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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (9th District of Illinois)

EVANSTON – Today, U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (IL-09) released the following statement in response to President Donald Trump’s threat to assert federal control over elections:

“Donald Trump doesn’t get to rewrite the rules of our elections because he’s afraid of losing.

“Threatening to use emergency powers to take control of voting is an unconstitutional power grab. Our elections belong to the people, not Donald Trump.

“We must raise our voices, take a stand, and fight with everything we’ve got to protect every voter’s freedom and our democracy. The American people, not Donald Trump, decide who represents them.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07)

Tour and Convening Come During MA’s Urban Agriculture Week and While Trump Administration Cuts Local Food System Funding

Photos (Dropbox)

EVERETT – Today, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) and Massachusetts Commissioner of Agricultural Resources Ashley Randle visited the Everett Community Garden to convene urban farmers, environmental stewards, elected officials, and policymakers for a tour and roundtable discussion on the future of urban agriculture and environmental stewardship in Massachusetts. The timely discussion comes as the Trump Administration continues to cut funding to support underserved farmers, urban forestry, environmental justice, and nutrition assistance programs, exacerbating food insecurity and the climate crisis.

The convening was hosted in partnership with the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) and Everett Community Growers (ECG) and highlighted the essential work of urban farmers and environmental stewards in advancing food sovereignty, healthy food access, environmental justice, and climate resilience.

“Urban agriculture is about more than just food—it is community in action, promoting food sovereignty, environmental justice, and climate resilience,” said Congresswoman Pressley. “While Trump and Republicans attack urban farmers and rip food away from our families, I’m grateful for the meaningful work done by the Commonwealth and cities like Everett to stand in the gap. It was a joy to see this work up close and discuss how we can continue creating more just, equitable, and sustainable communities.”

“Urban agriculture is a movement and practice that helps to transform communities by tackling the root causes of injustices in food systems and nourishing the souls and stomachs of community members,” said Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) Commissioner Ashley Randle. “I am deeply grateful for the Congresswoman’s tireless advocacy in her district and beyond to ensure community voices are heard so we can continue advancing and deepening our support of urban agriculture across the Commonwealth. Together, we’re working to ensure that all community members have access to local, fresh food.”

“Events like this are important because they bring together the people working at every level to improve access to fresh, healthy food,” said Mayor Robert J. Van Campen. “Here in Everett, we’re doing our part through our farmers markets, Community Fridge and partnerships with local organizations, while looking for new opportunities to expand urban agriculture and community gardening. I’m proud to see Everett be part of this larger effort to build healthier, more accessible food systems across Massachusetts.”

“Everett Community Growers is grateful to have gathered our friends and neighbors from across the district on a beautiful summer day to celebrate urban agriculture. The passion, creativity, and care of urban farmers was in full bloom in Everett’s community garden today.” –Everett Community Growers

Photos from the event are available here.

Congresswoman Pressley and Commissioner Randle were joined at the convening by Everett Mayor Robert Van Campen, Everett City Councilor At-Large Katy Rogers, State Senator Sal DiDomenico, United States Department of Agriculture – Farm Service Agency, Grow Boston – City of Boston, Public Space & Urban Forestry – City of Somerville, Cambridge Health Alliance, Massachusetts Food System Collaborative, Massachusetts Sierra Club, UMass Urban Agriculture Extension Service, Northeastern Organic Farmers Association, Charles River Watershed Association, Mystic River Watershed Association, Conservation Law Foundation, The Urban Farming Institute, We Grow Microgreens, Trust for Public Land, Green City Growers, The Food Project, Boston Farms, Haley House, GreenRoots, Eastie Farm, and urban farmers, environmental stewards, and community leaders from across Greater Boston.

Throughout her time in Congress, Rep. Pressley has also been a champion for food security and justice and ensuring families have the essential food assistance they deserve. She has been an outspoken critic of the Big, Ugly Bill since its inception and Republicans’ harmful cuts to SNAP and other government service programs.

• Rep. Pressley held an emergency convening and press conference with SNAP-dependent food retailers to make plain how the 2025 Trump-Republican government shutdown and ongoing uncertainty over November SNAP benefits is harming Massachusetts families and our local economy. 
• Rep. Pressley joined Rep. McGovern convened a listening session in East Boston with Project Bread to highlight the devastating impacts that Trump’s Big, Ugly Bill will have on Massachusetts families who rely on federal food assistance.
• Rep. Pressley joined colleagues at a press conference imploring the House to reject the cruel and harmful legislation.
• Rep. Pressley joined the Congressional Black Caucus and over 100 colleagues in stalling a vote on the Big, Ugly Bill.  
• Rep. Pressley issued a statement condemning the Senate’s passage of the Big, Ugly Bill and vowing to continue fighting it using every tool available.
• Rep. Pressley rallied with advocates from Caring Across Generations, Care Can’t Wait, and partner organizations to protest Trump’s and Republicans’ Big Ugly Bill that proposes disastrous cuts to Medicaid, SNAP, and other essential programs and would leave communities sicker, poorer, and more vulnerable.
• Ahead of the House’s vote on the bill, Rep. Pressley delivered an impassioned speech on the House floor in which she made a direct appeal to her Republican colleagues to oppose this cruel and harmful bill.
• Rep. Pressley delivered a floor speech in which she slammed the bill’s proposed Medicaid cuts, which would decimate reproductive healthcare in America and worsen maternal health outcomes.
• Rep. Pressley co-hosted a press conference with Color of Change to oppose the Republicans’ cruel and harmful budget reconciliation package, which would gut critical programs like Medicaid and SNAP.
• In the House Oversight Committee’s markup of the Republican reconciliation bill, Rep. Pressley demanded Republicans answer to the families who would go hungry by way of this reconciliation bill – and she was met with silence.
• In an impassioned speech on the House floor, Rep. Pressley slammed Republicans’ cruel and callous budget resolution that would slash Medicaid, SNAP, and other critical government services to pay for trillions of dollars in tax giveaways for Donald Trump’s billionaire donors.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (12th District of Michigan)

U.S. Representatives Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06) and Jack Bergman (R-MI-01), alongside nine of their Michigan colleagues in the U.S. House, co-led a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) highlighting the essential role of Gift of Life Michigan. Gift of Life Michigan is the federally designated non-profit Organ Procurement Organization (OPO) serving Michigan. As CMS undertakes this year’s OPO recertification process, the lawmakers are urging the administration to consider the essential role Gift of Life Michigan and its nearly 400 staff statewide play in serving their communities and sustaining the systems that make life-saving organ, eye, and tissue donation and transplantation possible.

A copy of the letter can be found HERE and below:

Dear Secretary Kennedy and Administrator Oz:

We write as the congressional delegation representing Michigan to express our strong support for the recertification of Gift of Life Michigan, the federally designated non-profit Organ Procurement Organization (OPO) serving our state. As CMS undertakes this year’s OPO recertification process, we urge you to thoughtfully consider the essential role Gift of Life Michigan—and its nearly 400 staff statewide—play in serving our communities and sustaining the systems that make life-saving organ, eye, and tissue donation and transplantation possible.

Since its founding in 1971, Gift of Life Michigan has built deep and enduring relationships with hospitals, health systems, medical examiners, transplant centers, and local community leaders across the state. They have also developed a profound understanding of Michigan’s population, the regional healthcare and governmental landscape, and the unique cultural contexts that shape effective donation work—expertise that cannot be quickly recreated or replaced without significant disruption and added taxpayer expense.

During the current certification cycle, Gift of Life Michigan has increased the number of organs available for transplant by 29% and expanded the Michigan Organ Donor Registry by 1.2 million people through sustained public education and community outreach12. The organization has also grown youth education efforts from 3,700 to more than 38,000 students, per internal data. Additionally, according to data from the Michigan Department of Treasury and Michigan Department of State, Gift of Life Michigan worked with state legislators and the Secretary of State to make Michigan the first state in the nation to include a Donor Registry question on state income tax forms—an initiative that has already produced 38,000 new donor registrations since 2024.

Given Gift of Life Michigan’s decades of experience, strong performance, deep community partnerships, and critical role in ensuring access to donation and transplantation services, we urge CMS to provide full and fair consideration of the organization’s longstanding service and effectiveness.

Maintaining continuity with a well-established, community-rooted OPO is essential to preserving public trust, supporting donor families, and ensuring patients across Michigan and the nation continue to receive timely, high-quality, life-saving donation and transplant services.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

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

Today, Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) delivered a $5 million ceremonial check for the Food & Farming Center in Snohomish County. DelBene secured the investment in the FY24 federal funding law.

Farmers in the region often lack resources to process and sell their products, and consumers struggle to access locally grown food. The Snohomish County Food & Farming Center will provide local fruit and vegetable farmers with equipment and infrastructure for processing, aggregation, and distribution. Plans for the center also feature a commercial kitchen and an indoor farmers market to aid consumers in purchasing locally grown produce. This funding will help Snohomish develop and build the center. In addition to the $5 million that DelBene secured in the FY24 federal funding law, she also secured $750,000 for the project in FY23.

Following the presentation of the ceremonial check, DelBene held a listening session with Snohomish County farmers at Bob’s Corn and Pumpkin Farm to hear about the problems they’re facing. Producers discussed disaster preparedness, workforce challenges, land use policies, and infrastructure funding. 

“Our region is home to a strong local farming community,” said DelBene. “We must make sure we are looking out for our farmers and provide them with the tools they need to successfully operate their farms and share their wonderful locally grown produce. As farmers face unprecedented challenges from high fuel and fertilizer costs, Trump’s tariffs, and a weak economy, federal funding will aid Snohomish County in supporting them and further developing this project.”

“Snohomish County has a long legacy of family farms that have fed our community for generations, when the new Food and Farming Center opens it will secure this legacy for future generations,” said Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers. “I am grateful to Rep. DelBene and our federal delegation for their partnership and collaboration to fund this important investment to support farmers and food security at a challenging time.”

DelBene secured over $18 million for 15 community projects across Washington’s 1^st Congressional District in the FY24 federal funding package. Only non-profit, city, county, and Tribal entities are permitted to receive funding.

More information about the project can be found here.

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

GARNETT, KS — Today, Representative Sharice Davids convened a roundtable with leaders from rural hospitals, community health clinics, and other organizations serving rural Kansans to discuss the harmful impact of extreme Medicaid cuts — made to fund tax giveaways for billionaires. With Kansas already having lost several rural hospitals over the past decade, these new cuts are accelerating closures and further limiting access to care in rural communities.

“Rural hospitals are already stretched thin, and these reckless Medicaid cuts only make it worse,” said Davids. “If we lose a rural hospital, everyone in that community — whether they’re on Medicaid or not — loses access to life-saving care. And these cuts don’t just put lives at risk. They drive up costs for everyone by forcing people to travel farther, wait longer, and delay the care they need. I’ll keep fighting to protect Kansas hospitals and the families who rely on them.”

The extreme Republican budget law includes the largest cuts to Medicaid in American history. According to the U.S. Congressional Joint Economic Committee, the new law will strip coverage from 92,937 Kansans, put six rural hospitals across Kansas at risk of closure, restrict reproductive healthcare, and increase Affordable Care Act premiums by $708 per year for Third District families.

Medicaid is a vital lifeline for rural hospitals, particularly in states like Kansas that have not expanded coverage. These extreme cuts threaten to strip over $78 million annually from Kansas hospitals that already care for high numbers of uninsured patients. Because Medicaid accounts for one-fifth of overall hospital spending, slashing this funding will drive up uncompensated care costs and push struggling facilities past the breaking point — forcing Kansans to travel hours just to get emergency or specialized care.

To help fix this issue, Davids introduced bipartisan legislation to strengthen rural hospital infrastructure and enhance patient care. The Rural Hospital Revitalization Act would provide interest-free loans of up to 10 years through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Community Facilities Program to support the construction and renovation of rural hospitals. The bill would allow rural hospitals to reinvest the savings from reduced debt costs into clinical care, workforce retention, and other operational needs.

Throughout her time in Congress, Davids has championed policies to make healthcare more affordable and accessible. She voted to cap insulin costs at $35 per month for Medicare recipients, extend tax credits that help families afford insurance through the Affordable Care Act, and cap annual out-of-pocket drug costs for seniors. She also supported giving Medicare the power to negotiate drug prices — saving 74,000 Kansans up to 79 percent — and led efforts to ban surprise medical billing and increase transparency from insurers to help patients avoid costly out-of-network care.

Participants in today’s roundtable included AdventHealth Ottawa, Hunger Free Kansas, Kansas Hospital Association, and Watkins Public Strategies.

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

KANSAS CITY, MO — Today, Representative Sharice Davids spent the day utilizing the KC Streetcar to travel to her public and local stakeholder meetings across Kansas City. Traveling between key stops from UMKC to Union Station, Davids demonstrated the impact of modern, accessible public transit while meeting with local leaders, business groups, and community partners across the metro area.

“Affordable public transportation is what connects our communities — getting people to work, school, local businesses, and doctor’s appointments safely and efficiently,” said Davids. “By relying on the KC Streetcar to get across town, I saw firsthand how vital reliable and affordable transit options are for helping folks get around the bi-state area. Investing in our infrastructure isn’t just about roads and bridges; it’s about ensuring our transit systems can grow alongside — and in service of — our local economy.”

Throughout the day, Davids used the transit line to connect directly with regional stakeholders and community leaders:

• Plaza & University of Missouri-Kansas City Stops: Met with community members to discuss local transit infrastructure and economic development along the Main Street extension.

• Winstead’s: Joined former Mayor Sly James and KC Streetcar Authority Executive Director Tom Gerend for lunch to discuss regional transportation growth and community connectivity.
• Union Hill & KCPT: Traveled to 31st & Main Street for meetings with local public media leadership at KCPT.

• Union Station & KC Chamber: Took the streetcar to a meeting with the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce Board to discuss regional economic development, followed by a meeting with Kansas City SmartPort + KC Foreign Trade Zones President Chris Gutierrez.

Davids has been a champion for securing federal transportation investments to expand the KC Streetcar:

• In 2021, Davids and Representative Emanuel Cleaver announced that the Kansas City Streetcar Main Street Extension project would receive full federal funding through a bill they supported in Congress.
• Following years of construction and coordination, Davids joined local leaders and community members in October 2025 to officially celebrate the grand opening of the Main Street Extension.
• Earlier this year, Davids secured $100 million to help regional transit agencies cover costs associated with hosting the FIFA World Cup 2026.
  • During the tournament, the KC Streetcar shattered ridership records by carrying 838,826 passenger trips.

“Working together as a city under the leadership of Tom Gerend, we’ve been able to give citizens and visitors to Kansas City free transportation from the Riverfront to the Plaza,” said SlyJames, Former Mayor, Kansas City, MO. “This kind of investment doesn’t happen without champions in Washington, and Congressman Sharice Davids has been exactly that. She fought for the federal support that made this expansion possible. Kansas City is stronger, more connected, and more accessible because of her support.”

“Since opening in 2016, the KC Streetcar System has carried over 20 million passenger trips and helped to stimulate billions of dollars in economic impact.” Said TomGerend, Executive Director, KC Streetcar Authority. “Without support from critically important federal transportation programs, and a supportive regional congressional delegation including Congressman Cleaver and Congresswoman Davids, these projects don’t happen and these incredible benefits are not realized. We thank them for their support and urge Congress to continue to deliver national transportation funding critical for the success of our transit systems and our communities.”

As a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Davids helped pass the bipartisan infrastructure law. It’s the largest federal investment in public transportation in the nation’s history, delivering record funding to modernize Kansas City’s public transit network:

• Davids secured over $49.3 million in direct federal formula funding for Kansas public transit systems during the first allocation under the bipartisan infrastructure law, delivering the largest single federal transit investment in state history.
• Working alongside Cleaver, Davids secured $14.88 million for the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA). This included investments to renovate bus facilities, add electric charging infrastructure, and develop high-capacity, zero-emission transit corridors across the bi-state region.

The bipartisan infrastructure law, which has been called the most fiscally responsible infrastructure bill in the last decade by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, is funded through a combination of new revenues and existing savings. To date, more than $3.2 billion has been invested in Kansas through the bipartisan infrastructure law – from expanding statewide rural broadband access, lead pipe replacements in Olathe, safety initiatives in KCK, and long-overdue upgrades to K-68 in Miami County.

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

OVERLAND PARK, KS – Today, Representative Sharice Davids met with Johnson County seniors to talk about protecting the Social Security benefits they rely on. A new federal report shows the Social Security trust fund could run out of money by 2032 — two years earlier than expected. If Congress doesn’t fix this shortfall, retirees could see an automatic 20 percent cut to their benefits, costing the average senior about $500 a month. Davids made it clear that she opposes any cuts to Social Security and wants billionaires to pay their fair share to keep the program strong.

“Social Security is a promise Kansans spend a lifetime paying into,” said Davids. “Seniors who worked hard and budgeted carefully shouldn’t have to worry about D.C. gridlock, bad policy, or irresponsible rhetoric threatening their retirement security. Losing $500 a month would be devastating for local families already dealing with high prices on groceries and medicine. I will stand up against any attempt to cut earned benefits. It’s time Congress keeps this program solvent by ensuring billionaires finally pay their fair share.”

The report comes as President Trump and congressional Republicans continue pursuing policies that undermine Social Security, including the largest staffing cut in the program’s history and office closures at the Social Security Administration (SSA). President Trump previously called the program a “scam,” and earlier this week, Speaker Mike Johnson indicated Republicans could pursue additional changes to the program if they retain their House majority next year.

Social Security is the foundation of retirement security for millions of Americans and provides essential benefits to families and people with disabilities. In Kansas’ Third District alone, 130,424 residents receive Social Security, including more than 105,000 retirees, nearly 10,000 disabled workers, and more than 6,000 children.

Participants in today’s conversation included Johnson County residents Duncan B. (67), Paul C. (72), Pat O. (77), Larry P. (82), Linda P. (82), and Ruth P. (81).

Davids has consistently defended Social Security and delivered real results:

• Helped pass the bipartisan Social Security Fairness Act, repealing outdated rules that cut savings for millions of public-sector retirees, including teachers, firefighters, and police officers.
• Voted against extreme Republican budget proposals that would allow Trump to fire SSA workers, close local offices, and delay savings.
• Joined Kansans and local advocates at AARP’s Social Security 90th Anniversary Celebration last year.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose)

(Washington, DC) – On Monday, the Trump administration cancelled funding for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)’s Arctic Report Card. The annual report historically has collected data on the impact of rising ocean temperatures on the arctic’s glaciers, fisheries, and shipping routes. Scientists, fishermen, the military, businesses, and indigenous communities alike have come to rely upon the annual report for an accurate assessment of the arctic’s environment which has endured the steepest transformation from climate change.

Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) made the following statement: 

“Knowing less does not make the problem go away. The Arctic is the Earth’s early warning system and with the Arctic warming nearly four times faster than the rest of the planet, the alarm bells are ringing. That’s why for two decades, the Arctic Report Card has provided timely peer-reviewed research to help us understand how climate change is altering our environment. Unfortunately, this falls directly in line with this Administration’s actions towards science that doesn’t fit its political narrative. Covering up the effects of global warming is not a solution. We must continue to fund critical science like the Arctic Report Card to keep track of these dramatic changes so we can protect Americans’ lives and property and preserve the environment.” 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Greg Steube (FL-17)

August 13, 2026 | Press ReleasesWASHINGTON–U.S. Representative Greg Steube (R-Fla.) today introduced the Restoring Economic Diesel (RED) Fuel Act, legislation that would eliminate federal penalties for the sale and use of dyed diesel fuel in traditionally taxable applications, including use on public roads and highways.“Farmers, ranchers, and small business owners who rely on off-road diesel should not be treated like criminals over a fuel dye,” said Rep. Steube. “The RED Fuel Act removes an outdated penalty structure and lets Americans use the fuel they need to do their jobs.”Dyed diesel fuel is sold at some gas stations and is primarily intended for agricultural and off-road use. The fuel is dyed to signify that it is tax-free, since standard diesel carries a federal tax of 24.3 cents per gallon. Current law penalizes the use of dyed diesel in taxable applications at $1,000, or $10 per gallon used, whichever is greater. The RED Fuel Act would eliminate these penalties.The full text of the RED Fuel Act is available here. 
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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lois Frankel (FL-21)

Today, Representative Lois Frankel (FL-22) led a bipartisan group of Florida lawmakers in urging Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo and the Florida Department of Health to ensure critical federal HIV prevention funding reaches community-based organizations (CBOs), preventing disruptions to essential HIV prevention services across the state.

This follows reports last month that White House directed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) not to renew direct HIV prevention grants to CBOs nationwide and instead distribute the funding to state and local health departments. In Florida, 11 organizations collectively receive approximately $5 million each year through the program.

The letter was cosigned by Reps. Maria Salazar (R-FL-27), Kathy Castor (D-FL-14), Maxwell Alejandro Frost (D-FL-10), Jared Moskowitz (D-FL-23), Darren Soto (D-FL-9), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL-25), and Frederica Wilson (D-FL-24).

“Florida’s CBOs are trusted providers that deliver lifesaving services, including HIV testing, prevention, care coordination, and outbreak response. Any interruption in funding would jeopardize these services, increase the risk of HIV transmission, and undermine the State’s progress in ending the HIV epidemic. In addition, without either direct federal funding or state pass-through funding, affected CBOs risk losing eligibility for the 340B Drug Pricing Program. That would eliminate a critical source of support for providing free or low-cost PrEP and PEP medications and other essential services to uninsured and underinsured Floridians,” the lawmakers wrote.

“We appreciate FL DOH’s commitment to protecting public health. We respectfully request that the Department act promptly to ensure uninterrupted HIV prevention services for Floridians and provide a response outlining FL DOH’s plans for establishing cooperative agreements with CBOs to pass through these funds,” the lawmakers continued.

Representative Frankel also joined House Democratic colleagues in a separate letter to White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought demanding answers about reports that OMB directed the CDC not to renew approximately $46 million in direct HIV prevention grants supporting 96 community-based organizations. The lawmakers emphasized that Congress appropriated these funds to support evidence-based HIV prevention services, including HIV testing, linkage to care, referrals for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), and outbreak response.