MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Bennie G Thompson (D-MS)

September 16, 2025

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Bennie G. Thompson (MS-02) called on the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to launch a federal investigation into the suspicious death of Demartravion “Trey” Reed, a 21-year-old Black male from Grenada, Mississippi.  Reed was found hanging from a tree on the campus of Delta State University, a tragedy that has left his family and community searching for answers. “It is always a tragedy when a young life is cut short,” said Congressman Thompson.  “We must leave no stone unturned in the search for answers. While the details of this case are still emerging, we cannot ignore Mississippi’s painful history of lynching and racial violence against African Americans.  My deepest condolences and prayers are with Trey’s family during this difficult time.” Congressman Thompson stressed the importance of federal involvement to ensure a full and impartial investigation.  “Federal resources are critical in cases like this,” he said.   “The FBI has the tools and experience necessary to conduct a thorough, unbiased inquiry, and time is of the essence.   I have also spoken directly with Trey’s family, and they, along with the community, deserve nothing less than a complete and transparent investigation.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Bennie G Thompson (D-MS)

BOLTON, MS – Today, United States Representative Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded a grant of $731,782 to Panola County through the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Airport Improvement Program (AIP).

The funding will support improvements at the Panola County Airport (PMU) in Batesville, MS. Specifically, the project will reconstruct existing Taxiway “A” lighting that has reached the end of its useful life.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Brendan Boyle (13th District of Pennsylvania)

PHILADELPHIA, PA — Congressman Brendan F. Boyle (PA-02) joined the family of Sergeant Christopher David Fitzgerald, Temple University leaders, and U.S. Postal Service officials to rename the Bustleton Avenue Post Office as the Sergeant Christopher David Fitzgerald Post Office Building.

“Chris’s life’s work embodied the best of our city, and his kind nature and positive impact he had on everyone he met,” said Congressman Boyle. “To the Fitzgerald family, I would like to say that your strength over the past couple years has been matched only by the love of Chris that you have shown. I think I can speak for not only everyone here today, but everyone across our city and beyond when I say we are all in awe of what you have done to honor Chris, and we’re honored to stand with you today and every day to uphold his legacy.”

Sergeant Fitzgerald, a Temple University Police Officer and resident of Pennsylvania’s 2nd Congressional District, was tragically killed in the line of duty on February 18, 2023. He was the first Temple University officer ever killed in the line of duty. He is survived by his wife, Marissa, and their four children.

The renaming was made possible through legislation authored by Congressman Boyle, passed by Congress, and signed into law by former President Biden. In his remarks, Boyle underscored the importance of ensuring that Sergeant Fitzgerald’s bravery, selflessness, and service to Philadelphia are remembered for generations.

“I thank the City of Philadelphia, Congressman Boyle, for everything that you’ve done to make this happen, everybody involved in the post office, former President Biden for signing it,” said Marissa Fitzgerald, wife of Sergeant Fitzgerald. “It’s an honor and I thank y’all so much for continuing to help us carry on Christopher’s legacy, his honor, and his sacrifice. I know that he bought this beautiful weather for us today. I know that he is shining down on us and beaming with light.”

 “Congressman Boyle, my family and I personally thank you for all of your heart’s work in recognizing and honoring my son Chris’s contribution and service to the city,” said Pauline Fitzgerald, mother of Sergeant Fitzgerald. “I purposely said heart because it is not just the hard work, it is the care behind that hard work that makes it hard work. As a family, we have had many lows, but today is not one of those days. We are truly humbled that this building will bear Chris’s name. It is especially momentous for me because when he was small, we frequented this post office.”

“Of all the politicians in the metropolitan area, the first politician to reach out to us in reference to Christopher’s passing was Congressman Boyle,” said Joel Fitzgerald, father of Sergeant Fitzgerald. “He and his office have been ardent in support of our family. They have been amazing to work with. And to obtain bipartisan support in such a fractured political era is unusual, and to know that Christopher had that way of healing wounds and bringing people together is certainly something commendable.”

“Even if we disagree with one another, we show one another compassion, we show one another love, and it’s through love, peace, and unity that we can come together as a people,” said Juan Marrero, uncle of Sergeant Fitzgerald. “So hopefully as people come into this post office, be they law enforcement or be they civilian, all of them can point to the fact that he loved law enforcement and he loved community, and he incarnated what it was like to be a police officer and a member of the community, and to bridge that gap between both.”

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

(Washington, DC) — On Thursday, September 18, 2025, Congressman Al Green, Ranking Member of the Financial Services Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, shared remarks in a Financial Services Hearing entitled, “Fraud in Focus: Exposing Financial Threats to American Families.”

You can access and listen to Congressman Al Green’s remarks to witnesses on the panel here. The hearing remarks highlighted are also accessible on various social media platforms, including Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly known as Twitter).  

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

(Washington, DC) – On Wednesday, September 17, 2025, Congressman Al Green issued a written communique to the U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon and Attorney General Pam Bondi, urging a full federal investigation into the recent wave of racist threats against numerous Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). He also called for the immediate deployment of additional security resources to protect students, faculty, and staff. A copy of the letter is accessible here.

In recent days, several HBCUs, including Alabama State University, Virginia State University, Hampton University, Southern University, and Clark Atlanta University, locked down their campuses and canceled classes after receiving terroristic threats in the wake of the murders of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska and political commentator Charlie Kirk. Although the FBI has described the threats as “hoax calls,” they have nonetheless instilled fear, disrupted education, and placed a heavy emotional burden on students, faculty, and families.

Congressman Al Green stated, “Protecting students at HBCU campuses nationwide from ongoing threats is just as important as protecting students at Ivy League schools. This is not only a matter of public safety, but also of educational equity and civil rights. These racist, terroristic threats are an attack on the dignity and future of young people who are simply pursuing an education. No parent should live in fear for their child’s safety in a classroom, and no student should be targeted for choosing to attend an HBCU. This is why I am calling for a full federal investigation and immediate reinforcement of campus security. We cannot allow hate to grow unchecked; we must confront it with vigilance, compassion, and decisive action for all students at all institutions of higher education.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Roger Williams (25th District of Texas)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Roger Williams’ bill, the Merchant Banking Modernization Act, passed markup in the House Committee on Financial Services by a vote of 35-17. This legislation amends the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 by extending the holding period for merchant banking investments from the Federal Reserve’s 10-year limit to a statutory minimum of 15 years, ensuring small businesses have the capital they need to grow and succeed.

“Small businesses are the backbone of the American economy, but many struggle to secure access to capital,” said Congressman Williams. “Current federal regulations force financial holding companies to exit their merchant banking investments too early, often before a project is complete. My bill gives businesses and their banking partners more time to unlock long-term investments, create jobs, and fuel economic growth in communities across America.”

Click  here to view the bill.

Background:

• Under current law, financial holding companies may make merchant banking investments, but the Federal Reserve limits these investments to a 10-year holding period.
• Many small business projects, from planning and permitting to building and stabilizing, require more than a decade to complete. Forced early exits can disrupt growth and harm entrepreneurs.
• The Merchant Banking Modernization Act sets a statutory floor of 15 years for holding merchant banking investments, aligning financing timelines with real-world business needs.

• By modernizing outdated rules, the bill expands access to capital for Main Street businesses, supports community banks and financial holding companies, and strengthens job creation at the local level.

Supporting Organizations: American Bankers Association, Texas Bankers Association, Consumer Bankers Association, and Independent Community Bankers of America.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Roger Williams (25th District of Texas)

• The bill extends the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, set to expire on September 30, 2025, for one year.

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Congressman Roger Williams is the Chairman of the House Small Business Committee and member of the House Financial Services Committee. He proudly represents the 25th Congressional District of Texas

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Jesús Chuy García (IL-04)

WASHINGTON, D.C. –– Today, Congressman Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04) took to the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives to mark Hispanic Heritage Month and call out Trump’s attacks on Latino and immigrant communities 

A video of the speech can be found here. 

Remarks as delivered:

“As we begin Hispanic Heritage Month, I want to honor the millions of Latinos and Latinas who make this country strong. 

“We celebrate our culture and sacrifices. 

“But this year it comes with urgency because we are under attack. 

“Last week, the Department of Homeland Security attacked me on “X,” insisting they only ‘deport criminals.’ 

“If you walk the streets of my district, you see the truth, and it looks nothing like their tweets.

“Last Friday in Franklin Park, a suburb in my district, Silverio Villegas Gonzalez left his home like any other day. 

“He was a restaurant worker. 

“He enjoyed cooking. 

“He was a devoted father. 

“He never came home. 

“ICE agents stopped him. 

“Within minutes of dropping his kids at school. He was shot and killed in broad daylight that morning. 

“First, they said he drove at officers. Videos show otherwise. 

“Then they said he dragged an officer. We’ve yet to see the evidence. 

“They said the officer feared for his life. 

“But neighbors’ video captured gunshots, then a car coasting—Silverio already incapacitated—before crashing into a semi trailer. 

“Those same videos show officers, including one supposedly seriously injured, smashing the window, dragging Silverio’s lifeless body out, slamming him onto the pavement, and handcuffing him as he bled out. Silverio didn’t make it.

“The DHS story doesn’t add up. 

“A man is dead. A family is shattered. And the agency responsible keeps hiding behind masked thugs and unmarked cars. And I use that term because that’s how so many agents are acting, either voluntarily or not.

“ICE and DHS have no credibility, and neither do their stories. They’ve lost it. 

“Reports indicate that officers involved were not wearing body cameras. This is not law enforcement. This is becoming an American Gestapo.

“Silverio’s tragedy is not alone. 

“It affects families every day. That same day in Little Village, ICE arrested Willian, a day laborer, as he walked into a barbershop with his wife. 

“Willian was the lead plaintiff in a lawsuit against Home Depot and local police for abuse. ICE retaliated.

“And we all saw the Cicero case—children left crying on the side of an industrial road after their parents were taken away by ICE. 

“That is state-sanctioned cruelty against children. The President, especially.  DHS, says they target criminal immigrants. 

“Yet in Elgin, in the dead of night, ICE staged a reckless raid with helicopters and armored trucks, parading detainees for cameras. Secretary Noem showed up for five seconds of fame and rushed to declare “mission accomplished.” Really? Two U.S. citizens were detained—not criminals, not even immigrants. 

“To quote the President: They don’t know what they’re doing.

“What we see are workers punished, children traumatized, U.S. citizens abducted in their sleep, and a father, Silverio Villegas Gonzalez, shot dead. 

“There are hundreds, if not thousands, of cases like this. 

“We celebrate Hispanic heritage, but we also issue a warning. Today, it’s Latinos and other immigrants under attack. Tomorrow, it will be others. 

“Once institutions are built to target and control, they don’t surrender—they expand. Like many military-industrial complex, they find new enemies and new missions, new excuses to keep the money flowing and the machinery of fear alive. That’s why we will not look away.

“This is bigger than one community and bigger than one city. It is about the kind of country we are becoming. 

“Chicago will not be intimidated, and I will not stop demanding truth and dignity for Silverio, for Willian, for the children in Cicero, and for every family who deserves to live free from state terror.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Marc Veasey (33rd District of Texas)

Headline: Congressmembers Veasey, Pettersen Introduce Resolution Condemning Charlie Kirk Assassination and All Political Violence

Washington, D.C. –Rep. Marc Veasey (TX-33) and Rep.Brittany Pettersen (CO-7), along with 103 House Democrats, introduced a resolution today calling on Congress to condemn all forms of political violence and to reject forms of rhetoric that demonizes political opponents regardless of political ideology. The lawmakers’ call to action comes following the alarming increase of violent and fatal political attacks, including the recent assassination of political figure Charlie Kirk.

“Political violence of any kind threatens the fabric of our democracy” said Congressman Veasey. “As we have seen political violence has taken the lives of people regardless of political views, gender, and race.  It is not who we are as a country, and it is a very real and credible threat that threatens the foundations America. We must stand united in condemning political violence in all its forms and get back to civility and decorum in our democratic institutions.”

“People are reeling at a time when political violence is on the rise – from the assassination of Charlie Kirk, to the fire at Governor Shapiro’s home, to the tragic shooting of Minnesota lawmakers Melissa Hortman and John Hoffman,” said Congresswoman Pettersen. “It feels like we have lost our way as a country. Nobody should be killed for their views – that is not who we are as a country. This doesn’t affect one party or one community — it impacts all of us. That’s why Congressman Veasey and I are introducing this resolution: to unequivocally condemn all acts of political violence and call on our colleagues to come together to build the future our kids deserve.

Earlier this year, Minnesota Rep. Melissa Hortman was fatally shot by a right-wing extremist. That same man shot and wounded Democratic state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife at their home.

Rep. Veasey and Rep. Pettersen are joined by Rep. Alma S. Adams (NC-12), Rep. Gabe Amo (RI-1), Rep. Becca Balint (VT-AL), Rep. Nanette Barragán (CA-44), Rep. Joyce Beatty (OH-3), Rep. Ami Bera (CA-6), Rep. Julia Brownley (CA-26), Rep. Shontel Brown (OH-11), Rep. Nikki Budzinski (IL-13), Rep. Janelle Bynum (OR-5), Rep. Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Rep. André Carson (IN-7), Rep. Greg Casar (TX-35), Rep. Sean Casten (IL-6), Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), Rep. Yvette D. Clarke (NY-9), Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, II (MO-5), Rep. J. Luis Correa (CA-46), Rep. Joe Courtney (CT-2), Rep. Angie Craig (MN-2), Rep. Jason Crow (CO-6), Rep. Rosa L. DeLauro (CT-3), Rep. Suzan DelBene (WA-1), Rep. Madeleine Dean (PA-4), Rep. Diana DeGette (CO-1), Rep. Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), Rep. Maxine Dexter (OR-3), Rep. Debbie Dingell (MI-6), Rep. Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), Rep. Dwight Evans (PA-3), Rep. Sarah Elfreth (MD-3), Rep. Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Rep. Lizzie Fletcher (TX-7), Rep. Lois Frankel (FL-22), Rep. Bill Foster (IL-11), Rep. Valerie P. Foushee (NC-4), Rep. John Garamendi (CA-8), Rep. Sylvia R. Garcia (TX-29), Rep. Dan Goldman (NY-10), Rep. Vicente Gonzalez (TX-34), Rep. Al Green (TX-9), Rep. Jahana Hayes (CT-5), Rep. Val Hoyle (OR-4), Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (PA-6), Rep. Jared Huffman (CA-2), Rep. Glenn Ivey (MD-4), Rep. Pramila Jayapal (WA-7), Rep. Henry C. “Hank” Johnson, Jr. (GA-4), Rep. Julie Johnson (TX-32), Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Rep. William R. Keating (MA-9), Rep. Robin L. Kelly (IL-2), Rep. Ro Khanna (CA-17), Rep. Summer Lee (PA-12), Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez (NM-3), Rep. Mike Levin (CA-49), Rep. Ted Lieu (CA-36), Rep. Lucy McBath (GA-7), Rep. LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), Rep. Jennifer McClellan (VA-4), Rep. Gwen Moore (WI-4), Rep. Seth Magaziner (RI-2), Rep. Doris Matsui (CA-7), Rep. Frank J. Mrvan (IN-1), Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Rep. Joe Neguse (CO-2), Rep. Donald Norcross (NJ-1), Rep. Ilhan Omar (MN-5), Rep. Johnny Olszewski (MD-2), Rep. Frank Pallone (NJ-6), Rep. Mark Pocan (WI-2), Rep. Nellie Pou (NJ-9), Rep. Ayanna Pressley (MA-7), Rep. Mike Quigley (IL-5), Rep. Emily Randall (WA-6), Rep. Deborah Ross (NC-2), Rep. Raul Ruiz (CA-25), Rep. Linda Sanchez (CA-38), Rep. Andrea Salinas (OR-6), Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-5), Rep. Jan Schakowsky (IL-9), Rep. Bradley S. Schneider (IL-10), Rep. Hillary Scholten (MI-3), Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-7), Rep. Eric Swalwell (CA-14), Rep. Marilyn Strickland (WA-10), Rep. Emilia Sykes (OH-13), Rep. Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (MS-2), Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-4), Rep. Norma Torres (CA-35), Rep. Paul Tonko (NY-20), Rep. Derek Tran (CA-45), Rep. Lori Trahan (MA-3), Rep. Greg Stanton (AZ-4), Rep. Lauren Underwood (IL-14), Rep. Gabe Vasquez (NM-2), Rep. Nydia Velázquez (NY-7), Rep. Eugene Vindman (VA-7), Rep. Nikema Williams (GA-5), Rep. Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Rep. Seth Moulton (MA-6), Rep. John Mannion (NY-22), Rep. Bobby Scott (VA-3), Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (OR-1)

The full text of the resolution condemning political violence can be found here: 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jim Baird (R-IN-04)

Congressman Baird Supports State Department Reform, Votes for State Department Reauthorization