funding hostage and release the nearly $7 billion in funding meant to help our students, teachers, and families, including the $928 million being unlawfully withheld from California,” the members continued. “This illegal freeze in funding is setting our students and schools up for failure. Our teachers, families, and children deserve better than the Trump Administration’s reckless upheaval and chaos.”

The letter was also signed by Pete Aguilar (D-CA), Nanette Barragán (D-CA), Ami Bera (D-CA), Salud Carbajal (D-CA), Judy Chu (D-CA), Gilbert Cisneros (D-CA), Lou Correa (D-CA), Jim Costa (D-CA), Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA), Laura Friedman (D-CA), John Garamendi (D-CA), Robert Garcia (D-CA), Jimmy Gomez (D-CA), Adam Gray (D-CA), Josh Harder (D-CA), Jared Huffman (D-CA), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA), Ro Khanna (D-CA), Mike Levin (D-CA), Sam Liccardo (D-CA), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Doris Matsui (D-CA), Dave Min (D-CA), Kefvin Mullin (D-CA), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Scott Peters (D-CA), Luz Rivas (D-CA), Raul Ruiz (D-CA), Linda Sánchez (D-CA), Brad Sherman (D-CA), Lateefah Simon (D-CA), Eric Swalwell (D-CA), Mark Takano (D-CA), Mike Thompson (D-CA), Juan Vargas (D-CA), Maxine Waters (D-CA), and George Whitesides (D-CA).

The full letter can be found here and below: 

The Honorable Linda E. McMahon
Secretary
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Ave., SW
Washington, D.C. 20202

The Honorable Russell Vought
Director
Office of Management and Budget
Executive Office of the President
725 17th Street NW
Washington, DC 20503

Dear Secretary McMahon and Director Vought:

As Members of the California Congressional Delegation, we write to express deep concerns regarding the Department of Education’s illegal and reckless decision to withhold nearly $7 billion in funding for K-12 schools and adult education, including $928 million for California. With the start of the new school year approaching, on June 30, 2025, States were just given one day’s notice that the funds would be indefinitely frozen past their typical release on July 1. This freeze leaves our communities scrambling and is already forcing schools in California and across America to roll back programs, lay off staff, and cut services for our students. Releasing these funds, which support critical education programs and services for millions of students, is required by law. We call on you to immediately reverse your illegal decision and distribute the funding to States.

These funds make up more than 10% of federal investments in K-12 schools in most states. With nearly 5.8 million K-12 students in California, the illegal freezing of these Congressionally appropriated funds is already hurting our schools and students, impacting the planning, operation, and funding for programs that support:

  • Reducing class sizes; recruiting and retaining teachers, including in underserved areas; and improving the effectiveness of teachers, principals, and other school leaders through the Supporting Effective Instruction State Grants program (Title II, Part A);
  • Quality, local after-school, before-school, and summer learning for students, particularly those in underserved communities, through the Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers program (Title IV, Part B);
  • Local community efforts to improve students’ academic performance, such as accelerated learning courses, school-based mental health services, STEM education, and college and career counseling, through the Student Support and Academic Enrichment Program (Title IV, Part A);
  • English language learners in learning and gaining proficiency in English through the English Language Acquisition program (Title III, Part A);
  • Education for children of migrant and seasonal farmworkers who do the hard work to ensure Americans have food on their tables, through the Migrant Education program (Title I, Part C); and
  • Providing adults and out-of-school youth with the basic skills, like reading, math, and problem-solving, needed to be productive workers, family members, and citizens, through the Adult Basic and Literacy Education State Grants.

These programs support some of the most vulnerable and underserved students and communities in California and have been demonstrated to have lifelong benefits to students’ educational attainment, income, and other measures of well-being. Each passing day that these funds are unlawfully withheld hurts our schools and students and strains already limited budgets. In California alone, the Trump Administration’s funding freeze is affecting hundreds of thousands of students and educators. For many of California’s school districts, this funding had already been accounted for in school budgets for the upcoming school year. Now, our schools are being forced to delay hiring and reduce resources to help students. Rather than being able to work towards and plan for a successful learning environment for our students, each day that goes by means schools are forced to consider rolling back the programs mentioned above, lay off teachers, and cut back essential services.

We demand that the Department of Education and the Trump Administration stop holding K-12 student funding hostage and release the nearly $7 billion in funding meant to help our students, teachers, and families, including the $928 million being unlawfully withheld from California. This illegal freeze in funding is setting our students and schools up for failure. Our teachers, families, and children deserve better than the Trump Administration’s reckless upheaval and chaos.

Thank you for your urgent attention to this matter. Given the imminent start of the next school year, we request a prompt response no later than July 21, 2025.

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Congressional Delegation Demands USPS Refocus on Drug Interdiction, Protection of Children, Theft Prevention, and Other Core Duties

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Don Beyer (D-VA)

U.S. Representative Don Beyer (D-VA) today led 26 U.S. Representatives in pressing the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to immediately withdraw Postal Inspectors from the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) immigration task force. They warned that diverting USPS resources to DHS priorities jeopardizes USPS’ abilities to fulfill its essential responsibilities, including interdicting dangerous drugs, stopping theft, and investigating and preventing crimes against children.

They wrote to Acting Postmaster General Doug Tulino:

“We write with grave concern over the reported diversion of essential Postal Service law enforcement resources away from critical tasks like drug interdiction, anti-theft measures, and the prevention and investigation of crimes against children.

“As supporters of drug interdiction, anti-theft measures, and the protection of children, we are deeply concerned over reports that USPIS is being diverted away from those core missions to work on Department of Homeland Security (DHS) priorities. According to those reports, inspectors are spending time assisting DHS with painstaking review of individual letters and packages to locate individual immigrants targeted by DHS. That new task comes only a year after the Government Accountability Office (GAO) specifically recommended that USPIS continue its “increasingly important” efforts to align its resources with current mail security needs—not external priorities.

“At a time when the Postal Service is seeing year-over-year increases in serious crimes, both to employees and to mailboxes themselves, as well as mail theft, USPIS needs to focus on its core mission and not be subsumed into playing support staff for another agency’s priorities. If DHS needs additional staff and resources for their investigations, they can request additional appropriations from Congress as well as end reduction-in-force plans and hiring freezes that limit their ability to allocate and maintain appropriate staffing.

“On behalf of the countless Americans who are concerned about illegal narcotics, mail theft, child protection, we ask that you immediately end USPIS’ participation in DHS’ immigration task force and allow the service to renew its focus on its essential law enforcement efforts. Please provide an update as to the status of this request by Friday, August 1, 2025.”

The letter to Acting Postmaster General Tulino was sent by  U.S. Representatives Don Beyer (VA), Suzanne Bonamici (OR), André Carson (IN), Troy Carter (LA), Greg Casar (TX), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL), Judy Chu (CA), Yvette Clarke (NY), Steve Cohen (TN), Lou Correa (CA), Danny Davis (NC), Dwight Evans (PA), Dan Goldman (NY), Al Green (TX), Jonathan Jackson (IL), Pramila Jayapal (WA), Henry Johnson (GA), Zoe Lofgren (CA), Sarah McBride (DE), LaMonica McIver (NJ), Jimmy Panetta (CA), Bobby Scott (VA), Mark Takano (CA), Paul Tonko (NY), Marc Veasey (TX), Nydia Velázquez (NY), and Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC).

Full text of the letter follows below, and a signed copy is available here.

***

Dear Acting Postmaster General Tulino:

We write with grave concern over the reported diversion of essential Postal Service law enforcement resources away from critical tasks like drug interdiction, anti-theft measures, and the prevention and investigation of crimes against children.

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) is the oldest law enforcement agency in the country and has more than 200 years of experience protecting USPS workers from serious crime while enforcing laws that prohibit the use of our nation’s mail system for illegal activities. Among other responsibilities, postal inspectors prevent the flow of illegal and dangerous drugs through the mail and aggressively investigate mail theft. They are also invaluable partners to broader federal programs like the Department of Justice’s (DOJ’s) Project Safe Childhood (PSC), which is the federal government’s nationwide initiative to prevent the sexual exploitation of children.

Thanks to its long history and narrow focus on mail-related crimes, USPIS is tremendously effective at its core missions. In FY25 alone, USPIS has seized 1,301 pounds of fentanyl— enough for more than 295 million lethal doses of the drug. Over the course of another recent year, the Inspection Service initiated 1,559 arrests for mail theft, 482 for assault or robbery, and 3 for child exploitation. Historically, thanks to investigators’ dedicated work the consistent resources dedicated to USPIS, the service has more than a 98% conviction rate when it takes a case to trial.

As supporters of drug interdiction, anti-theft measures, and the protection of children, we are deeply concerned over reports that USPIS is being diverted away from those core missions to work on Department of Homeland Security (DHS) priorities. According to those reports, inspectors are spending time assisting DHS with painstaking review of individual letters and packages to locate individual immigrants targeted by DHS. That new task comes only a year after the Government Accountability Office (GAO) specifically recommended that USPIS continue its “increasingly important” efforts to align its resources with current mail security needs—not external priorities.

At a time when the Postal Service is seeing year-over-year increases in serious crimes, both to employees and to mailboxes themselves, as well as mail theft, USPIS needs to focus on its core mission and not be subsumed into playing support staff for another agency’s priorities. If DHS needs additional staff and resources for their investigations, they can request additional appropriations from Congress as well as end reduction-in-force plans and hiring freezes that limit their ability to allocate and maintain appropriate staffing.

On behalf of the countless Americans who are concerned about illegal narcotics, mail theft, child protection, we ask that you immediately end USPIS’ participation in DHS’ immigration task force and allow the service to renew its focus on its essential law enforcement efforts. Please provide an update as to the status of this request by Friday, August 1, 2025.

Sincerely,

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Republicans Push Forward with Energy and Water Funding Bill that Weakens Our National Security and Increases Energy Costs

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09)

**STATE-BY-STATE FACT SHEET** Republicans Slash Vital Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Funding for States

Washington, DC — Today, House Democrats exposed how Republicans’ Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Subcommittee 2026 funding bill increases costs for American households, undermines infrastructure investments, and weakens our national security.

The bill:

  • Increases energy costs, jeopardizes energy independence, and hurts United States’ competitiveness by slashing the Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy programs nearly in half, revoking more than $5 Billion from the Department of Energy’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law resources, and eliminating funding for the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations.
  • Weakens national security and leaves Americans more vulnerable to nuclear threats by cutting the National Nuclear Security Administration’s Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation account by 17 percent.
  • Abandons commitments to communities to clean up radioactive waste by eliminating funding for the Corps of Engineers’ Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program and cutting the Department of Energy’s Office of Environmental Management by 9 percent.

“Sadly, this Republican Energy and Water bill did not have bipartisan input, and does not meet the moment to set the course for our nation’s future in the new age frontiers of energy and water,” Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee Ranking Member Marcy Kaptur (OH-09) said. “This bill cedes American leadership in the global energy race to adversaries including the Chinese Communist Party. It weakens vital nuclear nonproliferation programs that help keep our country and world safe. By turning their backs on communities suffering from the long lasting impact of our early atomic weapons programs, Republicans show the callous disregard they have for America’s forgotten communities. We must invest in energy independence in perpetuity — or we will live to regret it, as our children and grandchildren inherit a future devoid of opportunity. The passage of this ill considered, and careless bill will hurt our communities from coast to coast, and is a true disservice to all the generations to come.”

Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur’s full remarks are here.

“House Republicans are wrapping up a long, chaotic week by advancing yet another funding bill that increases costs. This time, they are raising energy costs for American families and businesses,” Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) said. “Their cut of nearly half the budget for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy is a direct attack on the programs that lower energy bills for working families, create good-paying jobs in our communities, and keep America competitive. Republicans’ funding bill undermines the very programs that help us stop the spread of nuclear weapons, detect nuclear activity, and uphold arms control efforts that make America and the world safer – and it underfunds efforts to clean up sites contaminated by our nation’s early atomic energy program. Instead of working with Democrats to lower prices and invest in technology that promotes our energy independence, House Republicans are pushing a bill that raises energy costs for families and businesses and eliminates good-paying jobs.”

During today’s markup, Democrats fought to make changes to Republicans’ bill, including to:

  • Prohibit the implementation of tariffs that would raise consumer energy prices.
  • Prevent the Department of Energy and other agencies from terminating critical projects simply based on the alignment with administration policies.
  • Prohibit the Republican’s Bonanza for Billionaires efforts to modify or terminate clean energy tax credits.
  • Increase funds for the Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E).

These changes were rejected by House Republicans.

A summary of the bill is here. A fact sheet is here.
The text of the bill, before the adoption of amendments in full committee, is here. The bill report, before the adoption of amendments in full Committee, is here. Information on Community Project Funding in the bill is here.
A state-by-state breakdown of the amount of funding House Republicans are trying to slash from the Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) programs is here.

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Carter Brings Jobs, Opportunities to GA-01 Through Key Defense Appropriations Wins

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Earl L Buddy Carter (GA-01)

Headline: Carter Brings Jobs, Opportunities to GA-01 Through Key Defense Appropriations Wins

Carter Brings Jobs, Opportunities to GA-01 Through Key Defense Appropriations Wins

Washington, July 18, 2025

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA) this week secured wins for Georgia’s First Congressional District (GA-01) in the Department of Defense Appropriations Act of 2025, investing in key improvements for our nation’s defense readiness and strengthening the local economy. 

“When GA-01’s military and economy are strong, the entire region benefits. I am proud to have brought critical funding home for our district, ensuring our bases remain among the best and most prepared in the nation while also supplying jobs and opportunities for servicemembers and civilians alike. With these funds, we will cement our district’s leadership in providing for our nation’s defense,” said Rep. Carter.                    

Combined, these funds will benefit the GA-01 by providing jobs, stimulating the economy by supporting local businesses, and strengthening our military operations. 

Specifically, this funding included: 

  • $474 million for the Compass Call Aircraft, procured through Gulfstream; 
  • Full funding for two Virginia-class submarines at Kings Bay Naval Base; 
  • Full funding for one Columbia-class submarine at Kings Bay Naval Base; and, 
  • $10 million for Infantry Support Weapons, procured through Daniel Defense.

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Rep. Moore Amendment Restores Funding for Appalachian Regional Commission in Annual Funding Bill

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Riley Moore (WV-02)

Washington, D.C. – Last night, Congressman Riley M. Moore’s amendment to restore critical funding for the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) was adopted by the full House Appropriations Committee. This important regional commission, which provides vital resources for West Virginia, receives its funding from the annual Energy and Water Development appropriations bill.

Congressman Moore issued the following statement:

“I’m thrilled my amendment to restore critical funding for the Appalachian Regional Commission passed the House Appropriations Committee last night. ARC is an invaluable resource for West Virginia that creates jobs, combats addiction, trains our workforce, and improves our state’s infrastructure.

“I will always fight for West Virginia and will always ensure Appalachia’s voice is heard in Congress.”

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House Passes Annual Defense Funding Bill, Rep. Moore Votes “Yes”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Riley Moore (WV-02)

Washington, D.C. – Early this morning, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 4016, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2026. Congressman Riley M. Moore, who is a member of the House Appropriations Committee, voted “Yes” on the bill.

The legislation provides $831.5 billion for annual military expenses, including operations and maintenance; personnel; procurement; and research, development, test, and evaluation.

Congressman Moore issued the following statement:

“This defense funding bill makes critical investments to rebuild our military and prioritizes lethality after years of distraction with extreme left-wing ideology. I was proud to vote ‘Yes.’

“The legislation ensures a 21st-century military by modernizing our nuclear triad, investing in hypersonics, propping up the Golden Dome, and developing the next generation of fighter aircraft. It also supports our troops by providing a 3.8% pay raise for all military personnel.

“Our bill supports President Trump’s broader strategic vision of peace through strength. With it, we’re sending a clear message to our adversaries abroad: the days of prioritizing DEI trainings, drag queen shows on ships, transgender surgeries for troops, and funding abortion-related travel are over. From here on out, our sole focus is warfighting.”

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