Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Norma Torres (35th District of California)
June 27, 2025
Republicans Reject Rep. Torres’ Amendment to Protect the Government Accountability Office, Instead Choosing to Fund Trump’s $400 Million Luxury Jetliner Gift from Qatar
Washington, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Norma J. Torres condemned the Fiscal Year 2026 Legislative Branch Appropriations bill during a full committee markup and led an amendment to prevent Republicans from cutting $400 million from the Government Accountability Office (GAO), an independent watchdog that roots out waste, fraud, and abuse in the federal government. Every dollar invested in the GAO results in $123 in savings, making GAO Congress’ most effective watchdog for protecting taxpayer dollars. Since 2002, the GAO’s work has led to $1.45 trillion in savings. Congresswoman Torres’ amendment would have increased funding for this important agency by $400 million, paid for by rescinded taxpayer dollars that will be used to convert Trump’s luxury jetliner gifted from Qatar earlier this year. Republicans voted to reject this amendment.
“Republicans say they care about waste, fraud, and abuse, but support $400 million of taxpayer dollars to give President Trump a luxury jetliner. At the same time, they say “responsible spending” is why they are cutting that same amount, $400 million, from the Government Accountability Office, which is Congress’ most effective watchdog at rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse. This comes as the GAO is conducting nearly 40 investigations into the Trump Administration for illegally freezing or holding Congressional funding,” said Congresswoman Torres (CA-35). “I’m disappointed, but not surprised that Republicans rejected my amendment to stop Americans from paying for a private jet for Trump while ensuring Congress’ watchdog has the resources it needs to investigate violations of the law.”
At the markup, Rep. Torres joined Democrats in successfully fighting to allow Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients to work in the Legislative Branch through an amendment from Congressman Pete Aguilar (CA-33).
The Republican FY2026 Legislative Branch Appropriations bill:
Aids and abets President Trump in continuing to steal money promised to the American taxpayer by gutting and politicizing the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office, slashing its budget by half (nearly $400 million) and undermines the rule of law across the federal government by restricting the GAO from bringing civil actions against any department, agency, officer, or employee of the United States for failing to comply with the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974.
Threatens the preservation of our nation’s history and culture by slashing resources for the Library of Congress.
Shows House Republicans are continuing to ignore the sacrifices of the United States Capitol Police by failing to call for the immediate installation of the completed January 6 plaque honoring law enforcement.
For More Information on the bill, please click here.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Michael McCaul (10th District of Texas)
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Congressman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) — chairman emeritus of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs — discussed the importance of the U.S. Agency for Global Media’s work in Iran with Senior Advisor for USAGM Kari Lake.
Chair Emeritus McCaul: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Ms. Lake, thanks for being here today. I want to thank you for visiting with me in my office to talk about these challenges that you’ve outlined. I think the chairman has outlined them quite well. I want to commend you for reforming USAGM. I think every new administration has a right and responsibility to do so. Your testimony has highlighted systemic problems that must be addressed — more importantly, security lapses, misuse of visas, weak editorial oversight, and much more. I look forward to authorizing this agency with the chairman and his authorization bill to correct these abuses.
I remember President Reagan used Voice of America when I was entering college, as a frontline voice against Soviet oppression. It was the Voice of America, not the Voice of anti-America.
Recently, I used the Voice of America and the Open Technology Fund to translate my report on the origins of COVID-19. We disseminated it through mainland China — broke through the firewall. It went viral [and] got the attention of the CCP foreign minister, who spoke out against me and the report. That’s the kind of impact this agency needs to reach.
With the events in Iran — we need America’s voice in Iran right now. We need to ensure the Iranian people hear the truth: that we do not intend to harm them, but rather their oppressor and this theocratic regime of the Ayatollah. We need communications inside and outside of Iran.
This week, General Vogel, the CENTCOM commander, said the Voice of America is a critical tool for American security. You’ve outlined why there are many insecurities. I hope we can go back to that core mission.
So my question is, Ms. Lake, how are you working to fix the Voice of America so it is the Voice of America — and not anti-America — in Iran? And [how are you using] the Open Technology Fund to achieve the mission — the core mission that Congress intended?
Ms. Lake: Thank you for that question, and thank you for laying out when it was a better agency. You’re right, Ronald Reagan used it — a great broadcaster, one of the great communicators — and he used it, but times have changed, and it’s still doing 1990-style television in a world where people are getting their information right here on their smartphones. It’s in the back pocket, and so we need to update it and modernize it. But President Trump’s executive order dated March 14th has called for this agency to be brought to its statutory minimum.
I’m glad that you mentioned Iran, because one of the languages that is required in the statute is Farsi, and we are still broadcasting in Farsi. And Ranking Member Meeks said that we have not been, and that in a panic we started to put news out in Farsi. That is actually not true. We were in the process of effectuating President Trump’s executive order, and in the process of doing that, several malicious lawsuits were started up, and the judge froze us from being able to get news on. We literally were frozen in place because of all these lawsuits.
Once we were freed to start putting news on, we immediately went to what the statutory minimum is, and one of the languages is Farsi going into Iran. I’m very proud to say that when President Trump — when the bombings happened over the weekend on Saturday and when President Trump started to speak, we had a crew in on Saturday delivering President Trump’s message to the people of Iran in Farsi. It was translated and it went out. Sometimes a lean and mean and smaller staff makes it easier to get things done. In one of the emails that I got from our Persian team, they actually said that. They were able to move quicker because it was smaller, the bloat had been diminished. And I’m really proud of the fact that we got that on.
We are going to continue to operate at the statutory minimum. We are putting out content in Pashto, Dari, Mandarin, Farsi, and Spanish through the Office of Cuba Broadcasting.
Chair Emeritus McCaul: Thank you for that response. I think it’s very important right now that the Iranian people hear the American story and the American message, and I commend you for your efforts to reform. I encourage you to get that message into Iran right now. Communication inside and out is so important for those people if they’re going to rise up against this oppressive theocracy that we’ve endured since 1979. I yield back.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Michael McCaul (10th District of Texas)
WASHINGTON – U.S. Congressman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) — chairman emeritus of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs — released the following statement on the United States’ successful strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.
“The United States government has long maintained that Iran must never acquire a nuclear weapon. Today, President Trump backed that commitment with decisive action — demonstrating the kind of leadership that does what it takes to protect American lives.
“President Trump gave the Iranian regime every chance to pursue diplomacy and spare their people further devastation. Instead, they chose to escalate their nuclear ambitions — announcing a new enrichment site just last week.
“Make no mistake: If Iran were to obtain nuclear weapons, the regime would pose an existential threat not only to Israel, which they call the ‘little Satan,’ but especially to the United States, their so-called ‘great Satan.’ Only the U.S. military — the most capable in the world — could neutralize that threat.
“Without leaving any boots on the ground in Iran, this limited, targeted operation sent a powerful message of deterrence that I hope and believe will lead to greater peace across the region. Iran, its proxies, and any enemy of the United States should think twice the next time they intend to harm our nation — because President Trump means what he says.
“May God bless the brave men and women of our armed forces who executed these strikes, and may God bless the United States of America.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Michael McCaul (10th District of Texas)
McCaul’s bill to dedicate the post office in honor of Sergeant Waugh became law in 2024
Bastrop, Texas –Today, U.S. Congressman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) honored a U.S. Army veteran and American military hero, Sergeant Major Billy D. Waugh, at a ceremony to officially dedicate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1106 Main Street in Bastrop as the “Sergeant Major Billy D. Waugh Post Office.” McCaul hosted the event in conjunction with the family of Sergeant Waugh and the United States Postal Service.
“A member of the Greatest Generation, Sergeant Major Billy D. Waugh was a true American hero who dedicated himself to a life of courage, patriotism, and self-sacrifice,”said Rep. McCaul. “I’m amazed and inspired by the longevity of his service, which included time in the Special Forces — where he gained eight purple hearts — the Central Intelligence Agency, and even the United States Postal Service. Throughout his impressive career, he never lost his sense of duty, his patriotism, or his enduring love of freedom. I am proud to officially dedicate the Bastrop Post Office in his honor so all Texans can remember his incredible life of service and pay homage to this great American Hero.”
McCaul delivers remarks at ceremony
McCaul with Sergeant Waugh’s family members
Background:
During the 118th Congress, Rep. McCaul introduced a bill to designate the United States Postal Service located at 1106 Main Street in Bastrop, Texas, as the “Sergeant Major Billy D Waugh Post Office,” which passed Congress unanimously late last year.
Sergeant Major Billy D. Waugh was born December 1929 and raised in Bastrop, Texas. He served his country as an Army paratrooper and Special Forces soldier from 1948 to 1972, including seven years in combat during the Korean and Vietnam wars. He also was part of the first high-altitude, low-opening (HALO) combat parachute assault in military history.
For his service, Mr. Waugh received dozens of awards and medals, including eight Purple Hearts for his combat wounds — placing him third on the list of most Purple Hearts ever received. After retirement, he joined the United States Postal Service. Then, he once again served his country as a paramilitary operations officer in the Central Intelligence Agency, where he successfully pursued terrorists including Carlos the Jackal and Osama Bin Laden.
He eventually returned to his hometown of Bastrop and passed away in April 2023 at the age of 93.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Michael McCaul (10th District of Texas)
WASHINGTON –Today, U.S. Congressman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) — chairman emeritus of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs — introduced a resolution alongside Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) designating July 6th, 2025, as “A Day of Compassion” in honor of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday.
“Despite having faced persecution, oppression, and unspeakable violence at the hands of the CCP, His Holiness the Dalai Lama has maintained inner peace and continues to preach compassion — inspiring not only his own people, but the entire world,” said Rep. McCaul. “I was honored to meet him in Dharamsala last year to voice the U.S. government’s support for the people of Tibet, emphasize the friendship between our two peoples, and learn more of his courageous, peaceful, and sacrificial leadership. Ahead of His Holiness’s 90th birthday, I am proud to introduce this resolution calling for ‘A Day of Compassion’ and affirming Tibetans’ fundamental human rights as we look forward to the day the Dalai Lama and his people can return to their homeland in peace.”
“His Holiness the Dalai Lama is an inspiration to millions of people around the world, including to me,” said Rep. McGovern. “His teachings on religious tolerance, non-violent responses to conflict and violent extremism, and peace-building are both timeless and urgently needed in our present circumstances. He has been a passionate advocate for the freedom and dignity for the Tibetan people. It is appropriate for Congress to honor the 14th Dalai Lama and his countless accomplishments on his 90th birthday. May his next one be celebrated in Lhasa.”
“This resolution expresses a wonderful, bipartisan recognition that His Holiness the Dalai Lama stands as a global icon of compassion and honors his lifelong commitment to strive for peace and justice for his homeland and the people of Tibet,” said International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) President Tencho Gyatso. “Swift passage of this resolution led by HFAC Chairman Emeritus McCaul and Congressman McGovern, will bring joy and inspiration to all those celebrating the Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday, and perhaps most critically, provide hope and inspiration to the Tibetan people in Tibet for whom even a simple public acknowledgement of the Dalai Lama’s birthday remains a dangerous act.”
The resolution is co-signed by Representatives Joe Wilson (R-S.C.), Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.), Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), Janice Schakowsky (D-Ill.), and Young Kim (R-Calif.).
Background:
This resolution designates July 6, 2025, as “A Day of Compassion” to honor the upcoming 90th birthday of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and recognize his lifelong commitment to peace, nonviolence, human rights, and the preservation of Tibetan culture. It reaffirms bipartisan U.S. support for the Tibetan people’s right to self-determination, opposes Chinese government interference in Tibetan practices, and expresses deep respect for the Dalai Lama’s moral leadership and humanitarian contributions to the international community.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)
Brooklyn, NY – Today, Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries appeared on ABC’s This Week where he emphasized that while Donald Trump promised to lower costs on day one, he is instead crashing the economy and marching us toward a recession.
JON KARL: I’m joined now by House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York. Let’s start with the big news, Leader Jeffries, out of your home town. Mamdani won a big victory. Have you endorsed him yet?
LEADER JEFFRIES: I have not. We had a conversation on Wednesday morning where I congratulated him on the campaign that he ran, a campaign that clearly was relentlessly focused on the high cost of living in New York City and the economy. He outworked, he out-communicated and out-organized the opposition. And that’s clearly why he was successful.
JON KARL: So what’s holding you back from endorsing him right now?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, we don’t really know each other well. Our districts don’t overlap. I have never had a substantive conversation with him. And so that’s the next step in terms of this process to be able to sit down, which we agreed to do in Central Brooklyn, discuss his vision for moving the city forward and addressing the issues that are important to the communities that I represent—a very diverse district that I represent in Brooklyn, including many African Americans, many Jewish Americans, many Caribbean Americans, who are dealing with a lot of challenges in the city and want to make sure that the next mayor of the City of New York, whoever that may be, is prepared to tackle them.
JON KARL: Mamdani calls himself a Democratic Socialist. He proposed obviously big tax increases, free mass transit, free bus fares, government-run grocery stores. Is this the kind of progressive socialism that is, we’re going to see as the future of the Democratic Party? Or is this unique to New York City?
LEADER JEFFRIES: I think that one of the things we’ve been clear about from the very beginning, as House Democrats, is that we need to relentlessly focus on addressing the high cost of living in the United States of America. This country is far too expensive for working-class Americans, for middle-class Americans, for all those who aspire to be part of the middle class. Imagine a country where every single hardworking American taxpayer can afford to live the good life, work hard, play by the rules, have a good-paying job, good healthcare, be able to afford a home, educate your children, go on vacation every now and then and one day retire with grace and dignity. The good life, the American Dream. That is not accessible to everyone. And so I think it will continue to be important for all of us on the Democratic side to address relentlessly the issue of the lack of affordability in this country. Donald Trump promised to lower cost on day one. Costs haven’t gone down, they’re going up. In fact, the guy is crashing the economy in real time, imposing these reckless Trump tariffs that are going to increase costs by thousands of dollars a year and he may even drive us toward a recession.
JON KARL: You mentioned the diversity of your district, including a lot of Jewish constituents. Mamdani has made comments that some have said gear towards antisemitism. His initial statement after October 7, he criticized the Israeli government but didn’t criticize Hamas. He defended the use of the word globalize—the phrase globalize the intifada and he even said that the Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu should be arrested, or he would if he were mayor, he would arrest Netanyahu if he visited New York City. Do these things concern you?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Globalizing the intifada, by way of example, is not an acceptable phrase, and he’s going to have to clarify his position on that as he moves forward. With respect to the Jewish communities that I represent, I think our nominee is going to have to convince folks that he is prepared to aggressively address the rise in antisemitism in the City of New York, which has been an unacceptable development. And any mayor, whether you’re a Democratic mayor, a Republican mayor, an independent mayor, has got to commit to the safety and well-being of all of the people of the City of New York. And when there are moments of crisis and a rise in anti-Jewish hate, that’s a threshold, of course, needs to be crossed. With respect to the African American and Caribbean American communities that I represent, it’s going to be important for our nominee to articulate the case for dramatically and decisively addressing the rise in gentrification and the housing displacement that threatens to continue to wipe out low and moderate income Black and Latino communities in New York City. It’s an unacceptable phenomenon, and the next mayor of the City of New York has to be able to articulate a clear plan and commitment to address these concerns, for the people that I represent and folks all across the great City of New York.
JON KARL: Alright, let’s turn to developments here in Washington. The Supreme Court’s big decision, empowering Donald Trump by limiting the power of judges to stop his executive orders or to freeze his executive orders. How big a deal is this? This was really the one way, the one restraint on his actions that’s been effective so far.
LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, it was an unfortunate decision from a procedural standpoint as it relates to what should have been a very clear case. If there is any instance where nationwide injunctions are appropriate, it would be in a manner like what we’ve just experienced in terms of birthright citizenship, which is clearly a part of the Constitution. If you are born as a child in the United States of America, you are a citizen. So it was a procedural setback that was quite unfortunate. And it was a reckless decision in my view. However, in terms of the fight judicially to protect birthright citizenship—that remains alive and well. And we’re just going to have to intensify our efforts now in district court after district court, or to get a class action certified on behalf of people who may be adversely impacted by this reckless Trump executive order.
JON KARL: And you were at the briefing, the classified briefing Friday on Iran and on the U.S. airstrikes. Did you get satisfactory answers? And do you have a sense now, was the program really—I mean, the President says “obliterated,” but what did you learn?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, let’s be clear. Iran is a sworn enemy of the United States of America, as well as our allies in the Middle East,like Israel and Jordan. And we can never allow Iran to be a nuclear-capable power. That said, there are a lot of questions that remain unanswered, in my view, as it relates to the actions that the Trump administration took relative to Iran. Why did they not seek the congressional authorization required by the Constitution for this type of preemptive strike? I still haven’t seen facts presented to us as a Congress to justify that step, and I certainly haven’t seen facts to justify the statement that Donald Trump made that Iran’s nuclear program has been completely and totally obliterated. We also need the case to be made by the administration, to the American people, as to how to best accomplish the objective of preventing Iran from becoming nuclear capable. Why did they abandon the aggressive diplomacy that was successful under the Obama administration? And what is their plan to stop us from getting into another failed Middle Eastern war? A lot of questions that need to be answered, and those answers haven’t been compelling to date.
JON KARL: All right. A lot of questions for sure. Leader Jeffries, thank you for joining us.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Brad Sherman (D-CA)
Canoga Park, CA – Today, Congressman Brad Sherman (D-Sherman Oaks) hosted an in-person Town Hall at Canoga Park Senior High School, drawing hundreds of residents for a wide-ranging discussion on the national and local issues weighing on the country. From economic instability to radical immigration enforcement, constituents voiced concerns—and Sherman made clear his continued opposition to what he called “Donald Trump’s extreme and costly policy agenda.”
“Our communities deserve a representative who shows up, fights back, and keeps them informed,” said Congressman Sherman. “That’s why I continue to hold these town hall meetings regularly, to hear from my constituents directly, give them straight answers, and help keep them connected to what’s happening in Washington that affects their lives.”
During the event, many constituents shared personal stories and voiced their fears about Trump’s renewed and frenzied push for mass deportations and the recent I.C.E. crackdowns that have rattled families throughout Los Angeles. Sherman condemned the raids as “cruel, unnecessary, and undermine the values this country was built on,” and reassured the attendees of his firm support for immigrant rights, while also outlining the steps he and his Democratic colleagues are taking to combat such crackdowns.
Another focal point was Trump’s so-called “Big Beautiful Bill” Act—a sweeping proposal that Sherman dubbed “One Big Ugly Bill” and criticized as a “reckless blueprint for corporate giveaways and political theater that will harm our economy.” He warned the bill would gut social safety nets while ballooning the national deficit.
A Senior Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Congressman Sherman also addressed the current global concerns facing the United States. Several attendees questioned U.S. involvement in the rapidly escalating conflict in the Middle East. Sherman called for a return to diplomatic leadership and cautioned against Trump’s inflammatory rhetoric and erratic foreign policy. “We need a steady hand guiding our foreign policy—not one that tweets us closer to war,” he said.
Throughout the Town Hall, residents raised a vast array of issues from protecting healthcare rights, achieving housing affordability, improving public education and more. Sherman answered each directly and laid out his legislative priorities moving forward. And despite some interruptions by a few anti-Israel agitators, Sherman was able to keep the focus on the concerns raised by the Town Hall attendees.
The Canoga Park Town Hall is the latest in a long-running series of Town Hall meetings Sherman has consistently hosted throughout his tenure in Congress, reinforcing his belief that government should be accountable, transparent, and engaged with the people it serves. “Our democracy only works when we show up, listen, and speak the truth,” Sherman concluded.
During the Town Hall, Sherman requested input from residents by asking a series of survey questions about their thoughts and concerns.
The results of the survey questions are as follows:
A) Do you support the passage of Congressional Republicans’ so-called One Big Beautiful Bill Act that provides a tax cut of $82,000 to those who make over $1 million per year, takes away healthcare from 14 million Americans, and increases the U.S. debt by over $5 trillion?
– Yes: 1%
– No / Hell No: 96%
– Unsure: 3%
B) Metro has recently released details for a mass transit line through the Sepulveda Pass and given the community until August 30th to identify its preferred option. Which of the following options do you like best?
-ALTERNATIVE 1: An entirely Ariel Monorail along the 405 freeway (with no direct connection to UCLA) that will take 28 minutes to get from the Valley to the Westside. This option costs $15.4 billion and takes 12 years to build. (Metro estimates 65k daily boardings.): 13%
-ALTERNATIVE 3: A mostly Ariel Monorail along the 405 freeway -but includes an underground segment connecting directly to UCLA- that will take 32 minutes to get from the Valley to the Westside, costs $21 billion, and takes 14 years to build. (Metro estimates 86k daily boardings.): 7%
-ALTERNATIVE 4: Aboveground Heavy Rail in the Valley -running along Sepulveda Blvd.- which then dives underground at Ventura Blvd and continues underground through the Sepulveda Pass to UCLA. This option will take 20 minutes to get from the Valley to the Westside, cost $20 billion, and will take 14 years to build. (Metro estimates 120k daily boardings.): 18%
-ALTERNATIVE 5: Entirely underground Heavy Rail -below Sepulveda Blvd. in the Valley- and continuing underground through the Sepulveda Pass to UCLA. This option will take just 19 minutes to get from the Valley to the Westside, costs $24 billion, and will take 14 years to build. (Metro estimates 121k daily boardings.): 17%
-ALTERNATIVE 6: Entirely underground Heavy Rail -running below Van Nuys Blvd in the Valley- and continuing underground through the Sepulveda Pass to UCLA. This option will take 18 minutes to get from the Valley to the Westside, cost $24.4 billion, and take 15 years to build. (Metro estimates 107k daily boardings.): 26%
-Unsure: 14%
-Do Not Build: 6%
C) Do you support Republican’s proposal in the “big, beautiful bill” to prohibit states from enacting any safety regulations against AI for 10 years?
–Yes, we should have a ban on states regulating AI for 10 years: 2%
-No, states should be able to enact safety regulations related to AI if their residents support it: 92%
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (District of Columbia)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) introduced a bill to name the post office located at 3401 12th Street NE after musician and singer Chuck Brown, the “Godfather of Go-Go,” who holds particular significance to D.C. residents for creating and popularizing go-go music and for his support of D.C. statehood.
“As the ‘Godfather of Go-Go,’ Chuck Brown gave D.C. a unique hometown sound that was distinctly our own and brought enjoyment to all who heard him here and throughout the nation,” Norton said. “Go-go is the beat of D.C., giving D.C. its own musical identity and reminding the nation that D.C. has always been the hometown of talented artists. We’ll never forget the free concert in 2010 Chuck Brown played in front of the Capitol for D.C. statehood and voting rights. He loved the District, and naming post office after him is a way D.C. can honor him in return.”
Norton’s introductory statement follows.
Statement of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton
on the Introduction of a bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 3401 12th Street Northeast in Washington,
District of Columbia, as the ‘‘Chuck Brown Post Office’’
June 23, 2025
Today, I introduce a bill to name the post office at 3401 12th Street NE in the District of Columbia for go-go legend Chuck Brown.
Chuck Brown, the “Godfather of Go-Go,” is beloved by D.C. for his innovative and unique sound, which gave us go-go music. Go-go is the beat of D.C., giving D.C. its own musical identity and reminding the nation that D.C. has always been the hometown of talented artists. Chuck Brown was a strong supporter of D.C. statehood, including playing a concert on a hot and humid day on the U.S. Capitol Grounds in 2010 in support of statehood.
Chuck Brown was born on August 22, 1936, and passed away on May 16, 2012. He was a D.C. resident most of his life. He taught himself to play guitar, becoming a virtuoso singer, songwriter, guitarist and band leader. His musical catalogue spanned 22 studio albums over three decades. He earned a Grammy nomination in 2010 for the song “Love” from his album “We Got This,” and was awarded a National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellowship in 2005.
D.C. named a park located at 2901 20th Street, NE, for Chuck Brown, and named a street near the historic Howard Theater for him.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (District of Columbia)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — As ranking member of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Subcommittee on Highways and Transit, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today wrote the Comptroller General of the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) requesting that it conduct a comprehensive study on the causes and effects of railway noise pollution. Additionally, Norton asked GAO to propose ways that the federal government can reduce the negative effects of railway noise pollution. The request is similar to abill Norton reintroduced in Aprilto require the GAO to submit recommendations to Congress on how to reduce train noise and vibrations near homes.
“D.C. residents contact me regularly about the negative impacts train noise and vibrations have on their health, quality of life and even the structural integrity of their homes,” Norton said. “Although trains provide an essential mode of transportation, we can’t simply ignore the harms suffered by those who live near them, which can include structural damage, reduced property values and negative health effects. We must examine whether there are viable, cost-effective ways to mitigate the harms caused by long-term exposure to train noise and vibrations.”
Norton’s letter follows, with personal contact information redacted.
June 23, 2025
The Honorable Gene L. Dodaro Comptroller General U.S. Government Accountability Office 441 G Street NW Washington, DC 20548
Dear Comptroller General Dodaro:
Passenger and freight railway traffic is a top contributor of unwanted and excessive sounds and vibrations (i.e., noise pollution). Noise pollution is emitted from train movements on tracks, horns and warnings, braking and engine idling and accelerating. Noise pollution can reduce property values and labor productivity and have adverse health effects.
The U.S. Department of Transportation is responsible for regulating railway noise pollution. For example, the Federal Railroad Administration enforces regulations that set maximum sound levels from railroad equipment and locomotive horns. The Federal Transit Administration develops guidance for assessing noise pollution from transit projects that receive federal funding, including conventional rail lines.
I am requesting that the U.S. Government Accountability Office conduct a comprehensive review of railway noise pollution. The review should address the following questions:
What factors contribute to railway noise pollution, and how much noise pollution can such factors emit?
What actions can railway manufacturers and operators take to reduce railway noise pollution, and what are the costs and benefits of such actions?
How can the federal government reduce negative effects associated with railway noise pollution?
Thank you for considering this request.
Sincerely,
Eleanor Holmes Norton Ranking Member Subcommittee on Highways and Transit
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (District of Columbia)
The bill would give D.C. the authority to appoint all members of its zoning commission, which currently has seats for two federal officials.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) introduced the District of Columbia Zoning Commission Home Rule Act today, which would give D.C. the authority to appoint all members of the D.C. Zoning Commission (Commission). Even though the Commission has no authority over federal property, it currently consists of two federal officials (the Architect of the Capitol and the Director of the National Park Service), in addition to three members appointed by D.C.’s mayor with the D.C. Council’s approval. Despite the D.C. Home Rule Act, which gave D.C. authority over local matters, 40 percent of the members of the Commission are federal officials who are unaccountable to nearly 700,000 D.C. residents.
“This bill is an essential step to increase home rule in the District of Columbia,” Norton said. “Land use is a local matter in every situation, no matter the context. The federal government loses nothing because the interests of the federal government in land use in the nation’s capital are protected by federal law. If anything, this will allow the federal government more resources to pursue issues within their jurisdiction.”
The Commission creates zoning maps and regulations, which must “not be inconsistent with the comprehensive plan for the national capital.” The mayor is responsible for the local elements of the comprehensive plan, subject to Council approval. The National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC), which is the central federal planning agency for the federal government in D.C. and approves federal projects here, is responsible for the federal elements of the comprehensive plan. This bill would not alter the comprehensive plan process nor the authority of NCPC and the Commission.