MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman John Rutherford (4th District of Florida)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Monday, U.S. Congressman John H. Rutherford (FL-05) led a bipartisan, bicameral group of Florida legislators in a letter to U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick in support of Florida state management of red snapper and other reef fish in the South Atlantic.

“Every local angler I talk to says there are more red snapper off the coast of Northeast Florida than ever before,” said Rutherford. “Yet, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) under President Biden only gave us one day to fish last summer. It’s time to hand over the South Atlantic fishery management to our Governors DeSantis, Kemp, and McMaster.”

Rutherford was joined by Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) and Representatives Aaron Bean (FL-04), Gus Bilirakis (FL-), Vern Buchanan (FL-16), Kat Cammack (FL-03), Mario Diaz-Balart (FL-26), Bryon Donalds (FL-19), Neal Dunn (FL-02), Randy Fine (FL-06), Scott Franklin (FL-15), Carlos Gimenez (FL-26), Laurel Lee (FL-15), Anna Paulina Luna (FL-13), Brian Mast (FL-18), Cory Mills (FL-07), Jared Moskowitz (FL-23), Jimmy Patronis (FL-01), Maria Salazar (FL-27), Greg Steube (FL-17), and Daniel Webster (FL-11).

Read the full letter below:

Dear Secretary Lutnick,

We, the undersigned members of Florida’s congressional delegation, write to share our support for the request of Governors DeSantis, Kemp, and McMaster to implement state management of red snapper and other reef fish in the South Atlantic.  For too long, Florida anglers in the South Atlantic have been largely shut out of red snapper harvest opportunities despite unprecedented growth and record abundance in this fishery.

NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service recently determined that red snapper is no longer overfished and approved a final rule to end overfishing.  We thank you for rejecting the bottom closures that were in the Biden Administration’s proposed rule.  Closing bottom fishing from December to February for 55 species off the east coast of Florida would have been devastating to our state’s economy.  The drastic nature of the proposal highlights the need for significant changes to South Atlantic red snapper management to ensure reasonable harvest opportunities in this fishery, and we look forward to working with President Trump and his administration to achieve that goal.

Florida has demonstrated its ability to use sound science to successfully manage red snapper in the Gulf. This success was made possible by President Trump during his first administration when he gave the five Gulf states a leading role in managing the red snapper fishery.  Since then, the health of Florida’s Gulf red snapper population has continued to improve, growing the season from 3 to 126 days.  We believe the current abundance of South Atlantic red snapper, combined with strong interest from states in the region to take on a greater role in data collection and management, presents an extraordinary opportunity to make state-led management in the South Atlantic a resounding success, much like the model seen in the Gulf.

While the federal government has struggled to collect reliable data and timely estimates of recreational red snapper harvests, Florida and the South Atlantic states have the capability of collecting accurate data which will provide more quality fishing opportunities while promoting conservation.  We urge the Department of Commerce to work swiftly with Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina to grant the states the authority to manage red snapper and other reef fish in the South Atlantic. We look forward to advancing state management for the benefit of fishermen, conservation, and our coastal economy. 

###

 

---

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

 U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) and U.S. Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA) today demanded answers from the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) after the Trump administration announced that it plans to displace the National Science Foundation (NSF) – located in Alexandria – in order to relocate the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which is currently located in Washington, D.C.

“The Commonwealth of Virginia has the workforce, infrastructure, and resources to serve as home for any federal agency including the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD); however, the decision to bring HUD to Virginia should not come at the expense of roughly 1,800 NSF employees already being housed at the proposed site for the new HUD headquarters. This decision seems to have been made without meaningful consultation of all impacted stakeholders and shows a lack of regard for NSF, its mission, and its workforce,” wrote the lawmakers.

“The National Science Foundation was established by Congress in 1950 to ensure the United States’ global leadership in innovation by supporting basic research and education through competitive awards and partnerships. Since its founding, NSF has received bipartisan support for its mission advancing U.S. technological competitiveness, strategic capabilities, and national security,” they continued. “The Alexandria headquarters was designed with the specifications and technology necessary for NSF to promote American science and national security. Given HUD’s sudden announcement that it will be moving into the building, roughly 1,800 NSF employees – many of whom are Virginia residents – are now displaced with no information regarding the future of their work.”

In the letter, the lawmakers also requested detailed answers and subsequent documentation by July 11 to a series of question regarding the GSA’s decision-making process, projected costs, and the extent of its communication and coordination with NSF and HUD. They also requested more information about plans to accommodate the affected NSF employees who do critical work on behalf of the nation.

A copy of the letter is available here and below:

Dear Acting Administrator Ehikian:

We write to express our serious concern regarding the recent announcement that the National Science Foundation (NSF) will be displaced from its current headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia. The Commonwealth of Virginia has the workforce, infrastructure, and resources to serve as home for any federal agency including the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD); however, the decision to bring HUD to Virginia should not come at the expense of roughly 1,800 NSF employees already being housed at the proposed site for the new HUD headquarters. This decision seems to have been made without meaningful consultation of all impacted stakeholders and shows a lack of regard for NSF, its mission, and its workforce. To that end, we are requesting information on the General Services Administration’s (GSA) process for approving the move, and on plans for the roughly 1,800 NSF employees who currently work in NSF’s Alexandria headquarters.

The National Science Foundation was established by Congress in 1950 to ensure the United States’ global leadership in innovation by supporting basic research and education through competitive awards and partnerships. Since its founding, NSF has received bipartisan support for its mission advancing U.S. technological competitiveness, strategic capabilities, and national security. For example, in 2022, Congress passed the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act, which doubled NSF’s budget over five years, strengthened fundamental research and security, and created the Technology, Innovation and Partnerships directorate – NSF’s first new directorate in over 30 years.

In 2017, the National Science Foundation moved its headquarters from Ballston, Virginia to its current location in Alexandria, Virginia. The Alexandria headquarters was designed with the specifications and technology necessary for NSF to promote American science and national security. Given HUD’s sudden announcement that it will be moving into the building, roughly 1,800 NSF employees – many of whom are Virginia residents – are now displaced with no information regarding the future of their work.

As such, we respectfully request that you respond to this letter with detailed answers, accompanied by documentation sufficient to substantiate those answers, to the following questions by July 11, 2025:

• When did GSA begin its assessment of “utilization of space and occupancy” at NSF headquarters?
• Describe the process used to determine that NSF was not “fully” utilizing its office space.
  • When was the final determination made that NSF was not “fully” utilizing its office space?
• Was NSF consulted during GSA’s assessment?
  • If so, list the officials at NSF who were consulted, and the means by which their input was collected.
• When was HUD made aware that it would be moving into NSF’s headquarters?
  • Was HUD consulted during GSA’s assessment?
  • If so, list the officials at HUD who were consulted, and the means by which their input was collected.
• On what date will NSF employees be required to leave their offices and vacate the building?
• Have locations been identified for NSF employees to work if they are removed from their offices?
• Provide information on the locations where NSF employees will work if they are removed from their offices.
• Has there been any assessment of how the moves could affect the respective workforces of NSF and HUD?
  • If so, describe the plans for continuity of workforce at both NSF and HUD resulting from this move.
• Has there been any assessment of how the moves could affect critical functions of HUD and NSF, including HUD loans and NSF grant reviews?
  • If so, describe the plans for continuity of services for constituents at both NSF and HUD resulting from this move.
• Provide any cost estimates prepared for and used to determine the cost of moving both NSF and HUD workforces.
• Describe any modifications necessary, contemplated, or planned to be made to the current NSF headquarters building needed to accommodate the HUD Secretary and workforce.
• Describe the process by which GSA is identifying a new headquarters for NSF.
  • What is the timeline for any planned move to a new NSF headquarters?
• What measures are being taken to secure American’s personally identifiable information (PII) at NSF and HUD during the transition?

We appreciate your thoughtful consideration of this matter and look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

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

Today, Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries released the following statement after Congressman Dwight Evans announced he would not seek another term in the House of Representatives:

For more than four decades, Dwight Evans has served his hometown of Philadelphia as a teacher, community organizer, State Representative and Congressman. He has spent his entire career being a voice for the voiceless and fighting for economic justice in the urban communities that are too often left behind. 

In Congress, Rep. Evans has served on the powerful Ways and Means Committee, where he has worked to protect Medicare and Social Security and ensure that our nation’s tax code works for everyone – not just the wealthiest 1%. During the 115th Congress as a freshman Member, Dwight introduced and ushered H.R. 6347, the Real Estate Appraisal Harmonization Act, into law to help small business owners get loans. As Republicans push their budget scheme to slash healthcare and nutritional assistance, Dwight has remained in steadfast opposition to this disastrous legislation on behalf of the people he is privileged to represent. 

Throughout his Congressional career, Dwight has remained rooted in his beloved Philadelphia and has never lost sight of the people back home. He has been a trusted friend to me and so many others in the People’s House and I wish him the best as he begins this next chapter. 

###

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Norma Torres (35th District of California)

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

U.S. Representative Don Beyer (D-VA) and 21 additional Members of Congress demanded relevant documentation and information related to the arrest and detention of Georgetown postdoctoral fellow Dr. Badar Khan Suri. In a letter addressed to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, lawmakers sought urgent clarification regarding the justification for Dr. Khan Suri’s arrest by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on March 17, 2025, and his subsequent detention. The lawmakers also requested the disclosure of key documents and evidence substantiating the federal government’s claims and actions, citing serious concerns about due process violations and the misuse of immigration authorities.

The documents and key information requested by the lawmakers include:

• The full and complete March 15^th State Department memo, including all attachments, that describe Secretary Rubio’s finding that Dr. Khan Suri’s presence or activities in the United States would have potentially serious foreign policy consequences for the United States and would compromise a compelling United States foreign policy interest.
• Dr. Khan Suri’s I-213 Record of Deportable/Inadmissible Alien from the Department of Homeland Security, including details about Dr. Khan Suri’s apprehension, criminal history, prior immigration encounters, and other relevant information that supports potential grounds for deportation or inadmissibility. 
• Any and all evidence in the Department of Homeland Security’s possession related to the activities referred to in a X (formerly Twitter) post from DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin, stating that “Suri was a foreign exchange student at Georgetown University actively spreading Hamas propaganda and promoting antisemitism on social media. Khan Suri has close connections to a known or suspected terrorist, who is a senior advisor to Hamas.”
• The Department of Homeland Security’s documented reasons for Dr. Badar Khan Suri’s transfer to the Prairieland Detention Facility in Alvarado, TX.
• Any information provided from outside groups such as Canary Mission.

Dr. Badar Khan Suri is a legally admitted visiting scholar with no prior criminal record, was never charged with a crime, and the obscure immigration provision with which he was charged is not a ground for mandatory detention. The Administration has made no credible argument to support his arrest or detention. However, Dr. Khan Suri was held in ICE custody at the Prairieland Detention Center, where he was deemed a high-risk custody detainee requiring maximum security control and supervision until his court-ordered release on May 14, 2025. The circumstances surrounding his arrest and detention violate Dr. Khan Suri’s constitutional rights, including his First Amendment and due process rights.

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

***

Dear Secretary Rubio and Secretary Noem:

We write to request key information and documents pertaining to the case of Georgetown postdoctoral fellow Dr. Badar Khan Suri, who was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on March 17th. Specifically we seek the following: from the State Department, the attachments cited in the March 15th memo issued by the Secretary presenting the finding that Dr. Khan Suri’s presence and activities in the United States would have potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences and would compromise a compelling U.S. foreign policy interest, including “Tab 1- DHS Letter on Badar Khan Suri” and “Tab 2- HSI Subject Profile of Badar Khan Suri” and the time and content of the notice provided to relevant Congressional committees; and from the Department of Homeland Security, Dr. Khan Suri’s I-213, his Notice of Custody Determination, the documented reasons for the detainee transfer, context pertaining to Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin’s March 19th comments as well as context pertaining to how Dr. Khan Suri was identified by DHS.

Dr. Badar Khan Suri held J-1 visa status as a visiting scholar and postdoctoral fellow at Georgetown University at the Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding. He was duly admitted to the United States on this visa in December 2022. He is married to a U.S. citizen, with whom he has three children: a nine-year-old son and five-year-old twins—a boy and a girl. At the time of his arrest, he was teaching a course as an adjunct professor on Majoritarianism & Minority Rights in South Asia at Georgetown University. He has spent his life studying peace and conflict resolution and hopes to become a university professor and embark on a career in academia and teaching. Dr. Khan Suri and his wife moved to the United States because it ensures religious freedom for all, and they wanted to raise their children in a society that values religious tolerance.

Dr. Khan Suri was charged with removability under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) § 237(a)(4)(C)(i) and detained pursuant to INA § 236(a).  Masked and physically unidentifiable Homeland Security agents arrested Suri at approximately 9:30 p.m. in Arlington, Virginia on the evening of March 17, 2025 pursuant to a Warrant for Arrest of Alien, Form I-200.  The Constitution establishes due process rights for “all ‘persons’ within the United States, including [noncitizens], whether their presence here is lawful, unlawful, temporary, or permanent.”  The government has not disclosed information to support that the detention of Mr. Suri was justified. It has not demonstrated that Mr. Suri—a husband to a U.S. citizen, a father of three young children, and with no criminal history—needed to be detained. An ICE officer involved in his booking stated that they knew he was not a criminal and did not do anything wrong.

The law limits the government’s authority to deport people under INA § 237(a)(4)(C)(i) and imposes key requirements in such instances. The Executive Branch does not have the authority to deny visas to foreigners solely because of the foreigner’s political beliefs or because of their anticipated speech in the United States. When Congress passed the Moynihan Amendment in 1987, the Senate Committee warned that “[f]or many years the United States has embarrassed itself by excluding prominent foreigners from visiting the United States solely because of their political beliefs…individuals had done no more than exercise rights to freedom of expression and association…constitutionally protected for all U.S. citizens.”  The Secretary’s authority to determine that entry would compromise foreign policy interests should be used “sparingly and not merely because there is a likelihood that an alien will make critical remarks about the United States or its policies, and that the “compelling foreign policy interest” standard should be applied strictly. 

If a reasoning has been made on foreign policy grounds, the Secretary of State cannot exclude or condition entry based on a noncitizen’s “past, current, or expected beliefs, statements, or associations, if such beliefs, statements, or associations would be lawful within the United States,” unless the Secretary personally certifies to Congress that admitting the individual would compromise a compelling U.S. foreign policy interest.  Therefore, we request the full and complete March 15th memo, including all attachments that describe Secretary Rubio’s finding that Dr. Khan Suri’s presence or activities in the United States would have potentially serious foreign policy consequences for the United States and would compromise a compelling United States foreign policy interest. We also require the notice (including when it was provided and justification therein) provided to the Chairs of the Committees on the Judiciary and Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and of the Committees on the Judiciary and Foreign Relations of the Senate.

Department policy also requires additional procedures for detainees in custody of the Department of Homeland Security. ICE Policy 11022.1, “Detainee Transfers,” prohibits the transfer of individuals from one Field Office’s area of responsibility to another if, inter alia, they have immediate family, an attorney of record, pending or ongoing removal proceedings within the area, or if they have been granted bond or requested a bond hearing, unless a Field Office Director or their designee deems the transfer necessary for one of the seven specific reasons identified in the policy.  The policy states that “[t]he Immigration Officer will conduct a review to determine whether any of these factors exist. Before a transfer is made in a case where one or more of these factors exist, the transfer must be approved at the Assistant Field Office Director level or higher, and the reasons for the transfer must be documented in the detainee’s A-File. The policy also states that ICE is required to notify the attorney of record that the individual “is being transferred and include the reason for the transfer and the name, location, and telephone number of the new facility as soon as practicable on the day of the transfer, but in no circumstances later than twenty-four (24) hours after the transfer occurs.” Please provide the documented reasons for the transfer of Dr. Khan Suri.

Additionally, ICE Directive 11064.3, “Interests of Noncitizen Parents and Legal Guardians of Minor Children or Incapacitated Adults” requires the Field Office Director to refrain from transferring detained noncitizens outside of the Field Office’s area of responsibility where their child or children are located unless dictated by exceptional circumstances or court order. Even when transfer is dictated, the Field Office Director must place the noncitizen as close as practicable to the minor child or children.  At the time of his transfer to Louisiana and then Texas, Dr. Khan Suri had a wife and three young children, and an attorney of record, in Virginia. Please share the justification provided either by exceptional circumstances or the court order provided for the transfers to Louisiana and Texas as well as the justification for how Texas was determined to be as close as practicable.

On March 19, DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs McLaughlin posted on X that “Suri was a foreign exchange student at Georgetown University actively spreading Hamas propaganda and promoting antisemitism on social media. Khan Suri has close connections to a known or suspected terrorist, who is a senior advisor to Hamas.” Please share any and all evidence, if you possess it, to the activities referred to in this post, accompanied by clarification of which activities were used as supporting information for his detention and under what grounds it was included.

In addition, as part of Dr. Khan Suri’s detention, he was issued a Notice of Custody Determination and an I-213. Please provide those documents in full. In each of these requests for documentation, we ask that you also provide assurance of authentication for each document. In the event that documentation does not exist and therefore cannot be produced, please indicate as such. In the event that documentation contains classified information, please indicate and provide a vehicle through which Members and Congressional staff with appropriate security clearance can view such information in a congressional SCIF.

Lastly, it would appear as if DHS targeted Dr. Khan Suri because of his identification by Canary Mission, a group that is involved in a McCarthyistic doxxing campaign towards individuals and their associates that champion pro-Palestinian viewpoints. In another recent case, a district court judge found DHS and DOS acted on a tweet from Betar and pressure from Canary Mission to strip someone of a student visa.  Please share if information identified by or communication by/with Betar, Canary Mission, Middle East Forum, or another outside group was used as evidence or support in the case of Dr. Khan Suri. If yes, what steps were taken to authenticate their evidence.

Dr. Khan Suri is a scholar on conflict resolution who has no criminal record, and the Administration has made no credible argument to support his arrest and detention. His arrest and detention appear to violate Dr. Khan Suri’s constitutional rights, including the First Amendment and the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment. The Administration must explain and document its actions in this case, which appear to have flagrantly abused and possibly violated statutory authorities, and which have hitherto been carried out with a disturbing lack of transparency to the public.

The Administration has done nothing to demonstrate its claims that Dr. Badar Khan Suri is a threat to the public, or to justify holding him with minimal outside contact 1,300 miles away from his wife and young children. This situation is intolerable, and demands urgent and speedy remedy, and we therefore request a response no later than July 11, 2025.

Sincerely,

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA)

Griffith Announces $1,068,364 HHS Grant to Scott County Public School Head Start

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Don Bacon (2nd District of Nebraska)

Bacon to Retire at End of 119^th Congress

Touts Accomplishes and Pledges to Continue Outstanding Service and Pursue Legislative Initiatives

Omaha, Neb. – Today, Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee’s (HASC) Cyber, Information Technologies and Innovation Subcommittee (CITI), announced he will not seek reelection in 2026 and will retire at the end of the 119th Congress. 

“After consultation with my family and much prayer, I have decided not to seek reelection in 2026 and will fulfill my term in the 119th Congress through January 2, 2027. After three decades in the Air Force and now going on one decade in Congress, I look forward to coming home in the evenings and being with my wife and seeing more of our adult children and eight grandchildren, who all live near my home. I’ve been married for 41 years, and I’d like to dedicate more time to my family, my church, and the Omaha community. I also want to continue advocating for a strong national security strategy and a strong alliance system with countries that share our love of democracy, free markets and the rule of law. 

“During the remainder of the 119th Congress, we will be focused on finishing the job. Providing top-notch constituent services in the district, for which we were recognized in 2021 with the Congressional Management Foundation’s Democracy Awards for Constituent Services in 2021, will be a priority as it always has been.  

“To date, we have processed close to 8,500 casework/requests for assistance; we have helped people who were wrongly marked as deceased, helped citizens in distress around the world return home; helped people devasted by disasters such as flood and tornadoes, literally climb out of the ruble and connect them with resources; we have solved problems with Medicare, Social Security and IRS problems, passports and immigration, and so much more. Our team has worked diligently every day to advocate for and deliver on behalf of our constituents. 

“Legislatively, I aim to work to get five agricultural bills passed that were included as part of the Farm Bill, including the increase of defenses for our nation’s food supply chain and removing barriers for the next generation of farmers seeking to establish their operations. I will continue my work on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and lay the groundwork for a new VA hospital in Omaha.  

“My service to our great nation started in the Air Force, where I served sixteen assignments, five commands and four deployments and will continue in Congress until the end of the 119th Congress. I’d like to find new ways to serve our great country.  I have a love for national security, and I’ll always be a proponent for old-fashioned Ronald Reagan Conservative values.  It has been an honor to serve the 2nd District of Nebraska and the nation, and I thank our constituents for trusting me to represent them. I am proud of the work we have done and will continue to do until the lights in the office are turned off for the last time. Thank you, and God bless America.” 

Highlights from Rep. Bacon’s Congressional Career 

Legislative Record 

• Most bills signed into law in the 118^th Congress and bill totals as of Jan. 2025 

·         Total number of stand-alone bills enacted into law: 2 

·         Total numbers of bills enacted through NDAA: 33 

·         Total number of bills enacted through non-NDAA legislation: 3 

·                     Total number of bills introduced that became law: 38 

Defense 

Rebuilt and Improved Offutt AFB & Camp Ashland 

• Delivered forceful congressional advocacy for Offutt Air Force Base, one of the district’s leading engines of economic growth and prosperity 
• Led the fight in the House to secure critical resources to respond to the devasting 2019 floods 
• Engaged with the Secretary of the Air Force to prevent the permanent loss of the flying mission 
• Secured more than $1.5 billion for the cleanup, rebuild and critical improvements to Offutt AFB – one of the largest employers in the region – including a new runway 
• Worked tirelessly to protect, modernize, and replace aircraft fleets at Offutt AFB including the RC-135, WC-135 and E-4B 

Confederate Base Names: Original co-sponsor for H.R. 7155, National Commission on Modernizing Military Installation Designations Act, the bi-partisan legislation in the House to re-designate military bases named after Confederate generals 

Spearheaded the Restoration of DoD Electronic Warfare Capability 

• Drove major legislative reforms requiring the Pentagon to develop a new EW strategy, implementation plan and other organizational reforms 
• Secured more than $1.5 billion to double the size of the USAF’s fleet of EA-37B Compass Call aircraft, the most powerful and sophisticated electronic attack aircraft in the world 
• Helped guide the establishment of the Joint EMSO Center (JEC) at STRATCOM 

Relentlessly Championed Initiatives to Modernize America’s Strategic Nuclear Deterrent 

• Secured more than $75 million establish the NC3 technical engineering and development hub in Nebraska 
• Advocacy helped speed the establishment of the new 95th Wing at Offutt focused on NC3 operations 
• Helped secured more than $500 million to advance development of the future E-4C SAOC aircraft which will be based at Offutt 

Championed Improvements to Military Quality of Life  

• Led the most significant and comprehensive package of legislative reforms to improve the quality of life for military servicemembers and families in US history 
• Largest single-year increase for junior enlisted pay ever (14.5%) 
• Billions in critical improvements to military housing and barracks  
• Major expansion and improvements to childcare for military families 
• Fought for employment reforms and RIF protections for federally employed military spouses  

Conference Committee 

• Passage of major national defense legislation in 2017, 2018 and 2019 that reversed the dangerous decline in military readiness after years of neglect and funded the modernization of US military capabilities 

• Named to select House-Senate Armed Service Conference Committee for 3 straight years 

Agriculture 

• Responsible for numerous provisions in the Farm Bill, including language related to the Foot-and-Mouth Disease vaccine and measures to address foreign ownership of farmland and improve SNAP administration 
• Original sponsor of the Emmett Till Antilynching Act, which established lynching as a federal hate crime 

Education 

• STOP School Violence Act of 2018 (co-sponsor) – Provides DOJ money for grants to states and local governments to improve security including the placement and use of metal detectors and other deterrents measures at schools and school grounds. Fighting for $125 million in FY’20 to fund these grants 

Civil Rights and Holocaust Education 

• House Republican lead for Anti-Lynching Legislation making lynching a federal crime – Language was amended into H.R. 35 and passed House 2/26/20) 
• Helped lead effort to push H.R. 943 – Never Again Education Act which was signed by the President 5/29/20 
• Worked with state leaders on getting Holocaust Education requirements enacted into state statute 
• Leader on support for non-profit security grants for religious institutions 

Veterans Affairs 

• Finalized additional funding for the VA’s Ambulatory Care Center and pushed House Leadership to go ahead and pass the bill while my friend Brad Ashford was still in office 

• CHIP IN Bill: Congressman Bacon’s CHIP IN Bill, H.R. 3888, was incorporated into HR 5293: Department of Veteran Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2021, extending the program through 2025 
• HR: 217 in the 119^th – seeks to extend the program and expand authorities to include minor projects and non-recurring maintenance projects (passed House) 

• Led Congressional efforts to support Gold Star families and survivors; championed significant legislation to care for and honor these families 

• Lifetime installation access for survivors 
• Major reforms to military veterans transition assistance programs 
• Mandated regular meetings with DoD leadership and surviving families 

Infrastructure and Jobs Act:  

• Voted for the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which provided $165 million for Nebraska’s 2nd District: Eppley, modernization of natural gas lines and other projects 

Eppley Airfield 

• Over $77.1 million of improvements to Eppley Airfield from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funding and other sources 

• Make it a true international airport 
• Increase flights and inspection areas 
• Streamline process of checking in and TSA for consumers 

Other Community Funding projects of note: 

• (2024) Wahoo Airport Runway – $4.3 million 
• 2024) Saunders County Emergency Radio Equipment – $2.6 million 
• (2024) City of Omaha N. 24th Street Lighting Project – $4.17 Million 
• (2023) OPPD Grid Resiliency and Modernization – $7.7 million 
• (2023) City of Omaha North 24^th Street Streetscape Improvement Projects Phase II – $4 million 
• (2023) Blackstone Business Improvement District – $2 million 
• (2022) North 24^th St. Streetscape Improvements – $3 million 
• (2022) the CHOICE $50 million federal grant to redevelop the Southside Terrace Garden Apartments and the surrounding Indian Hill neighborhood in South Omaha. 
• (2019) the CHOICE neighborhood grant program, which awarded $25 million for the 75 North project to the City of Omaha and Omaha Housing Authority for 5 years 

Other Accomplishments/Recognitions 

• Founded the bipartisan For Country Caucus 

• Co-chair of bipartisan Caucus made up of 30 veteran members of Congress, evenly divided between R’s and D’s 
• Objective of the Caucus is to work in a nonpartisan way towards a more productive government. Members serve with integrity, civility and courage 

• Restarted the Main Street Caucus 
• Co-chair of the Congressional Electronic Warfare Caucus, leading voice in Congress to advance and reform US capabilities to defend and dominate the electromagnetic spectrum
• In 2023, appointed to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council by former Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy 
• Center for Effective Lawmaking 

• One of the top ten effective legislators in the 118^th congress, 2^nd most effective Republican 
• Most effective Republican in the 117^th Congress and fourth overall, despite being in the minority party 

• Rated #1 Most bi-partisan Republican 117^th Congress-Common Ground Committee 

• Earned a perfect score by the Common Ground Committee of 110 (2024) 
• Rated #1 in 2022 by Common Ground Committee with a score of 104 out of 110 

• 2021 Democracy Awards-Constituent Services, Congressional Management Foundation  

• Over the course of 8 and ½ years, the office has processed close to 8,500 casework/requests for assistances including people who were erroneously marked as deceased; devastated by disasters such as floods and tornadoes literally climb out of the rubble and connect them with resources to rebuild; and in distress around the globe trying to return home. 
• Other cases include problems with Medicare, passports or immigration, helping veterans get their benefits, cutting through red tape to solve Social Security and IRS problems, and others. 

• 2024 Democracy Awards- Workplace Environment, Congressional Management Foundation  

###

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

U.S. Representatives Debbie Dingell (D-MI) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), along with Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation aimed at closing the ‘boyfriend loophole,’ which allows stalkers and abusers to access guns because they weren’t married to their victim. The Strengthening Protections for Domestic Violence and Stalking Survivors Act prevents convicted stalkers, and all former dating partners convicted of a domestic violence offense, from buying or owning firearms, regardless of when the relationship occurred. 

“Federal law includes a ‘boyfriend loophole’ that allows abusive dating partners subject to protection orders and convicted stalkers to access firearms. This loophole is a serious danger that has cost lives and will continue to do so until we address it,” said Dingell. “I know this fear all too well. Growing up, I lived in a house with a man – my father – who should not have had access to a gun. No child, spouse, or partner should have to experience the trauma my family did. This legislation will close this loophole once and for all by ensuring abusive dating partners subject to protection orders and convicted stalkers cannot get their hands on a firearm. Perpetrators of violence – including dating partners – should not be able to access a firearm, and I will not stop fighting until we can deliver on this promise.”

“If someone has been convicted of stalking or abusing their partner, they should never be allowed to buy a gun. That’s common sense. But unfortunately, loopholes in federal law still put survivors at risk,” said Fitzpatrick. “This bill closes those gaps, ensuring all violent offenders are held to the same standard—spouse, boyfriend, or otherwise. I’ve long made combatting domestic violence and stalking a priority and will continue advancing policies to guarantee every survivor is protected.”

“The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act included provisions from my bill to close the boyfriend loophole, but there is still more we need to do to address gun violence and keep firearms out of the hands of abusive dating partners and convicted stalkers,” said Klobuchar. “As a former prosecutor, I have seen firsthand the serious emotional and physical toll stalking takes on victims, especially when guns are involved. By preventing convicted stalkers from purchasing guns, our common sense legislation will protect victims and help save lives.”

The Strengthening Protections for Domestic Violence and Stalking Survivors Act would:

• Prevent those convicted of certain stalking offenses from purchasing firearms;
• Clarify that abusive dating partners subject to certain court orders are treated the same as an abusive spouse;
• Update the definition of “dating relationship” for purposes of federal firearm prohibitions to include “individuals who have or have had a continuing serious relationship of a romantic or intimate nature,” regardless of when the relationship occurred. The law currently requires that the dating relationship is “recent,” which could exclude abusers convicted of domestic violence against partners from a prior relationship.

This bill is endorsed by the National Domestic Violence Hotline, National Network to End Domestic Violence, Moms Demand Action, GIFFORDS, Jewish Women International, and Legal Momentum. 

“Victims and survivors of domestic violence in any intimate or dating relationship, regardless of marital status, are vulnerable to the threat of firearms. Every day, the National Domestic Violence Hotline (The Hotline) hears from those whose abusive experiences include the use of firearms to threaten, coerce, and control them. And tragically, thousands of victims have lost their lives by firearms,” said Marium Durrani, Vice President of Policy at The Hotline. “We applaud the incredible bipartisan dedication of these Members of Congress to finally close these dangerous loopholes to better protect victims and survivors from gun violence and we urge Congress to act— lives are on the line.”

“Survivors of dating violence and stalking deserve the full protection of the law, regardless of their relationship status. For too long, a dangerous loophole has allowed abusive partners and stalkers who are not married to their victims to access firearms, despite posing clear threats to survivor safety,” said NNEDV President and CEO, Stephanie Love-Patterson. “This gap in our laws has had deadly consequences. Abuse is abuse, whether it happens within a marriage or not. Every survivor deserves safety, justice, and the opportunity to rebuild their life free from fear. We applaud Representatives Dingell and Fitzpatrick, and Senator Klobuchar, for their leadership and for taking this critical step toward saving lives.”

“Letting abusers keep their guns is a death sentence for too many women—especially Black women,” said Angela Ferrell-Zabala, executive director of Moms Demand Action. “This bill is a life-saving solution, and we’re proud to support its reintroduction. We can’t claim to care about families and freedom while ignoring the deadly intersection of domestic violence and firearms.”

“Our laws have big loopholes in them that make it easier for domestic abusers to get guns and have very real consequences for victims of domestic violence and stalking. This is an unacceptable and dangerous reality that puts the lives of women and children at risk across the country,” said Emma Brown, Executive Director at GIFFORDS. “95% of Americans support blocking domestic abusers from having guns, including 94% of Republicans. We are grateful to Senator Klobuchar and Representatives Debbie Dingell and Brian Fitzpatrick for their steadfast leadership on this issue.”

“The risk of a woman being killed by her intimate partner increases 400% when that partner has access to a firearm. But most victims of intimate partner violence are dating partners and under current law do not have the same protections from armed abusers as married survivors do,” said Meredith Jacobs, CEO of Jewish Women International. “Jewish Women International applauds Representatives Debbie Dingell and Brian Fitzpatrick and Senator Amy Klobuchar for re-introducing legislation that will fully close the dating and stalking loopholes and for their ongoing leadership to disarm domestic abusers.”

“For far too long, survivors of dating violence and stalking have been left exposed by a glaring weakness in our gun safety laws—the so-called ‘boyfriend loophole.’ This bipartisan legislation represents a long-overdue step toward protecting all survivors, regardless of relationship status. By finally closing this loophole, we can stop known abusers from accessing deadly weapons and interrupt the cycle of violence before it escalates further,” said Azaleea Carlea, Legal Director of Legal Momentum. “The data is undeniable: when abusers have access to firearms, the risk of homicide increases fivefold. The link between guns and lethality in intimate partner violence is not just well-documented, it’s devastatingly clear and our laws must reflect this reality. Legal Momentum strongly supports this legislation because no survivor should be left unprotected simply because the law failed to recognize their relationship or the threats they face. Safety should never depend on a legal technicality.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Dwight Evans (2nd District of Pennsylvania)

PHILADELPHIA (June 30, 2025) – Congressman Dwight Evans (D-PA-3) today announced that he will not seek re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2026, concluding a distinguished career in public service spanning over four decades.

“Serving the people of Philadelphia has been the honor of my life,” said Evans. “And I remain in good health and fully capable of continuing to serve. After some discussions this weekend and thoughtful reflection, I have decided that the time is right to announce that I will not be seeking re-election in 2026. I will serve out the full term that ends Jan. 3, 2027. I am deeply proud of what I have been able to accomplish over my 45 years in elected office — from revitalizing neighborhoods block by block to fighting for justice, economic opportunity, investments in infrastructure and education. I cannot express the gratitude that I have for the trust that voters put in me as their voice in both state and federal office. It has been a privilege of a lifetime to serve as their advocate in government.”

Evans emphasized that he will continue to serve his constituents fully until the end of his term, that his offices will remain open, and that he will support a smooth transition for his successor.

A Legacy of Service to Philadelphia

Born in North Philadelphia and raised in the Germantown and West Oak Lane neighborhoods, Dwight Evans began his career as a teacher in the city’s public schools and as a community organizer with the Urban League. In 1980, at just 26 years old, he was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, where he served for 36 years. He made history as the first African-American chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, serving in that powerful role for two decades.

Among his signature accomplishments in Harrisburg was spearheading the Pennsylvania Fresh Food Financing Initiative, which brought healthy grocery stores and thousands of jobs to underserved communities and became a national model for bringing healthy food to food deserts in both urban and rural areas. He was also instrumental in the creation of Pennsylvania’s Children’s Health Insurance Program, which became the model for nationwide CHIP.

In 2016, Evans was elected to represent Pennsylvania’s 2nd Congressional District (later redistricted as the 3rd), succeeding longtime Congressman Chaka Fattah. In Congress, he serves on the influential Ways and Means Committee, which oversees Social Security, Medicare, taxes and trade, and has served on the Small Business Committee and Agriculture Committee, advocating for equitable economic development, criminal justice reform, funding for school repairs, affordable housing, and access to health care and healthy food.

In 2025, Evans has fought to defend gains made during the Biden-Harris administration and against the pending Trump “Reverse Robin Hood” bill that would give the richest another tax cut and cut Medicaid and SNAP food aid. He fought the bill during a nearly 18-hour markup in the Ways and Means Committee, and voted against it in the full House – a vote two Republicans slept through, including one 31 years younger than Evans. He will vote against it again if the Senate returns it to the House.

Evans has been a vocal supporter of key legislation including the American Rescue Plan, Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Inflation Reduction Act, and Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. He also introduced bills to address gun violence, finance repairs to schools, invest in historically Black colleges and universities, and promote economic empowerment in urban communities.

Throughout his time in public office, Evans remained rooted in his neighborhood — living just blocks from where he grew up — and never wavered in his commitment to building a better Philadelphia for all.

Evans represents the 3rd Congressional District, which includes Northwest and West Philadelphia and parts of North, South, Southwest and Center City Philadelphia. He recently announced that his office returned to or saved $4.5 million for constituents in 2024 in cases involving federal agencies such as the IRS, Social Security Administration and Department of Veterans Affairs. The 2024 figure brings Evans’ office’s total to more than $45.5 million returned to or saved for constituents during his first eight full years in Congress.

Evans serves on the influential House Ways and Means Committee, including its Subcommittee on Health. The committee oversees Social Security, Medicare, taxes, and trade. Evans’ website is evans.house.gov and his social media handle is @RepDwightEvans on YouTube, Bluesky, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Norma Torres (35th District of California)