MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II (5th District Missouri)

(Kansas City, MO) – Today, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) announced the City of Kansas City has been awarded a $3.5 million federal grant from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to clean up brownfield sites within the city. The federal funding, which Cleaver helped secure through his support for the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, will invest in Kansas City’s Brownfields Supplemental Revolving Loan Fund, which provides loans and subgrants to remediate and redevelop projects at brownfield sites throughout Kansas City.

“From investments in new roads and bridges to funding that enables the cleanup and redevelopment of brownfield sites like the Hardesty Federal Complex, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law continues to fuel a remarkable economic comeback in Kansas City,” said Congressman Cleaver. “While we’ve come a long way since the dark days of the global pandemic, thanks in part to investments like this, there is still so much work that can be done to boost economic development in underserved communities across the metro area – and this funding will help support those efforts. I’m proud to have helped secure this $3.5 million for Kansas City, and I’ll continue fighting every day to bring more investments that support Missouri workers and small businesses back to the Fifth Congressional District.”

Specifically, this funding will assist in re-capitalizing Kansas City’s Revolving Loan Fund from which the City can make loans and subgrants to clean up brownfield sites, ensuring more projects can be funded.

Thanks to the historic $1.5 billion boost from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA’s Brownfields program is helping more communities than ever before begin to address the economic, social, and environmental challenges caused by brownfields and stimulate economic opportunity and environmental revitalization in historically overburdened communities.

Since passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Kansas City has received more than $18.5 million in brownfields grants, supporting over a dozen remediation projects across the city. In 2022, Rep. Cleaver announced $5.5 million in federal brownfields grants awarded to Kansas City, supporting the cleanup of the Hardesty Federal Complex Buildings. Last September, Congressman Cleaver joined EPA Region 7 to announce $4.5 million in federal brownfields grants for Kansas City’s Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund. This May, Congressman Cleaver announced a $4 million brownfields grant to clean up 47 vacant parcels known as the Washington Wheatley Vacant Lots Site, as well as the former Benson Manufacturing Company Site.

  

Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee’s Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Greenwood, Blue Springs, North Kansas City, Gladstone, and Claycomo. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee and Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance. For more information, please contact Matt Helfant at 202-590-0175 or matthew.helfant@mail.house.gov

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II (5th District Missouri)

(Kansas City, MO) – Following a months-long bipartisan push to secure federal funding to strengthen security services at host cities during the 2026 World Cup, U.S. Representatives Emanuel Cleaver, II (MO-05) and Sharice Davids (KS-03) announced today that Congress has passed $625 million to support safety and security efforts during the event. 

“The 2026 World Cup is an opportunity to showcase Kansas City on the world stage, demonstrating our status as a welcoming, beautiful, and first-rate city to hundreds of thousands of people from around the globe. However, with this temporary swell in population, it is imperative that we also increase security services for the safety of visitors and residents alike, which is no small task for an event this large,” said Congressman Cleaver. “After joining with representatives from across the country to push for federal investments that will ensure a safe and orderly event, I’m very happy that we were able to secure $625 million to support security efforts in the 11 host cities, including Kansas City.”

“Hosting the World Cup is an incredible opportunity for Kansas City — not just to welcome the world, but to show the world who we are. With hundreds of thousands of visitors expected, ensuring public safety must be a top priority. I’ve been proud to work with Congressman Cleaver and a bipartisan group of colleagues to advocate for these much-needed resources, and I’ll keep working to make sure Kansas City is ready to shine on the global stage,” said Representative Sharice Davids.

Kansas City will host six matches, as well as a minimum of eight teams, during the FIFA 2026 World Cup. According to estimates, Kansas City is expected to welcome 650,000 visitors during the month-long event. 

Over the past year, Representatives Cleaver and Davids, Co-Chair of the Congressional FIFA World Cup 2026 Caucus, have worked across party lines to build support for federal investments in World Cup host cities. 

Last September, the lawmakers called on the Biden administration to establish a White House Task Force on Global Sporting Events to oversee preparation for events like the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympics. In December, Cleaver and Davids joined a bipartisan coalition to call on Congress to provide $625 million to support security efforts during the 2026 World Cup. In April, led by Rep. Davids, the lawmakers again called on the Trump administration to provide $625 million in federal funding to strengthen security services at World Cup host cities. 

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Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee’s Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Greenwood, Blue Springs, North Kansas City, Gladstone, and Claycomo. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee and Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance.

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

Today, Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries held a press conference at CrescentCare, a federally qualified health center in Louisiana, with Rep. Troy Carter (LA-02) and Steering and Policy Committee Co-Chairs Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25), Rep. Robin Kelly (IL-02) and Rep. Nanette Barragán (CA-44) to highlight how Donald Trump’s budget devastates the healthcare of the American people and outline how House Democrats will hold House Republicans accountable for voting to pass their One Big Ugly Law.

LEADER JEFFRIES: Good morning. It’s an honor and a privilege to be here in the great state of Louisiana, in this all-American city. Certainly thankful for the leadership of Congressman Troy Carter, for his partnership and his friendship, standing up, fighting hard each and every day on behalf of the people that he is privileged to represent here in Louisiana’s Second Congressional District. Let me thank Alice and the people at CrescentCare for the work that you do on behalf of the people in this community and all across the city and the state to ensure that they have access to high-quality care that is both compassionate and comprehensive. And our commitment is to make sure that we fight for every single person in this state, every single American across the country, to ensure that they can get the high-quality, affordable healthcare that people in this country, the wealthiest country in the history of the world, deserve.

We believe that access to high-quality and affordable healthcare shouldn’t simply be a privilege available to the wealthy and the well-off. It’s a right. It should be available to every single person in the state of Louisiana, and every single person in this great country. Unfortunately, the One Big Ugly Bill that has been jammed down the throats of the American people represents the largest assault on Medicaid and healthcare in American history. The One Big Ugly Bill will have devastating consequences for the people of Louisiana who rely upon Medicaid to get their health service, to address their medical needs, to be able to live with dignity and respect in a nursing home setting, to have hospitals that are available to them and not closed, particularly in parts of rural Louisiana, and to be able to get the type of compassionate primary care that exists at community-based health clinics like this one. But this struggle is not over. We’re just at the beginning. We’re going to fight hard to make sure that the devastating Medicaid cuts that are now part of this One Big Ugly Law that has been signed can be pushed back—not for Democrats, Independents and Republicans, but for all Americans. That is our struggle. That is our commitment. That is the fight that we are waging on behalf of the people of Louisiana and on behalf of the people of this great country.

The Louisiana state legislature, in an overwhelming and bipartisan way, passed a resolution, making clear that cuts to Medicaid will be devastating for the people of Louisiana, whether you’re in an urban part of the state, suburban part of the state, a small-town part of the state, a rural part of the state, it will be devastating, these cuts to Medicaid, to the people of Louisiana. The assault on healthcare is unacceptable, unconscionable and un-American. And I’m thankful for the leadership of Congressman Troy Carter in standing up for the people of this great state and helping to work with people from all across the political spectrum to do what is necessary to push back against the cuts that have now been enacted to educate the people of Louisiana and throughout the nation as to how damaging this One Big Ugly Bill will be to their quality of life. But most importantly, to assure everyone that our commitment is to continue to show up and stand up and speak up for your healthcare, for your quality of life, for an America where when you work hard and play by the rules, you can live a good life, have a good-paying job, good healthcare, good housing, good education for your children and, of course, a good retirement. That is our commitment to you, and we will not stop fighting until we can end this national nightmare and bring about an America that is the best version of herself.

Full press conference can be watched here.

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

Washington, DC – Yesterday, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA) sent a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Acting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director Todd Lyons demanding answers about recent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations conducted in Ventura County, California. These operations, which took place at a farm in Camarillo, have sparked widespread fear and raised serious concerns about the agency’s tactics, transparency, and adherence to due process.

“The farmworkers detained in these raids are clearly in the United States to fill jobs that employers cannot otherwise fill,” said Congresswoman Brownley. “Their undocumented status is not by choice, but a direct result of Congress’ ongoing failure to pass comprehensive immigration reform that would allow a sufficient number of workers into the country and provide a viable pathway to citizenship. Instead of working to build this pathway, the government is spending tens of millions of taxpayer dollars to deport, in such a cruel and callous way, the exact individuals who would be covered by a comprehensive immigration reform package. Congress refuses to take up comprehensive immigration reform for purely partisan reasons.”

In the letter, Brownley demanded urgent answers about the “legal basis, execution, and impact” of these raids on our community.

“The sudden and ominous nature of ICE’s presence and tactics has sown fear, disrupted lives, and raised serious questions about ICE’s adherence to due process and established policies,” said Congresswoman Brownley. “According to reports and eyewitness accounts, there are significant concerns about the conduct of ICE’s enforcement activities, including potential violations of civil rights and the harmful impact on public trust.”

“As you undoubtedly are aware, these recent ICE actions have had a chilling effect on the entire community, causing fear among families, workers, students, and business owners. Many residents are now afraid to go to work, take their children to school, or seek medical care out of concern for their safety and legal status. Furthermore, such actions erode trust in law enforcement and local government, making it more difficult for authorities to maintain public safety and community cooperation.”

In the letter, Congresswoman Brownley demanded ICE & DHS provide immediate and accurate information on their immigration enforcement activities, including:

1. The number of individuals arrested and their current status, including whether any face deportation or expedited removal
2. The rationale behind targeting Ventura County and what prompted this enforcement operation
3. The locations where detained individuals are being held
4. Whether agents entered non-public areas without warrants or consent, and details of any permissions granted
5. Whether arrests were made with or without warrants, and if ICE followed federal guidelines for warrantless arrests
6. The criteria used to determine whom to question, and whether race, ethnicity, or language were factors
7. Whether U.S. citizens, legal residents, DACA recipients, visa holders, or veterans were detained, and how their rights were safeguarded
8. What engagement, if any, occurred with local law enforcement, community organizations, or legal aid groups to ensure transparency and due process
9. Whether detained individuals have had access to legal counsel or been allowed to notify family members
10. The process for family and attorneys to locate, contact, or visit detained individuals

The Department of Homeland Security has confirmed receipt of the letter but has yet to provide responses to the questions posed by Congresswoman Brownley. The Department also never responded to Brownley’s prior inquiries on immigration raids earlier in the year in Ventura County.

View the full text of the letter below and here.

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The Honorable Kristi Noem
Secretary
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
2707 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., SE
Washington, DC 20528-0525

Mr. Todd M. Lyons
Acting Director
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
500 12th Street, SW
Washington, DC 20536-5010

Dear Secretary Noem and Acting Director Lyons,

I am writing to express my deep concerns regarding the recent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations conducted in my district in Ventura County, California and to seek urgent answers about its legal basis, execution, and impact on our community.

California’s 26th Congressional District is home to a diverse and hard-working population- families, small business owners, service workers, educators, veterans, and farmworkers – who all contribute to the social and economic fabric of Ventura County. While my constituents and I understand the important role ICE plays in protecting our nation from violent criminals, sex traffickers, and gang members, we also believe ICE should focus its resources on deporting those who pose a real danger to the public, not hard working individuals who are making positive contributions to our nation, working in hard-to-fill jobs, paying taxes, and raising their children.

The sudden and ominous nature of ICE’s presence and tactics has sown fear, disrupted lives, and raised serious questions about ICE’s adherence to due process and established policies. According to reports and eyewitness accounts, there are significant concerns about the conduct of ICE’s enforcement activities, including potential violations of civil rights and the harmful impact on public trust.

For months, I have heard from agriculture industry representatives who have contacted my office to express concerns about the impacts of ICE’s activities on farm operations, as farmworkers — who are essential workers — may fear showing up to work. Last month, ICE chased farmworkers through the fields of Oxnard and Santa Paula; and today, the nation watched as ICE officers descended upon a local agricultural grower and rounded up dozens of individuals and deploying tear gas against concerned local residents, who came to protest ICE’s harsh tactics.

In light of these concerns, I am requesting prompt answers to the following questions:

1. How many individuals were arrested during ICE’s activities in my district? What is the status of each individual arrested, and are any facing imminent deportation proceedings? Has anyone been placed in expedited removal or administrative removal?
2. Why has Ventura County been targeted for ICE’s enforcement tactics? What sparked this sudden effort?
3. Where are individuals who were taken being detained?
4. Did ICE agents enter non-public areas of businesses or residential buildings? If so, did they have judicial warrants authorizing such access, or was consent obtained? Please provide details on any permissions granted, including by whom and under what circumstances.
5. Did ICE have specific arrest warrants for individuals in Ventura County, or were any arrests made without a warrant? If warrantless arrests were made, did ICE comply with the nationwide warrantless arrest policy under the Castanon Nava settlement, including requirements for probable cause and proper documentation?
6. What criteria did ICE agents use in determining whom to question? Were race, ethnicity, or language proficiency factors in those decisions? For each person questioned, please specify the justification for their detainment or interrogation.
7. Were U.S. citizens, legal permanent residents, DACA recipients, visa holders, or veterans among those questioned or detained? If so, how were their rights protected during this operation?
8. What measures, if any, were taken to engage with local law enforcement, community organizations, or legal aid groups before or after this action to ensure transparency and due process?
9. For individuals detained, how many have had access to legal counsel? How many have been allowed to notify family members and loved ones of their location and reasons for detention?
10. What is the process for such notifications, and what is the process for loved ones and legal counsel to visit with or talk to those detained?

As you undoubtedly are aware, these recent ICE actions have had a chilling effect on the entire community, causing fear among families, workers, students, and business owners. Many residents are now afraid to go to work, take their children to school, or seek medical care out of concern for their safety and legal status. Furthermore, such actions erode trust in law enforcement and local government, making it more difficult for authorities to maintain public safety and community cooperation. Targeting hardworking immigrants is also contrary to our values as a nation, as we are a nation made up largely of immigrants whose ancestors all came to the United States to make better lives for themselves and their families.

The 26th Congressional District of California is a vibrant and inclusive region where people of all backgrounds work hard to build better lives for themselves and their families. Actions that instill fear and division harm not only those directly impacted but also the broader social and economic stability of our communities. Given these serious concerns, I request a detailed response to my questions no later than July 18, 2025.

Sincerely,

JULIA BROWNLEY
Member of Congress

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Issues: 119th Congress, Immigration, Local Issues

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

Today, Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) released the following statement on new data showing that Washington hospitals will lose an estimated $662 million a year, or over $6.6 billion over the next decade, because of Trump and Republicans’ megabill that was signed into law last week.

“The ripple effects of this law will be felt like a tsunami in Washington’s health care system. These cruel cuts will kick 330,000 Washingtonians off their health coverage. Regardless of what kind of health coverage someone has, they will feel the impact. Hospitals across Washington are estimated to lose over $6.6 billion because of the Apple Health cuts. It will force hospitals and providers to close facilities and scale back services, and insurers to raise insurance premiums across the board.

“All of this so Republicans can give billionaires another massive tax break.”

Some of the largest estimated annual cuts in Western Washington include:

• Over $56 million cut to Harborview Medical Center (Seattle)
• Over $45 million cut to the University of Washington Medical Center (Seattle)
• Nearly $30 million cut to Swedish Medical Center (Seattle)
• Nearly $29 million cut to Providence Regional Medical Center (Everett)
• Over $12 million cut to Virginia Mason Medical Center (Seattle)
• Over $11 million cut to Evergreen Health (Kirkland)
• Over $7.8 million for Overlake Hospital (Bellevue)
• Over $1.9 million cut to Evergreen Health (Monroe)

What Washington Health Systems Are Saying:

“The federal cuts to Medicaid payments are a disaster for hospitals across the country. In Washington State alone, hospital payments for services delivered will be cut by more than $6 billion over the next ten years. In addition, hundreds of thousands of people will lose coverage. There is no way hospitals can absorb this level of cuts in the Medicaid program without impacting everyone’s access to services. Important hospital services will disappear, nurses and doctors will be laid off, and some hospitals are at risk of full closure,” said Jacqueline Barton True, Vice President, Advocacy and Rural Health, Washington State Hospital Association.

“Medicaid funding is critical to keep hospitals open and operating for all patients. This is especially true for public safety net health systems like UW Medicine. The federal budget reconciliation bill will significantly reduce both patient eligibility for coverage and Medicaid funding going directly to hospitals for daily operations,” said Dr. Tim Dellit, CEO of UW Medicine and Dean University of Washington School of Medicine. “It is not simply Medicaid patients who will be impacted; these cuts will disrupt the financial foundation that supports the entire health care system, reducing resources and access to care for everyone. As Washington state’s largest public hospital system and safety net provider of health care, the loss of Medicaid reimbursements will have a profound impact on UW Medicine’s ability to serve the community and meet our mission of improving the health of the public by treating every patient who needs our care.”

“From a patient’s perspective, the biggest concerns about the law are the numerous provisions, including significant Medicaid cuts, that will make it harder for patients to get health insurance coverage and keep that coverage. When people lose their coverage, their medical needs don’t go away. Lack of health insurance coverage can end up exacerbating those needs, as patients without insurance genuinely don’t receive the preventive care that they desperately need that keep patients and populations healthy. Patients may even ration food or skip medication altogether. All this adds up to patients who, when they do seek care, will require higher level care—which is also more expensive,” said Jon Duarte, President & CEO, MultiCare Overlake Medical Center & Clinics, CEO, North Sound Region. “In addition, they often enter the health care system through an emergency department, putting increased stress, not only on them, but on other patients in emergency department care as well. In accordance with our mission at MultiCare, we provide care for all who need it, any day, any hour of the day as well, regardless of their ability to pay. When patients lose access to health insurance, hospitals like Overlake will have no choice but to care for those patients and absorb the increased costs associated with providing uncompensated care, creating a financially unintentional and unsustainable situation for health systems. Ultimately, we may have to cut services, causing entire communities to lose important access to care.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Kelly (R-PA)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA) released this statement ahead of the one-year anniversary of the attempted assassination of President Donald J. Trump in Kelly’s hometown of Butler, Pennsylvania on July 13, 2024.

“As we reflect on the tragic events that unfolded in Butler, Pennsylvania one year ago this weekend, may we pray for the Comperatore family as they continue to heal, for David Dutch and James Copenhaver who were injured, and for President Trump who continues to serve our great nation despite not one, but two assassination attempts. In the wake of tragedy, the Butler community remains united and stronger than ever,” said Rep. Kelly. “In the year since the attempted assassination of President Trump, Congress has taken significant steps to investigate the events of July 13. Our Task Force produced nearly 40 recommendations to modernize the Secret Service and to better protect America’s leaders. I continue to work with Director Curran and the agency as my colleagues in Congress and I put these recommendations into action. Like many in the Butler community, I still have questions about everything that led up to, and unfolded on, July 13. May we continue to pursue the truth to get the American people the answers they deserve.”

BACKGROUND

Following the assassination attempt, Rep. Kelly was named Chairman of the Task Force on the Attempted Assassination of Donald J. Trump. In their final report published in December 2024, the Task Force produced nearly 40 actionable recommendations related to the July 13 events and overarching structural changes the Secret Service should consider.

The Task Force also:

• Conducted 46 transcribed interviews (TI’s)
• Reviewed nearly 20,000 pages of documents
• Held a dozen briefings with relevant agencies and officials, including Secret Service, FBI, ATF, and others.
• Visited sites in Butler, West Palm Beach, and the FBI laboratory to review evidence in Quantico, Virginia

You can read the Task Force’s final report here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Donald Norcross (1st District of New Jersey)

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

Washington, DC — Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09) Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Energy and Water Subcommittee, joined by Congressman Lloyd Doggett (TX-37) Dean of the Texas Congressional Delegation, and Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17) the only meteorologist serving in Congress, today led a forceful letter to federal agencies calling for immediate action following the catastrophic flash flooding in Kerr County, Texas, that claimed over 100 lives. The letter — sent to President Donald J. Trump, NOAA leadership, and the US Army Corps of Engineers — demands an urgent review of staffing shortages, stalled forecasting improvements, and insufficient flood preparedness that contributed to the disaster.

The lawmakers point to dangerous gaps in public warning coordination and a 15% reduction in National Weather Service (NWS) staffing since January as critical failures that must be addressed before the next extreme weather event. Accurate weather forecasts are not enough. It is imperative that these warnings are adequately communicated to members of the public and in a way that prompts the appropriate lifesaving action by emergency managers, first responders, and the public at-large.  

“This flood was not just a natural disaster but a failure of foresight and leadership,” said Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09). “A changing climate is rewriting the rules of weather, and our federal agencies must keep pace. The American people deserve a weather warning system that does more than sound the alarm. It must be fully staffed and ready to act to ensure that everyone in harms way receives it. This letter is a demand for accountability, but more importantly, it’s a demand for lives to be protected anywhere severe weather strikes.”

“As Texans in my state are faced with much pain and uncertainty, we cannot wait to ask the hard questions,” said Congressman Lloyd Doggett (TX-37). “Effective oversight saves lives. That is why we need a full account of the ways in which the Trump administration’s recent actions have undermined the federal response, both before and after this catastrophe. Learning from these failures and recognizing that weather intensification driven by climate change increasingly endangers lives will help prevent more tragedies.”

“As someone who has reported on dangerous floods for my neighbors as a meteorologist in my local community, I know how critical it is for NWS meteorologists, local media, and emergency management coordinators to work together seamlessly and quickly to share urgent warnings,” said Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17). “The deadly toll of the flash floods that hit Texas last week beg the question of what went wrong with the warning systems in place and what more could have been done to prevent this tragedy. The Trump Administration’s cuts to NOAA and the NWS are already having a real impact on the accuracy of our nation’s weather forecasting, creating cause for major concern. That is why I am calling on President Trump, NOAA, and the Army Corps of Engineers to undertake a full-scale investigation into what went wrong and what can be done to prevent catastrophes like this in the future.” 

This tragedy echoes a troubling national pattern of accelerating flash flood disasters that have claimed lives in recent years: 46 lives in the greater New York City area in September 2021, 45 lives in Kentucky in July 2022, 20 lives in Tennessee in August 2021, and 250 lives across the Southeast in September 2024.  These events are not anomalies — they are harbingers of a climate-disrupted future.

Kaptur, Doggett, and Sorensen request a response within 30 days and underscore that federal weather services must not be the weak link in the nation’s climate resilience.

A full copy of the letter can be found by clicking here or reading below: 

July 11, 2025

Honorable Donald J. Trump  President of the United States The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW  Washington, DC 20500	Laura Grimm Chief of Staff, performing the duties of Undersecretary for Commerce of Oceans and Atmosphere and Administrator, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration  1401 Constitution Ave NW Washington, DC 20230
Lieutenant General William H. Graham Jr.  Commanding General and 56th Chief of Engineers U.S. Army Corps of Engineers  441 G St NW Washington DC, 20314

Dear Mr. President, Ms. Grimm, and General Graham:

We write with deep concern about the recent flooding in Kerr County, Texas, by both the severity of this event and the structural shortcomings at the federal, state, and local levels that contributed to the tragic loss of life. On July 4, 2025, Kerr County was struck by a flash flood of devastating impact. The Guadalupe River rose by more than 20 feet in less than two hours,^[1] engulfing homes and campsites, and leaving over a hundred dead in its wake.^[2] This tragedy echoes a troubling national pattern of accelerating flash flood disasters that have claimed lives: 46 lives in the greater New York City area in September 2021,^[3] 45 lives in Kentucky in July 2022, 20 lives in Tennessee in August 2021, and 250 lives across the Southeast in September 2024.^[4]  These events are not anomalies—they are harbingers of a climate-disrupted future.

Atmospheric scientists have long warned that warmer air holds more water vapor and thus latent energy produces heavier rainfall. In 1989, the Director of NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies, James Hansen, wrote presciently that “the greenhouse effect enhances both ends of the hydrologic cycle…, there is an increased frequency of extreme wet situations, as well as increased drought. Model results are shown to imply that increased greenhouse warming will lead to more intense thunderstorms, that is, deeper thunderstorms with greater rainfall.”^[5]

While the National Weather Service (NWS) forecast may have been accurate, accurate weather forecasts are not enough. It is imperative that these warnings are adequately communicated to members of the public and in a way that prompts the appropriate lifesaving action by emergency managers, first responders, and the public at-large.  We are concerned that there seems to have been a breakdown at this stage starting with the first flash flood watches issued on Thursday afternoon.

Following a series of catastrophic tornadoes in the spring of 2011 that culminated in the worst tornado in a generation in Joplin, Missouri, NWS acknowledged that accurate forecasts were not enough to protect life and property, and thereby elevated the importance of properly communicating to the public about life-threatening weather events.  As a result, NWS developed the Weather Ready Nation initiative to ensure that Americans knew how to appropriately respond to dangerous weather conditions when alerted by NWS or the private weather enterprise. In support of this effort, Congress codified the position of Warning Coordination Meteorologist in every weather forecast office (WFO) around the country in the 2017 Weather Act.

While staffing across NWS has long been a bipartisan concern, the staffing reductions mandated by the Department of Government Efficiency has greatly magnified the issue, with NWS losing nearly 15% of its staff nationwide since January.  The forecast accuracy and timeliness during this event in Texas was a testament to the dedication of the local NWS staff who flexed their schedules to ensure adequate coverage during such a high-impact event. That is not a sustainable solution, nor is it reliable enough for the increasing incidence of dangerous weather events.

In particular, the loss of the Warning Coordination Meteorologist at the San Antonio weather forecast office (WFO) and the reduced number of forecasters put the people of Texas at risk. Lacking a full staff complement requires the team to focus only on issuing the forecasts and warnings. Outreach and coordination, a key responsibility of the Warning Coordination Meteorologist, do not occur. Also, we understand that the funding supporting travel to the community for outreach and coordination, including meeting with emergency managers and elected officials, has been suspended. Having the Warning Coordination Meteorologist position and the vacancies filled may have been critical to saving more lives by connecting with as many local community leaders as possible in the hours between the 1 a.m. NWS warning and 4 a.m. when the most dangerous conditions began impacting residents.^[6]  

Given these concerns, we intend to work quickly to enact the Weather Staffing Improvement Act, which will streamline the hiring of federal weather forecasters. Meanwhile, we request that NWS expedites the backfilling of vacancies at all WFOs and the National Centers for Environmental Prediction. Further, we request that, despite proposed cuts to programs in the fiscal year 2026 budget request, no other reductions in funding or staffing occur without the explicit direction of Congress to programs that support precipitation prediction and decision support or the improvement of those services, including, but not limited to the work of the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research.

NWS Director Ken Graham has also laid out strategic priorities to transform NWS’ staffing models and organizational effectiveness, known as “Ken’s 10”.^[7] We applaud his thoughtful proposals, though we urge NOAA to provide more detailed information for Congress to consider prior to wholesale implementation.  Further, we urge that any adoption and implementation be done in a measured way so as to prevent any failures in the current system during the transition.   

We ask that your agencies please provide the following information:

1. Staffing Cuts: Provide a breakdown of NWS staffing levels since 2017 at WFOs and the National Centers for Environmental Protection.  Identify how many WFOs, and for how long each, has lacked each of the following positions over that time: Meteorologist in Charge, a Science Operations Officer, and a Warning Coordination Meteorologist? What performance impacts have resulted?
2. Communication Gaps: How did the absence of a Warning Coordination Meteorologist and reduced staffing affect warning distribution, communication and coordination in Kerr County and other nearby jurisdictions? What is the standard operating procedure for such a role in such critical weather events?
3. Precipitation Prediction: Atlas-15 will provide detailed estimates of maximum probable precipitation rates for any location in the U.S., critical information for planning for severe weather events.  Please explain any reasons for the current delays in Atlas-15’s national release.  Are sufficient funds available for the completion of this tool?  Have any funds been redirected away from this purpose?
4. Status of PPGC: The Precipitation Prediction Grand Challenge (PPGC), an initiative to dramatically improve the accuracy of forecasting when, where, and how much precipitation will occur has been chronically underfunded.  Please provide an update on the current efforts to date and the requirements to make significant progress over the next 5 years.
5. Adopting Graham’s Priorities: Which of Ken Graham’s ten transformation proposals have been implemented? Provide projected costs and timelines.
6. Corps Flood Control Improvements: This event also highlights the need for improvements from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) who is tasked with flood control across the country. How has the Corps updated its standard operating procedures to recognize the increased risk of extreme precipitation?  What is the status of the adoption of the Forecast-Informed Reservoir Operations (FIRO) to reduce flooding risk and maximize water availability? What additional research and monitoring is necessary, and on what timeline, to incorporate FIRO into the Corps’ standard procedures?
7. Interagency Collaboration: What NOAA and Corps coordination mechanisms are in place to improve rural flood-warning infrastructure and emergency preparedness, including hydrology modeling and flood response planning?
8. Future Preparedness Plan: Describe plans to adapt federal weather services to the growing frequency of extreme precipitation events attributable to climate change.

Across America, we are entering a perilous new era of extreme precipitation. The science is clear: a warming world means heavier rains, more frequent flash floods, and rising stakes. Failure to learn from this disaster will only exacerbate future risk. Now is the moment to prioritize investments—restoring NOAA staffing and accelerating research and coordinating flood preparedness across the Federal Government. We respectfully ask for your prompt attention and response within 30 days to ensure federal weather infrastructure is not the weak link in our national resilience.  We further request a quick response to the July 8, 2025 letter from Rep. Doggett, the Dean of the Texas Congressional Delegation.

 

Sincerely,

# # #
 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Joaquin Castro (20th District of Texas)

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

Washington, DC — Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), joined by Congressman Lloyd Doggett (TX-37) and Congressman Eric Sorenson (IL-17), today led a forceful letter to federal agencies calling for immediate action following the catastrophic flash flooding in Kerr County, Texas, that claimed over 100 lives. The letter — sent to President Donald J. Trump, NOAA leadership, and the US Army Corps of Engineers — demands an urgent review of staffing shortages, stalled forecasting improvements, and insufficient flood preparedness that contributed to the disaster.

The lawmakers point to dangerous gaps in public warning coordination and a 15% reduction in National Weather Service (NWS) staffing since January as critical failures that must be addressed before the next extreme weather event. Accurate weather forecasts are not enough. It is imperative that these warnings are adequately communicated to members of the public and in a way that prompts the appropriate lifesaving action by emergency managers, first responders, and the public at-large.  

“This flood was not just a natural disaster but a failure of foresight and leadership,” said Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09). “A changing climate is rewriting the rules of weather, and our federal agencies must keep pace. The American people deserve a weather warning system that does more than sound the alarm. It must be fully staffed and ready to act to ensure that everyone in harms way receives it. This letter is a demand for accountability, but more importantly, it’s a demand for lives to be protected anywhere severe weather strikes.”

“As Texans in my state are faced with much pain and uncertainty, we cannot wait to ask the hard questions,” said Congressman Lloyd Doggett (TX-37). “Effective oversight saves lives. That is why we need a full account of the ways in which the Trump administration’s recent actions have undermined the federal response, both before and after this catastrophe. Learning from these failures and recognizing that weather intensification driven by climate change increasingly endangers lives will help prevent more tragedies.”

“As someone who has reported on dangerous floods for my neighbors as a meteorologist in my local community, I know how critical it is for NWS meteorologists, local media, and emergency management coordinators to work together seamlessly and quickly to share urgent warnings,” said Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17). “The deadly toll of the flash floods that hit Texas last week beg the question of what went wrong with the warning systems in place and what more could have been done to prevent this tragedy. The Trump Administration’s cuts to NOAA and the NWS are already having a real impact on the accuracy of our nation’s weather forecasting, creating cause for major concern. That is why I am calling on President Trump, NOAA, and the Army Corps of Engineers to undertake a full-scale investigation into what went wrong and what can be done to prevent catastrophes like this in the future.” 

This tragedy echoes a troubling national pattern of accelerating flash flood disasters that have claimed lives in recent years: 46 lives in the greater New York City area in September 2021, 45 lives in Kentucky in July 2022, 20 lives in Tennessee in August 2021, and 250 lives across the Southeast in September 2024.  These events are not anomalies — they are harbingers of a climate-disrupted future.

Kaptur, Doggett, and Sorenson request a response within 30 days and underscore that federal weather services must not be the weak link in the nation’s climate resilience.

A full copy of the letter can be found by clicking here or reading below: 

July 11, 2025

Honorable Donald J. Trump  President of the United States The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW  Washington, DC 20500	Laura Grimm Chief of Staff, performing the duties of Undersecretary for Commerce of Oceans and Atmosphere and Administrator, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration  1401 Constitution Ave NW Washington, DC 20230
Lieutenant General William H. Graham Jr.  Commanding General and 56th Chief of Engineers U.S. Army Corps of Engineers  441 G St NW Washington DC, 20314

Dear Mr. President, Ms. Grimm, and General Graham:

We write with deep concern about the recent flooding in Kerr County, Texas, by both the severity of this event and the structural shortcomings at the federal, state, and local levels that contributed to the tragic loss of life. On July 4, 2025, Kerr County was struck by a flash flood of devastating impact. The Guadalupe River rose by more than 20 feet in less than two hours,^[1] engulfing homes and campsites, and leaving over a hundred dead in its wake.^[2] This tragedy echoes a troubling national pattern of accelerating flash flood disasters that have claimed lives: 46 lives in the greater New York City area in September 2021,^[3] 45 lives in Kentucky in July 2022, 20 lives in Tennessee in August 2021, and 250 lives across the Southeast in September 2024.^[4]  These events are not anomalies—they are harbingers of a climate-disrupted future.

Atmospheric scientists have long warned that warmer air holds more water vapor and thus latent energy produces heavier rainfall. In 1989, the Director of NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies, James Hansen, wrote presciently that “the greenhouse effect enhances both ends of the hydrologic cycle…, there is an increased frequency of extreme wet situations, as well as increased drought. Model results are shown to imply that increased greenhouse warming will lead to more intense thunderstorms, that is, deeper thunderstorms with greater rainfall.”^[5]

While the National Weather Service (NWS) forecast may have been accurate, accurate weather forecasts are not enough. It is imperative that these warnings are adequately communicated to members of the public and in a way that prompts the appropriate lifesaving action by emergency managers, first responders, and the public at-large.  We are concerned that there seems to have been a breakdown at this stage starting with the first flash flood watches issued on Thursday afternoon.

Following a series of catastrophic tornadoes in the spring of 2011 that culminated in the worst tornado in a generation in Joplin, Missouri, NWS acknowledged that accurate forecasts were not enough to protect life and property, and thereby elevated the importance of properly communicating to the public about life-threatening weather events.  As a result, NWS developed the Weather Ready Nation initiative to ensure that Americans knew how to appropriately respond to dangerous weather conditions when alerted by NWS or the private weather enterprise. In support of this effort, Congress codified the position of Warning Coordination Meteorologist in every weather forecast office (WFO) around the country in the 2017 Weather Act.

While staffing across NWS has long been a bipartisan concern, the staffing reductions mandated by the Department of Government Efficiency has greatly magnified the issue, with NWS losing nearly 15% of its staff nationwide since January.  The forecast accuracy and timeliness during this event in Texas was a testament to the dedication of the local NWS staff who flexed their schedules to ensure adequate coverage during such a high-impact event. That is not a sustainable solution, nor is it reliable enough for the increasing incidence of dangerous weather events.

In particular, the loss of the Warning Coordination Meteorologist at the San Antonio weather forecast office (WFO) and the reduced number of forecasters put the people of Texas at risk. Lacking a full staff complement requires the team to focus only on issuing the forecasts and warnings. Outreach and coordination, a key responsibility of the Warning Coordination Meteorologist, do not occur. Also, we understand that the funding supporting travel to the community for outreach and coordination, including meeting with emergency managers and elected officials, has been suspended. Having the Warning Coordination Meteorologist position and the vacancies filled may have been critical to saving more lives by connecting with as many local community leaders as possible in the hours between the 1 a.m. NWS warning and 4 a.m. when the most dangerous conditions began impacting residents.^[6]  

Given these concerns, we intend to work quickly to enact the Weather Staffing Improvement Act, which will streamline the hiring of federal weather forecasters. Meanwhile, we request that NWS expedites the backfilling of vacancies at all WFOs and the National Centers for Environmental Prediction. Further, we request that, despite proposed cuts to programs in the fiscal year 2026 budget request, no other reductions in funding or staffing occur without the explicit direction of Congress to programs that support precipitation prediction and decision support or the improvement of those services, including, but not limited to the work of the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research.

NWS Director Ken Graham has also laid out strategic priorities to transform NWS’ staffing models and organizational effectiveness, known as “Ken’s 10”.^[7] We applaud his thoughtful proposals, though we urge NOAA to provide more detailed information for Congress to consider prior to wholesale implementation.  Further, we urge that any adoption and implementation be done in a measured way so as to prevent any failures in the current system during the transition.   

We ask that your agencies please provide the following information:

1. Staffing Cuts: Provide a breakdown of NWS staffing levels since 2017 at WFOs and the National Centers for Environmental Protection.  Identify how many WFOs, and for how long each, has lacked each of the following positions over that time: Meteorologist in Charge, a Science Operations Officer, and a Warning Coordination Meteorologist? What performance impacts have resulted?
2. Communication Gaps: How did the absence of a Warning Coordination Meteorologist and reduced staffing affect warning distribution, communication and coordination in Kerr County and other nearby jurisdictions? What is the standard operating procedure for such a role in such critical weather events?
3. Precipitation Prediction: Atlas-15 will provide detailed estimates of maximum probable precipitation rates for any location in the U.S., critical information for planning for severe weather events.  Please explain any reasons for the current delays in Atlas-15’s national release.  Are sufficient funds available for the completion of this tool?  Have any funds been redirected away from this purpose?
4. Status of PPGC: The Precipitation Prediction Grand Challenge (PPGC), an initiative to dramatically improve the accuracy of forecasting when, where, and how much precipitation will occur has been chronically underfunded.  Please provide an update on the current efforts to date and the requirements to make significant progress over the next 5 years.
5. Adopting Graham’s Priorities: Which of Ken Graham’s ten transformation proposals have been implemented? Provide projected costs and timelines.
6. Corps Flood Control Improvements: This event also highlights the need for improvements from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) who is tasked with flood control across the country. How has the Corps updated its standard operating procedures to recognize the increased risk of extreme precipitation?  What is the status of the adoption of the Forecast-Informed Reservoir Operations (FIRO) to reduce flooding risk and maximize water availability? What additional research and monitoring is necessary, and on what timeline, to incorporate FIRO into the Corps’ standard procedures?
7. Interagency Collaboration: What NOAA and Corps coordination mechanisms are in place to improve rural flood-warning infrastructure and emergency preparedness, including hydrology modeling and flood response planning?
8. Future Preparedness Plan: Describe plans to adapt federal weather services to the growing frequency of extreme precipitation events attributable to climate change.

Across America, we are entering a perilous new era of extreme precipitation. The science is clear: a warming world means heavier rains, more frequent flash floods, and rising stakes. Failure to learn from this disaster will only exacerbate future risk. Now is the moment to prioritize investments—restoring NOAA staffing and accelerating research and coordinating flood preparedness across the Federal Government. We respectfully ask for your prompt attention and response within 30 days to ensure federal weather infrastructure is not the weak link in our national resilience.  We further request a quick response to the July 8, 2025 letter from Rep. Doggett, the Dean of the Texas Congressional Delegation.

 

Sincerely,

# # #