Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett (USVI)
For Immediate Release Contact: Alayah Phipps
September 24, 2025 202-813-2793
PRESS RELEASE
PLASKETT ADDRESSES NEW CUSTOMS DUTY REQUIREMENTS FOR U.S. TERRITORIES FOLLOWING EXECUTIVE ORDER
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett addressed new customs duty requirements that went into effect on August 29, 2025, impacting residents across all U.S. territories outside the custom zone including the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands.
“The Virgin Islands has been outside of the Customs Zone since becoming a territory of the United States. It is the discretion and authority of the Governor of the Virgin Islands to make requests to the Federal Government about inclusion or exclusion from the Customs Zone. I have said, for more than 10 years, that the Virgin Islands should determine if being outside of the Customs Zone has the same benefit that it did over 100 years ago to our Territory and residents. If not, the Governor of the Virgin Islands as the individual with authority to enter into arrangements of this nature with the Federal Government should request such change which would then require the executive branch authorization.
“All of the U.S. territories, Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, except for Puerto Rico which is the only U.S. territory inside the customs zone, are experiencing the same problems following Executive Order 14324, which eliminated the duty-free de minimis exemption for goods valued at $800 or less. I and my family are experiencing these same shipping challenges alongside my constituents as packages are being sent. All of the Members of Congress and other government officials of U.S. Territories affected by being outside the Customs Zone are working directly with the White House to address this burdensome consequence of the Administration’s order on de minimis rules. This change creates an additional unfair burden for territorial residents. Our constituents in the Virgin Islands, along with residents of Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands, should not bear disproportionate shipping costs.
“I am committed to finding solutions. As an example, this past February, I worked with the Trump Administration’s U.S. Trade Representative’s Office (USTR) to provide an exemption for the U.S. Virgin Islands and Caribbean from punitive port fees and restrictions on shipping companies that would have had the potential to skyrocket costs of imports for the Virgin Islands and other Caribbean islands. I will apply that same determination to find a waiver for the U.S. territories from this customs duty requirement.”
Background: As of August 29, 2025, customers shipping from U.S. territories to the United States and Puerto Rico must prepay duties before tendering packages to USPS. The U.S. Postal Service has partnered with U.S. Customs and Border Protection to implement the Zonos Prepay app solution, which allows customers to calculate and pay duties to CBP before visiting the Post Office. Without a Declaration ID from this system, USPS cannot accept packages for delivery to the U.S. or Puerto Rico. The prepaid duty requirement does not apply in certain cases, including documents, goods without monetary value, gifts valued at $100 or less, items valued over $800, or returns.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Don Beyer (D-VA)
U.S. Representative Don Beyer (D-VA), with 83 U.S. House Representatives, today wrote Acting National Park Service (NPS) Director Jessica Bowron to solicit information regarding the impacts of the June 9 memo directing all NPS units to identify any public monuments, memorials, statues, markers, or similar properties that are “subjectively negative” about either past or living Americans, or that fail to emphasize the “beauty, grandeur, and abundance” of landscapes and other natural features. The lawmakers noted that in addition to disrupting NPS operations by diverting critical resources away from addressing the longstanding maintenance backlog, which could impact visitor safety, the directive also threatens the preservation of the historical and educational missions of the NPS.
“We write to request an update on the impact of your June 9 memo on educational and historical markers, monuments, and memorials that are part of the National Park System. We are greatly concerned that your memo aims to undermine cultural resources at those sites while neglecting meaningful upgrades and improvements…
“We are deeply concerned that your memo will create changes that damage valuable historical resources, disrupt NPS operations, and unnecessarily hurt our national parks and the communities that use and enjoy them…
“The history of our great nation is told through the National Park System. Historical markers, monuments, and memorials play an important role in educating Americans about that history…
“Those dedicated historical sites join hundreds more NPS units across all 50 states, which collectively welcome more than 330 million visitors every year to witness their natural beauty and learn from longstanding educational resources, including signs and others interpretative materials. None of those sites can, or should, be separated from the history that makes them part of our nation’s fabric…
“Instead, your memo will further divert resources away from deferred maintenance, an infamous issue within the Park Service. The NPS maintenance backlog affects all aspects of parks, including not only historical markers, monuments, and memorials, but also basic signage essential for visitor safety. Addressing that backlog should be NPS’ utmost priority in updating or changing cultural resources, rather than neglecting safety and the visitor experience in pursuit of censorship and erasure…”
The letter to Acting Director Bowron was sent by U.S. Representative Don Beyer (D-VA), House Committee on Natural Resources Ranking Member Jared Huffman (D-CA), and Representatives Gabe Amo (D-RI), Becca Balint (D-VT), Nanette Barragán (D-CA), Sanford Bishop (D-GA), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Brendan Boyle (D-PA), Julia Brownley (D-CA), Janelle Bynum (D-OR), Troy Carter (D-LA), Ed Case (D-HI), Sean Casten (D-IL), Joaquin Castro (D-TX), Judy Chu (D-CA), Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO), James Clyburn (D-SC), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Jason Crow (D-CO), Sharice Davids (D-KS), Danny Davis (D-IL), Diana DeGette (D-CO), Chris Deluzio (D-PA), Maxine Dexter (D-OR), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Sarah Elfreth (D-MD), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), Dwight Evans (D-PA), Shomari Figures (D-AL), Laura Friedman (D-CA), Valerie Foushee (D-NC), John Garamendi (D-CA), Jesús “Chuy” García (D-IL), Dan Goldman (D-NY), Maggie Goodlander (D-NH), Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), Jonathan Jackson (D-IL), Sara Jacobs (D-CA), Hank Johnson (D-GA), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA), Robin Kelly (D-IL), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Stephen Lynch (D-MA), Seth Magaziner (D-RI), Doris Matsui (D-CA), Jennifer McClellan (D-VA), Jim McGovern (D-MA), LaMonica McIver (D-NJ), Kweisi Mfume (D-MD), Dave Min (D-CA), Joe Morelle (D-NY), Seth Moulton (D-MA), Jerry Nadler (D-NY), Joe Neguse (D-CO), Chris Pappas (D-NH), Brittany Pettersen (D-CO), Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Mike Quigley (D-IL), Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Bobby Scott (D-VA), Terri Sewell (D-AL), Lateefah Simon (D-CA), Adam Smith (D-WA), Greg Stanton (D-AZ), Marilyn Strickland (D-WA), Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA), Emilia Sykes (D-OH), Mark Takano (D-CA), Bennie Thompson (D-MS), Jill Tokuda (D-HI), Paul Tonko (D-NY), Ritchie Torres (D-NY), Nydia Velázquez (D-NY), James Walkinshaw (D-VA), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), Nikema Williams (D-GA), Frederica Wilson (D-FL) and Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC).
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mark Takano (D-Calif)
September 24, 2025
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Reps. Mark Takano (CA-39), Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), Jerry Nadler (NY-12), Lou Correa (CA-46), Juan Vargas (CA-52), Raul Ruiz (CA-25), Amata Coleman Radewagen (AS-AL), and Maria Elvira Salazar (FL-27) reintroduced the Veteran Service Recognition Act. In the Senate, Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) is introducing companion legislation.
The Veteran Service Recognition Act would allow noncitizen servicemembers to apply for naturalization during basic training, establish a review process for those who are in removal proceedings, and provide an opportunity for noncitizen veterans who have been removed or ordered removed, and who have not been convicted of a serious crime, to obtain legal permanent residence.
“If you are willing to raise your right hand, put on the uniform, and defend this country, you should have a clear path to citizenship,” said Rep. Mark Takano, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. “The Veteran Service Recognition Act makes good on that promise, and it gives us a way to bring home veterans who served honorably but were deported. Standing up for our veterans has always been bipartisan, and this bill carries that tradition forward.”
“The men and women who risk their lives to serve our country should not have to worry about their immigration status when they get home,” said Rep. Nadler. “No matter where they were born, our veterans deserve the utmost respect and should be honored for their bravery and sacrifice, and that includes providing them a path to citizenship. I am proud to join Representative Takano in reintroducing the Veteran Service Recognition Act.”
“Immigrants have valiantly served in our nation’s military since its founding,” said Rep. Lofgren. “Those who put their life on the line for our country should not be facing the possibility of deportation. I’m proud to be re-introducing the bipartisan Veteran Service Recognition Act with my colleagues, so that Congress rights these wrongs and ensures that noncitizen veterans are protected and can access the care and benefits that they’ve earned.”
“If you put your life on the line for our country, you deserve the right to stay in our country,” said Rep. Ruiz. “That’s why the Veteran Service Recognition Act works to stop the deportation of noncitizen servicemembers and ensures they have due process here in America and a fair chance at citizenship. With today’s introduction of the Veteran Service Recognition Act, we are one step closer to making sure noncitizen veterans are never treated as second-class veterans.”
“Our nation’s veterans served with honor, and they should be treated with respect and dignity regardless of immigration status,” said Rep. Vargas. “The Veteran Service Recognition Act is an important step towards giving noncitizen veterans a pathway to citizenship in the country they put their lives on the line for, and I’m honored to be an original cosponsor of this legislation.”
“Veterans put their lives on the line to protect our nation and the ideals it represents,” said Rep. Correa. “This legislation honors that service by making it easier for active duty servicemembers to become citizens and creating a pathway to legal resident status for U.S. Veterans. Fighting for the United States is the ultimate act of patriotism—let’s deliver our vets the justice and equality they deserve.”
“Thank you to our many U.S. Service Members who volunteer from our closest allies and Freely Associated States,” said Rep. Radewagen. “After their service, it is common sense and good policy for these Veterans to be able to remain as permanent residents or pursue citizenship if they choose. They strengthened our military and strengthened the country. All our veterans showed commitment to the country through service, in turn we as a nation have a commitment to support our veterans. Thank you Congressman Takano for leading this effort.”
“All members of our Armed Forces deserve to be treated with dignity and respect,” said Rep. Salazar. “Noncitizen veterans, just like their American peers, make the ultimate sacrifice in service of the United States. I’m proud to reintroduce this legislation with Congressman Takano, to streamline the naturalization process for noncitizen veterans and provide due process for those who were wrongfully deported.”
Endorsements: The American Legion, VoteVets, LULAC, AFL-CIO, UnidosUS, ACLU.
You can find the bill text here and a one pager here.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)
Today, Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries appeared on MSNBC’s Deadline White House to discuss how House Democrats are aggressively pushing back against Donald Trump’s efforts to continue to gut the healthcare of the American people and threaten the American people with a painful government shutdown.
NICOLLE WALLACE: In the spirit of the public’s work in making Disney re-examine their decision to pull Jimmy Kimmel off the air, what fight have you picked or have you led that you are most proud of or that you seek to sort of emulate on a day-to-day basis?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, House and Senate Democrats stood shoulder-to-shoulder together in strong opposition—in fact, in unified opposition to the One Big Ugly Bill that Donald Trump and Republicans jammed down the throats of the American people because it ripped away Medicaid. It was the largest cut to Medicaid in American history. It stole food from the mouths of hungry children, seniors and veterans, and all this was being done to provide massive tax breaks to Republican billionaire donors. Now, legislatively, the Republicans bent the knee to Donald Trump, as they always do, and they were able to sneak it through the House and the Senate. But the bill is deeply unpopular because the American people have now come to the conclusion that Donald Trump and Republicans have no interest in making their life better. In fact, they are hurting everyday Americans in order to reward their billionaire donors. And so this is an extension of that fight, in terms of Democrats aggressively pushing back against Donald Trump’s efforts to continue to gut the healthcare of the American people and threaten the American people with a painful government shutdown.
NICOLLE WALLACE: So, talk to me like I don’t live in Washington and explain what this shutdown is about.
LEADER JEFFRIES: So, Republicans have a responsibility, holding the majority in the House and the Senate and the presidency, to make sure that the federal government can continue to run. They’re in the majority. Now, it’s our responsibility as Democrats to find common ground on a spending agreement if that spending agreement actually meets the needs of the American people. And we’re in strong opposition to the partisan Republican spending bill. It’s a dirty bill because it continues to gut the healthcare of the American people, and we’re not simply going to go along to get along.
NICOLLE WALLACE: So, there’s so much coverage and so much of our conversations and, frankly, so much of what we pick up from voters— they want to see Democrats fight—misses this—this point that I think you’re making. They control the White House, right? They control the Republican Members of the House and Senate. They don’t—they don’t buck Donald Trump in any way, shape or form, and they essentially they’re—they’re batting about 850 in the Supreme Court. I think the Supreme Court has ruled for Donald Trump 19 times and against him twice. But they need you. They need you in this rare instance, in this—if you live outside of Washington—sort of obscure manner that to keep the government going, to keep it funding, they actually need you. You and Senator Schumer who are in the minority. What is the most that you can get from them in this rare instance that they need you?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, what’s important to understand, Nicolle, is that Republicans have engaged in an unprecedented assault on the healthcare of the American people throughout this year. The largest cut to Medicaid in American history. Millions of people are going to lose coverage because of what Republicans have done. Hospitals and nursing homes and community-based health clinics are already closing because of the One Big Ugly Bill. They are refusing to extend the tax credits connected to the Affordable Care Act. What that means is that for more than 20 million Americans, they’re going to experience, in a matter of weeks, increased health care premiums, co-pays and deductibles. And the cost of living in America is already too high. Because of actions that Republicans have taken in connection with the One Big Ugly Bill, the country actually faces a $536 billion cut to Medicare at the end of the year, and we know that Republicans have basically canceled medical research in the United States of America. So our position as Democrats is clear: cancel the cuts, lower the costs, save healthcare. That’s our fight that we’re waging on behalf of the American people, and we’re willing to sit down with anyone at any time, any place to try to actually get to a spending agreement that makes sense for the American people. But we’re not going to simply bend the knee to Donald Trump’s will when he’s gutting healthcare for everyday Americans and actively hurting people. That’s immoral, and it’s not something for us to participate in.
NICOLLE WALLACE: So if he doesn’t agree to back off the cuts, what will you do?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, our view—listen, we voted no in the House and in the Senate on the partisan Republican spending bill that was before us on Friday because it continues to gut the healthcare of the American people. That’s our public position, and we haven’t backed off that position in any way, shape or form. And the fact that Donald Trump is running scared, would cancel this meeting shows that they know they have a weak position as it relates to the Republican healthcare crisis that they’ve created. So next week, we were scheduled to be in session for votes on Monday and Tuesday, and House Republicans canceled those votes. They don’t even want to show up, even though we’re on the brink of a government shutdown. But Democrats will be in town. There ready, willing and able to do our jobs and to also communicate with the American people the stakes of this shutdown fight.
NICOLLE WALLACE: If you had to prepare your Members for what’s ahead, what is your sense from your perch and all of your experience in Washington about what the coming days will hold?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, it’s going to be incredibly important. We’re in the midst of a Healthcare Cost-of-Living Week of Action, where all across America, House Democrats, partnering with Senate Democrats and governors, are holding events related to healthcare costs related to protecting our hospitals and nursing homes and community-based health clinics, related to protecting Medicaid and related to making sure that the tax credits for the Affordable Care Act continue. Because all of this matters for the well-being and the health of the American people. Like, this is not a fire drill. This is real in terms of what’s happening right now related to the Republican assault on healthcare and the crisis they’ve created. And that’s why Democrats have drawn a line in the sand as it relates to what’s in front of the American people. And we’re going to continue to make that clear. We can find bipartisan agreement, but it has to make sense for the quality of life of the American people. It has to lower costs. It has to protect the healthcare of everyday Americans.
NICOLLE WALLACE: I had a victim of Jeffrey Epstein on my program yesterday, and she described feeling like the effort to have the files released doesn’t feel as partisan as a lot of other issues in the nation’s capital. And I shared with her that the polls suggest it isn’t, but I wonder what it feels like there. I mean, it seems, in covering the efforts of Thomas Massey and Ro Khanna to release all of the files and to listen to the victims and try to recenter the debate around them, that maybe there is some bipartisan momentum behind transparency, but then you hear the victims and you watch Alex Acosta and you watch Republicans seem to make excuses for him and other members of the cabinet. I just wonder your thoughts on the efforts, centered around the victims for transparency in the Epstein files.
LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, we’re going to continue to charge forward on behalf of the victims and on behalf of everyday Americans who care about making sure that predators are held accountable, that there’s full transparency and that whatever may be in the Epstein files is completely and totally released to the public so that folks can be held accountable in a manner consistent with what the victims have so powerfully asked to be done in this instance. Now, Democrats are going to swear in, sometime soon, in the Congress, an additional Member, which will bring us to 214. She will also represent, I think, the number that brings us to a majority in the House to trigger our ability to actually force the Trump administration to release the Epstein files. And so, we’re going to continue to partner with whatever enlightened Republicans want to partner with us, though we recognize, as Democrats, that we’re going to have to carry the overwhelming load here, because Donald Trump and the Trump administration, despite all of their promises throughout the years, are clearly trying to keep these files from becoming public.
NICOLLE WALLACE: When Trump was president last time, Speaker Pelosi—and she was the Speaker, Democrats were the majority—she seemed to relish going toe-to-toe with him on a daily basis. Do you relish the fight with Donald Trump?
LEADER JEFFRIES: I think it’s an incredibly important fight for the American people, and I’m just not clear why Donald Trump is backing away from that fight. He agreed to the meeting. We demanded it on Saturday. Leader Schumer and I sent a letter laying out our position very clearly as it relates to government funding and the healthcare of the American people. He agreed to that meeting. We were prepared to go into that meeting and lay out our position—cancel the cuts, lower the cost, save healthcare for everyday Americans—and make very clear, we are not down with the Republican healthcare crisis, and that’s why this line in the sand has been drawn. That’s an important fight for the American people. It’s the right fight, and it’s the fight that as House Democrats, we certainly are committed to waging in this position that we’re in right now, with Republicans temporarily holding the gavels, but we also believe that we’re going to change that dynamic next November. We’re going to take back control of the House of Representatives. And then we’ll finally have a Congress that actually can function as a separate and coequal branch in government and a check on the out-of-control Trump administration, as opposed to what the sycophantic Republicans are doing right now, which is to serve as nothing more than a rubber-stamp. A rubber-stamp over and over and again for Donald Trump’s extreme agenda.
NICOLLE WALLACE: Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, thank you very much for starting us off today.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07)
With Trump Admin. Attacking Head Start and Gutting Essential Resources, Federal Funding Secured by Pressley Will Support BCNC’s Early Education and Care
BOSTON – Today, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) visited Chinatown to celebrate the $425,000 in community project funding she secured for the Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center. The federal funding, which passed Congress as part of a previous FY2024 federal spending bill signed by President Biden, will support the BCNC’s childcare and early education programming and infrastructure for current and future generations of families in and around Chinatown.
Following a tour of BCNC, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley sat down with BCNC staff, families, and local partners to discuss the importance of affordable and accessible early childhood education programming, in particular for immigrant children and families.
“Accessible, high-quality early childhood education is not only essential to the success of our babies, but of entire families,” said Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley. “Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center provides a vital lifeline to families in the Massachusetts 7th. With the White House callously attacking Head Start and gutting other essential education resources for families, I’m proud to support the BCNC’s dedicated educators and staff who work to support every family and every child who benefits from this program.”
“BCNC is deeply grateful for Congresswoman Pressley’s investment in the Asian and immigrant community. A capital investment in our space is about creating a welcoming and safe environment for all the children and families we serve who have come to Boston to make a better life. The new classrooms, playground, and roof provide the next generation the best possible learning experience they deserve, and their parents can feel satisfied their child is receiving a quality education,” said Ben Hires, CEO, Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center. “Special thanks to all our public and private partners from Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care, the City of Boston, Boston Public Schools, Eastern Bank Foundation, Franklin Square House Foundation, PNC Bank, Shlomo Fund and an anonymous foundation for helping make these investments possible.”
“Investing in the spaces in which children learn and play is essential to expanding access to high-quality affordable child care for families in our communities. We are grateful to be working in partnership with Congresswoman Pressley and the team at BCNC to ensure children and their families have the tools, support, and opportunities they need to thrive and succeed,” saidAmy Kershaw, Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care, Commissioner.
“We are thrilled about the new investment in BCNC and are happy to have partnered on several capital improvement projects. Healthy environments are important, and it is encouraging to see local, state, and federal partners collaborating to achieve that goal,” saidTheresa Jordan, Director, Children’s Investment Fund/CEDAC.
The federal dollars secured by Rep. Pressley will enable BCNC, a community-based, immigrant serving organization to update their existing early education children’s classrooms and address roof maintenance in order to continue high quality programs for Asian and new immigrant children and families who have been highly impacted by the pandemic.
Joining Rep. Pressley this morning were Ben Hires, CEO of BCNC, Kathy Cheng, Director of Acorn Center for Early Education and Care at BCNC, Michele Dandrea, teacher at BCNC, Amy Kershaw, Commissioner at the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care, and families and children served by BCNC.
Footage from the event can be found here, and photos are here.
Rep. Pressley secured the federal funding as part of a previous spending bill for Fiscal Year 2024. Rep. Pressley has secured approximately $35 million in federal community project funding for the Massachusetts 7th since Fiscal Year 2022.
On March 27, 2025, Rep. Pressley visited East Boston to celebrate the $1 million in federal funding she delivered to expand the Digital Literacy (DigLit) Initiative in Boston, a critical program that helps workforce development programs address digital literacy gaps.
On October 18, 2024, Rep. Pressley visited Randolph for the formal ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Turner Free Mobile Library, a bookmobile carrying books, movies, Wi-Fi, and other resources for community members, made possible by the $524,000 she delivered in funding for the library and STEM programming.
On October 10, 2024, Rep. Pressley joined Just A Start, elected officials and community advocates and members for the formal ribbon-cutting ceremony to unveil the Economic Mobility Hub at Rindge Commons, a 70,000-square-foot facility designed to address the evolving needs of the community.
On June 18, 2024, Rep. Pressley visited Boston Medical Center (BMC) to celebrate $370,000 in federal community project funding she secured to support BMC’s Violence Intervention Advocacy Program.
On June 18, 2024, Rep. Pressley visited Chelsea HealthCare Center to celebrate $1,150,000 in federal community project funding she secured to support Massachusetts General Hospital’s (MGH) efforts to address the statewide shortage of bilingual, culturally diverse mental health providers for immigrant and limited English proficiency communities.
On April 22, 2204, Rep. Pressley and Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) visited Nubian Square in Roxbury for a roundtable discussion to celebrate the $1,000,000 million in federal funding they secured for the Black Economic Council of Massachusetts (BECMA).
On March 28, 2024, Rep. Pressley visited Roxbury to celebrate the $1,000,000 in federal funding she secured to provide emergency childcare support for families experiencing homelessness in the City of Boston.
In February 2024, Rep. Pressley visited Chelsea City Hall for a roundtable and press conference to celebrate the $750,000 in federal funding she secured for the City of Chelsea’s and City of Everett’s Island End River Coastal Flood Resilience Project.
In January 2024, Rep. Pressley visited Somerville to celebrate the $2.4 million in federal funding she secured to support the community-led transformation of the Clarendon Hill housing community, an ethnically, linguistically and economically diverse neighborhood.
In November 2023, Rep. Pressley visited Roxbury Community College (RCC) to celebrate $1 million in federal community project funding she secured for Northeastern University’s Roxbury Associate’s to Master’s Workforce Accelerator (RA2MWA).
In June 2023, Rep. Pressley visited Chelsea to celebrate $2,000,000 in federal community project funding she secured to improve the Broadway Corridor—home to an array of BIPOC-owned small businesses, vibrant public spaces, high frequency public transit routes, and dense residential housing.
In April 2023, Rep. Pressley visited Randolph to celebrate $524,000 she secured for Randolph Public Schools to support a mobile library and STEM programming.
In March 2023, Rep. Pressley visited Dorchester to celebrate $250,000 in new Community Project Funding she secured for Big Sister Association of Greater Boston’s one-to-one mentoring and enrichment programs for girls.
In February 2023, Rep. Pressley visited the African Community Economic Development of New England (ACEDONE) to celebrate the $643,003 in community project funding she secured for ACEDONE to support small businesses in predominately Black, brown and African immigrant communities.
In October 2022, Rep. Pressley visited The Dimock Center in Roxbury to celebrate $1 million in federal community project funding she secured to support substance use treatment and programming at the health center.
In August 2022, Rep. Pressley visited Randolph to deliver $275,000 in federal community project funding for culturally responsive resources and digital literacy tools for Randolph Public Schools.
In June 2022, Rep. Pressley visited the Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology to deliver $300,000 in direct federal funding for the development of a Clean Energy Building Automation Systems certificate and associate degree program.
In April 2022, she visited Randolph to deliver $1,000,000 in federal community project funding for a new school-based community health center at Randolph High School.
In March 2022, she visited La Colaborativa in Chelsea to celebrate the $300,000 in federal community project funding that she delivered for La Colaborativa’s COVID Employment Recovery Program.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Julia Brownley (D-CA)
Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA) introduced Katie Meyer’s Law, legislation to ensure students at higher education institutions have the right to select an independent adviser to help them navigate disciplinary proceedings and create new reporting requirements for campus suicide incidents. The bill was inspired by the life of Katie Meyer, whose tragic passing underscored the urgent need for greater protections and support for students.
Katie Meyer, a young woman from California’s 26th Congressional District, was a standout goalkeeper who led Stanford University to the 2019 NCAA women’s soccer championship. Katie was a gifted student, resident advisor, and a future law student awaiting her acceptance to Stanford Law. However, in late February 2022, less than four months before her graduation and unbeknownst to her parents, Katie received a five-page email with criminalistic language from Stanford stating she was facing a disciplinary action that put her degree on hold. The charge letter not only threatened to withhold her degree, but the charge from Stanford officials could also result in her complete expulsion from the university. Cruelly, this charge letter was sent at night after over three months of near silence from the Office of Community Standards. Distressed by the potential disciplinary action and inability to graduate, Katie suffered an acute crisis stress reaction. Stanford failed to provide any supportive action or to respond in any way to her expression of being distraught and distressed. Shortly after, she took her own life on March 1, 2022, at only 22 years old.
“College should be a place where students can learn, grow, and prepare for their futures, not a place where they are left to navigate intimidating and high-stakes disciplinary processes alone,” said Congresswoman Brownley. “By ensuring students have a trusted advisor by their side and by requiring greater transparency about suicide on our campuses, my bill seeks to put student well-being and mental health front and center. We owe it to Katie, her family, and countless other young people to make sure no student feels alone in their greatest moments of need.”
In the wake of this devastating loss, Katie’s parents have worked tirelessly to honor her memory and save others from this heartbreaking tragedy. Their advocacy led to the passage of a new California state law guaranteeing students the right to an adviser during disciplinary proceedings – a policy they believe could have saved Katie’s life.
“We are grateful to Congresswoman Brownley for recognizing the importance of Katie Meyer’s Law and introducing it on a federal level,” said Gina and Steve Meyer, parents of Katie Meyer. “The law now has the ability to have the vast and necessary impact on not only protecting and supporting California students, but students in our universities across the country.”
“Katie Meyer’s Law provides a supportive framework for students facing allegations of violations of a university policy that is often missing from administrative proceedings. It serves as a ‘front end safety net’ for our students, whereby the adviser of the student’s choice would be informed on day one of an administrative allegations, get educated on the resources and processes the student must go through – and updated biweekly on the status of an appropriate resolution.
“We truly believe this law could have saved Katie’s life. We miss her endlessly and while it will not bring her back, it will save lives and protect students and their campus communities going forward. We know Katie, an incessantly loving, loyal and protective person, would have wanted that for everyone,” Gina and Steve Meyer added.
Background
Currently, federal law does not require higher education institutions to allow students to have an adviser during disciplinary hearings for academic or athletic code of conduct violations. Even on campuses where advisers are permitted, those advisers often lack training in the institution’s procedures, leaving students isolated and unprepared in stressful proceedings.
Katie Meyer’s Law was inspired by the tragic loss of Katie Meyer and her family’s advocacy, and it would expand California’s new state law to a federal scale, so students across the country can benefit from these needed protections.
The bill would require higher education institutions that receive federal funding to:
Provide or allow an adviser if a student receives notification of an alleged violation of the school’s code of conduct;
Notify students of their ability to select their own advisor or have the institution provide an independent advisor, either through a confidential respondent services coordinator or through an agreement with student-based or alumni-based peer support programs.
The bill also sets requirements for the adviser leading up to and throughout the disciplinary proceedings, including:
Training on the adjudication procedures of the institution;
Authority, with written permission from the student, to receive bi-weekly updates throughout the process; and
Ability to actively participate in the proceedings as an advocate for the student.
In addition, the legislation would strengthen campus transparency requirements related to suicide incidents. Current law requires colleges and universities that receive federal funding to publish an Annual Security Report (ASR) with crime statistics and safety measures. Katie Meyer’s Law would require incidents of death by suicide to be included in the ASR, ensuring students and faculty have necessary transparency surrounding this serious mental health concern.
Katie Meyer’s Law is endorsed by The Trevor Project and SEAT (Students Engaged in Advancing Texas).
Source: United States House of Representatives – Julia Brownley (D-CA)
Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA) announced the reintroduction of the Gun Suicide Prevention Act, legislation that would require firearm manufacturers and retailers to include warning labels that provide the number of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The bill’s reintroduction comes during Suicide Prevention Month, a poignant time to raise awareness and expand efforts to save lives.
“The epidemic of gun violence continues to plague communities throughout our country and forever changes the lives of families who have lost someone to gun death. Too often, the debate surrounding gun safety overlooks the role that guns often play in suicide,” said Congresswoman Julia Brownley. “In fact, two-thirds of gun deaths in the United States are from suicide.
“Sadly, it is estimated that more than 17 veterans die by suicide every day, and more than 70% percent of veteran suicide deaths are from a gun. As a member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, I am deeply committed to bettering the lives of our nation’s veterans, and suicide prevention is one of my highest priorities.
“That is why I have introduced the Gun Suicide Prevention Act, which aims to combat the alarming gun suicide rate in our country,” continued Brownley. “By labeling every firearm with the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, we can help provide a human connection when someone is in crisis, which we know is a critical tool for preventing suicide.”
Background
According to a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, there is a direct correlation between a county’s suicide rate and the number of stores that sell firearms there, for all but the most rural counties. This data underscores the urgent need for policies like the Gun Suicide Prevention Act.
Veterans are particularly at risk of dying when attempting suicide, largely because they are far more likely than their civilian counterparts to use a gun in a suicide attempt. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, over 70% of veteran suicide deaths are the result of a firearm. Women veterans are especially at risk, as the suicide rate of women veterans is nearly twice the suicide rate of non-veteran women.
Suicide ideation can be a fleeting impulse, one that can be alleviated by making a connection with another person when an individual is in crisis. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can provide that connection for people, and being reminded of the number in a moment of crisis can be all it takes to save a life.
Under this legislation, the new, required warning label will read: “WARNING: IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW IS CONTEMPLATING SUICIDE, PLEASE CALL THE NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION LIFELINE AT” followed by 988 and the toll-free phone number of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
The Gun Suicide Prevention Act is endorsed by Brady Campaign to End Gun Violence, Newtown Action Alliance, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, National Alliance on Mental Illness, Everytown for Gun Safety, and SEAT (Students Engaged in Advancing Texas).
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Sean Casten (IL-06)
September 23, 2025
Downers Grove, Illinois – U.S. Congressman Sean Casten, Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), and all Democratic members of the Illinois delegation sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem demanding answers about the extreme immigration enforcement operations in Illinois under “Operation Midway Blitz” and “Operation at Large.” In the letter, the lawmakers reprimanded DHS, the Department of Justice (DOJ), and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials for violating due process as they continue to advance President Trump’s mass deportation scheme by targeting immigrants with no criminal convictions.
Citing lack of congressional oversight, indiscriminate arrests of immigrants, and the escalation of tensions during protests at Broadview ICE processing facility (Broadview), the lawmakers called for an immediate end to both Operation Midway Blitz and Operation at Large.
“While this operation [Operation Midway Blitz] supposedly targets ‘criminal illegal aliens,’ our constituents report that DHS officials are arresting individuals in their neighborhoods, at bus stops, and near schools. These enforcement operations do not reduce crime or make our communities safer. As we have seen throughout the implementation of President Trump’s mass deportation scheme, DHS is not focusing on the ‘worst of the worst’ as claimed, but has instead mostly arrested hardworking immigrants with no criminal convictions,” the lawmakers began their letter. “DHS and the Department of Justice (DOJ) have skirted or outright violated due process and other constitutional requirements intended to protect individuals in the United States from arbitrary arrests, detention, and deportation.”
“We urge you to end your dangerous operations in Illinois and provide our residents with transparency into these operations, including how they have siphoned resources from other federal law enforcement agencies that combat public safety threats in our communities,” the lawmakers wrote.
The lawmakers condemned the secrecy surrounding Operation Midway Blitz, noting that Members of Congress have repeatedly requested access to detention facilities, including Broadview, and been denied by DHS without justification.
“Operation Midway Blitz has been shrouded in secrecy, with little notice to state and local officials as to the nature of the operation, the types of people targeted, where DHS is detaining people, and which agencies are required to detail officers to conduct immigration enforcement. DHS officials have avoided meeting with Members of Congress and have not responded to repeated congressional inquiries about recent enforcement activities. Furthermore, DHS has denied Members of Congress the opportunity to conduct lawful oversight at facilities where noncitizens are being held. DHS has also used military-style tactics and equipment to break down doors in suburban homes, with little transparency into the basis for such raids,” the lawmakers continued their letter.
The lawmakers underscored that the tactics DHS used in Southern California, headed by Gregory Bovino, will not be tolerated in Illinois, especially as DHS faces several lawsuits for its treatment of protesters in California. In Illinois, DHS and ICE masked agents have reportedly escalated tensions at Broadview by indiscriminately deploying tear gas and chemical agents on protestors. Reports have detailed a dangerous lack of communication between local law enforcement and ICE agents that led to injuries and further distrust between federal agencies, local law enforcement, and community members.
“Gregory Bovino, an official originally diverted from his responsibilities at the border to lead controversial operations in Southern California, announced a second operation in Illinois—’Operation at Large’—on social media. This operation will reportedly include indiscriminate raids, including at Home Depots and car washes. Mr. Bovino’s reckless and dangerous tactics in California should not be extended to Illinois, as they are already the subject of multiple lawsuits alleging abuses against citizens and noncitizens alike,” the lawmakers wrote. “Masked officers have arrested and detained U.S. citizens and lawful noncitizens without making attempts to verify—or even ignoring attempts to establish—U.S. citizenship or lawful presence.”
“These tactics are already being utilized by your agents in Illinois. While DHS has yet to provide Congress with current information on arrests in Illinois, your officials are estimating in the media that between 400 and 550 arrests have already occurred. Last Friday, ICE reportedly escalated tensions by indiscriminately using tear gas and chemical agents on peaceful protestors,” the lawmakers continued their letter.
“A spokesperson for the Broadview Police Department (BPD) said that BPD and ICE had an agreement that ICE would inform BPD before the agency used any chemical arms, but ICE did not provide such advance notification. As a result of your officials’ dangerous and reckless tactics, an officer was reportedly exposed to mace and tear gas used by ICE. While your spokesperson claims that ICE officials called local law enforcement multiple times for assistance, BPD says that the agency ‘did not receive ‘multiple calls for assistance’ from the leadership of the ICE detention facility in Broadview. That is false,’” the lawmakers wrote.
The lawmakers exposed the Trump Administration’s failure to uphold due process as ICE agents carry out arbitrary arrests and detentions. Further, the Trump Administration has eliminated a longstanding requirement that ICE officers provide a written justification before targeting individuals for immigration arrests.
“We are already seeing improper arrests of U.S. citizens in Illinois, and are deeply disturbed by these indiscriminate arrests coupled with renewed efforts to gut due process and indefinitely detain people who have spent decades in the United States without committing any crime. While some attempts to fulfill President Trump’s mass deportation scheme have been struck down in courts, these efforts have nonetheless resulted in unlawful arrests, detentions, and, in some cases, deportations before courts can intervene,” the lawmakers wrote.
The lawmakers concluded their letter by denouncing the fear and division created by these operations and demanding transparency surrounding immigration enforcement activity in Chicago. Requesting a response by October 7, the lawmakers submitted questions about reports that DHS has brought in social media influencers to promote immigration raids; reports about the use of military weaponry, including drones, during raids; and about the training that federal officials have received on responding to and de-escalating protests.
“Your extreme immigration enforcement operations in Illinois have already devastated families and torn at the social fabric of our communities,” the lawmakers concluded their letter.
In addition to Casten and Durbin, the letter was signed by all Democratic members of the Illinois congressional delegation, including U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Jonathan Jackson (D-IL-01), Robin Kelly (D-IL-02), Delia Ramirez (D-IL-03), Jesús G. “Chuy” García (D-IL-04), Mike Quigley (D-IL-05), Danny Davis (D-IL-07), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-08), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09), Brad Schneider (D-IL-10), Bill Foster (D-IL-11), Nikki Budzinski (D-IL-13), Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14), and Eric Sorensen (D-IL-17).
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)
Today, Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries held a press conference about Donald Trump canceling a planned meeting to discuss government funding and how House Democrats are continuing to hold the line against the out-of-control Republican attack on the healthcare of the American people.
Leader Jeffries: Leader Schumer and I are ready to meet with anyone, anytime, at any place to discuss the issues that matter to the American people and avoid a painful Republican-caused government shutdown. Democrats do not support the partisan Republican spending bill because it continues to gut the healthcare of the American people.Our country is in the midst of an unprecedented Republican healthcare crisis. Republicans have enacted the largest cut to Medicaid in American history. Millions of people will lose access to care.
As a result of the Republican One Big Ugly Bill, hospitals, nursing homes and community-based health clinics are closing all across the country, including in rural America. More than 20 million Americans are at risk of experiencing dramatically increased healthcare costs—premiums, copays and deductibles—because of the Republican refusal to extend the tax credits connected to the Affordable Care Act. Medicare is facing a $536 billion cut at the end of the year as a result of the One Big Ugly Bill that Republicans jammed down the throats of the American people. And at the same time, Republicans have effectively ended medical research in the United States of America, including research for children with cancer. And in the Republican appropriations spending bill, they continue the assault on the public health infrastructure in this country, vaccine availability, the National Institute of Health and the Centers for Disease Control.
Democrats are ready, willing, and able to sit down with anyone at any place, at any time, to avoid the Republican-caused government shutdown that we are on the brink of experiencing and in order to address the Republican healthcare crisis. It’s clear that Donald Trump and House Republicans and Senate Republicans are running scared, which is whythey refuse to even sit down and have a conversation to discuss the Republican government shutdown and the healthcare crisis that is going to cause people in the United States of America to die because of the actions that Republicans have taken and want to continue to undertake in ways that hurt the people I represent here in Brooklyn and folks all across this country.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Adam Smith (9th District of Washington)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Adam Smith (D-Wash.) today introduced a new education package that includes the Community and Technical College Investment Act and the Career and Technical Education Access Act, two bills designed to expand opportunities for students to access affordable higher education, gain in-demand skills, and build stronger pathways into the workforce.
“Too many students are being priced out of higher education or graduating high school without a clear path to a career,” said Congressman Smith. “This legislation is about breaking down those barriers, making community and technical college tuition-free, expanding wraparound support, and creating high schools that connect academics with real-world technical skills. Together, these bills invest in students, strengthen our workforce, and help more families achieve economic stability.”
Community and Technical College Investment Act
The Community and Technical College Investment Act creates a federal-state partnership to make community and technical colleges tuition-free while expanding wraparound support services to help students stay enrolled and graduate.
States can receive grants to cover tuition for eligible students, build stronger transfer and degree-completion pathways, and coordinate education and workforce systems.
Subgrants will support community colleges in addressing students’ non-tuition needs such as housing, childcare, transportation, food, and digital access.
An emergency aid fund will provide direct financial support to students facing unexpected crises like job loss, housing insecurity, or family emergencies.
Community and technical colleges like Green River, Highline, and Renton Technical College play a central role in South King County, serving diverse, first-generation, and working-class students. These institutions are well positioned to benefit from the new supports, helping more local students enroll, persist, and graduate.
This bill is endorsed by The Institute for College Access and Success, The Center for Law and Social Policy, National Council for Community and Education Partnerships, Network for Public Education. National Association for College Admission Counseling, Washington State Board of Community and Technical Colleges, Renton Technical College, Highline College, Seattle Colleges, and Green River Community College.
“This legislation has the power to remove critical barriers that prevent students—especially those from historically marginalized communities—from completing their education at institutions like Renton Technical College. By investing in access and supporting completion, we’re not only transforming lives—we’re fueling Washington’s workforce and ensuring our industries have the skilled professionals they need for sustained economic growth.” — Yoshiko Harden, President, Renton Technical College
“Community and technical colleges can only be true engines of economic mobility if resources to support access, retention and completion are present for all community members. This legislation will provide those resources as it addresses financial barriers students face in paying tuition, accessing support services and covering the true cost of their education. Prospective students need to know that their pathway to economically mobility and social equity is through their local community and technical college.” — Dr. John R. Mosby, President, Highline College
“By providing access to higher education for all individuals, regardless of their financial situation, we are investing in our collective future and giving everyone the opportunity to succeed. Community colleges, like Green River College, are a crucial stepping stone for many students on their path to higher education and a career. Making Green River tuition-free would remove the #1 student identified barrier to access and help ensure that all students have the opportunity to prepare for a successful future.” — Dr. Suzanne Johnson, President, Green River College
“Congressman Smith’s proposal to make community and technical colleges tuition free would be a huge boost to the over 307,000 students who come to our colleges, their families, and Washington’s economy. For people of all ages and backgrounds, Washington’s 34 community and technical colleges are proud to serve students right in their own communities as they start their educational journey, train for well-paying jobs, and learn skills they need for everyday life. With Congressman Smith’s bill, students can graduate without tuition debt, putting them on the path to success right away, an investment that would pay off many times over for our state and our country.” — Nate Humphrey, Executive Director, Washington State Board for Community & Technical Colleges (SBCTC)
“The National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) believes that postsecondary education is a public good, delivering benefits to both individuals and society. NACAC is proud to endorse the Community and Technical College Investment Act, which strengthens equitable pathways to higher education and meets students where they are. By making community and technical colleges tuition-free, expanding wraparound supports, and providing emergency aid, this legislation addresses the barriers that prevent too many students from completing their education. It ensures that more students can access education and earn the credentials and degrees that lead to meaningful careers, while strengthening the workforce and building more resilient communities.” — Sean Robins, Director of Advocacy, The National Association for College Admission Counseling
“The Network for Public Education is proud to support the Community and Technical College Investment Act. Community and technical colleges serve as a vital bridge, connecting K–12 learning to the world of work and higher education. This legislation will swing open the doors of opportunity for young people across our nation—especially those with limited means—by giving them the chance to gain the skills they need to launch meaningful careers and lead productive lives.” — Carol Burris, Executive Director, The Network for Public Education
“TICAS strongly supports the Community and Technical College Investment Act. By recognizing and addressing the ongoing and significant barrier of college costs for low-income students, including food, housing, childcare and transportation- this bill will improve college access, completion rates, and basic needs security for future students. As the need for a more educated workforce continues to grow, investments like this are how we can meet that demand and ensure all students, no matter their background, can complete their educational journey.”— Jessica Thompson, Senior Vice President at The Institute for College Access and Success (TICAS)
“Community and technical colleges are a vital resource for the American economy because they help meet the high demand for workforce training. With 37 percent of Hispanic, 26 percent of Asian, and 33 percent of Black undergraduates enrolled at public community colleges, these institutions are also valuable opportunities for underrepresented students entering higher education. Despite their importance for communities and the national economy, community and technical colleges have faced decades of consistent underfunding at the federal level, which has created a cost barrier preventing millions of students from earning credentials and entering the middle class. By allowing states to make these institutions tuition-free and increase offerings of wraparound supportive services, the Community and Technical College Investment Act is an important step toward increasing the ability for everyone to pursue and complete educational opportunities and job training programs.” — Lorena Roque, interim director of Education, Labor & Worker Justice at the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP)
Career and Technical Education Access Act
The Career and Technical Education Access Act provides federal funding to enable states to expand and strengthen high school career and technical education programs, giving students an early start on postsecondary success and workforce training.
Creates a voluntary federal grant program to help states establish, expand, or improve career and technical education programs tailored to workforce needs.
Provides flexibility for states to launch programs through standalone technical high schools, regional career centers, or hybrid models.
Mandates workforce alignment assessments every three years to ensure programs match in-demand jobs.
Requires automatic transfer credit recognition for students completing CTE programs.
Permits funding for online and hybrid programs to expand access for rural and underserved areas.
Establishes a CTE Pell Grant to allow high school students to access financial support for credentialing, apprenticeships, and dual-enrollment coursework.
These provisions are especially significant for South King County, where students face steep barriers to higher education and employers in aerospace, healthcare, and advanced manufacturing are seeking more skilled workers. By expanding career-connected learning in high school, this legislation will help local students move into good-paying jobs or further education with stronger preparation.
This bill is endorsed by LiUNA Local 242, Northwest Education Access, Machinists Institute, and Southeast Seattle Education Coalition.
“At NW Education Access, we have seen the power of career-connected learning to transform lives. This bill will help ensure more students, especially those from low-income and first-generation backgrounds, can access high-quality CTE opportunities.” — Jeff Corey Deputy Director, Northwest Education Access
“We are excited to endorse a bill that supports the livelihoods of young people while meeting the real needs of our economy. By allowing states to shape CTE pathways that reflect local industries and communities, this legislation creates access to meaningful careers for youth in places like Southeast Seattle, where early opportunity can change lives.” — Liz Huizar, Executive Director of Southeast Seattle Education Coalition
“IAM District 751 supports the Career and Technical Education (CTE) Access Act because it puts students and workers at the center of our nation’s economic future. This legislation responds to the growing demand for skilled workers in industries such as manufacturing, healthcare, construction, and IT by creating a federal grant program that allows states to establish, expand, or improve CTE programs through high schools, regional centers, and hybrid models. It delivers modern training, builds industry partnerships, and ensures fair access to education that prepares young people for stable, well-paying union careers. By expanding CTE opportunities to every community and establishing a CTE Pell Grant to help cover costs, this bill gives the next generation the skills and support they need to succeed. Training students today is how we build a strong workforce and secure the future that working people deserve.” – IAM District 751 President Jon Holden
“The Machinists Institute, a 501c3 offering education and registered apprenticeship pathways to aerospace and industrial trades strongly endorses the Career and Technical Education Access Act. This legislation will expand high-quality career and technical education opportunities, foster strong industry partnerships, and provide critical support for students and employers nationwide. By establishing flexible grant programs, incentivizing employer participation, and introducing CTE Pell Grants for secondary students, the Act ensures equitable access to hands-on learning, college credit, and in-demand career pathways. This Act clearly outlines a strategy and resources to strengthen our workforce and empower the next generation of skilled professionals.” — The Machinists Institute
A Pathway to Opportunity
Together, these bills address the affordability and accessibility crisis in education at every stage. By investing in both secondary and postsecondary education, the package creates a pipeline for students to move from high school into community college, career training, or a four-year degree without being weighed down by debt.
“From Renton to Kent to Bellevue, students in our district deserve the chance to graduate with less debt and more opportunity,” Smith said. “This package invests in young people and families here at home, while also strengthening our economy and workforce nationally.”