Beyer, Kelly Introduce Legislation toFacilitate Peer-To-Peer Mental Health Support

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

Reps. Don Beyer (D-VA) and Mike Kelly (R-PA) today announced the introduction of the Peer-to-Peer Mental Health Support Act to help facilitate effective student-led mental health crisis response.

“Too many young Americans are struggling with their mental health and suffer in silence. We can do more in Congress to support teenage mental health, including by facilitating student-led peer-to-peer education initiatives which are already showing promise across the country. I thank Congressman Kelly for making this potentially lifesaving effort bipartisan, as we continue working to reduce suicides and improve mental health in this country,” said Rep. Don Beyer, co-chair of the bipartisan Mental Health Caucus.

“As more Americans recognize the importance of addressing mental health, it’s incredibly important that we meet children where they are. Peer-to-peer mental health support programs in schools will take a significant step toward curbing the growing mental health crisis in America,” said Rep. Kelly.“Mental health isn’t a partisan issue. I want to thank Rep. Beyer for partnering on this important piece of legislation.”

“Mental Health America (MHA) applauds Representatives Beyer and Kelly for introducing this critical legislation to provide schools with resources to start or maintain youth peer support programs. Youth peer support is an effective practice that helps young people to empower their peers to resolve distress and prevent behavioral crises,” said Caren Howard, Senior Director of Policy and Advocacy at Mental Health America. “This bill will incentivize schools to offer youth peer support training amidst growing anxiety, depression, and suicidality in children and adolescents as part of an overall continuum of services.”

“Active Minds applauds Representatives Beyer and Kelly for their bipartisan leadership in recognizing what young people have known all along – that peer mental health support saves lives,” said Anika Rahman, Director of Policy at Active Minds. “This legislation represents exactly the kind of federal investment we need: funding that empowers students to be part of the solution. When young people are trained and supported to help their peers navigate mental health challenges, we see real results – reduced stigma, increased help-seeking, and stronger school communities. The Peer-to-Peer Mental Health Support Act acknowledges that students are uniquely positioned to reach their peers who might otherwise suffer in silence, and we’re grateful to see Congress prioritize bipartisan student-led approaches to addressing the youth mental health crisis.”

“As a 16-year-old high school student, I’ve seen how often young people turn to each other before turning to an adult when they’re struggling but how so many students don’t know what to do when approached. Studies show that 67% of young people tell a friend they are feeling suicidal before telling anyone else. This bill matters because it helps us identify challenges earlier, reduce stigma, and create safe spaces where asking for help is normal—not shameful. By investing in peer-to-peer programs, we are empowering young people to take care of one another and ensuring no student has to suffer in silence. We at SEAT are so grateful for Representatives Beyer and Kelly for prioritizing youth mental health in a time when it’s needed the most,” said Ayaan Moledina, Federal Policy Director, Students Engaged in Advancing Texas (SEAT.

The Peer-to-Peer Mental Health Support Act would support the creation of peer-to-peer mental health programs in middle and high schools, where students are trained by mental health professionals to be peer support to their classmates and help their peers recognize signs of mental health crisis and develop help-seeking behaviors, like contacting the 9-8-8 lifeline. This legislation is modeled off several successful state and local educational district programs, in order to grow these successful initiatives to more schools.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), individuals aged 10–24 years account for 15% of all suicides with suicide being the second leading cause of death for this age group. In 2022, 20% of high school students seriously considered attempting suicide, nearly 16% made a suicide plan, and 9% attempted suicide, according to the CDC. The Brookings Institute reported that students at risk of suicide are more likely to turn to a peer than an adult or authority figure for help, and research reports from Mental Health America and Action Alliance highlight the demand for peer-to-peer support. 

Text of the Peer-to-Peer Mental Health Support Act is available here.

Congressman Guthrie Votes in Favor of Generational Investment in the U.S. Military

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Brett Guthrie (2nd District Kentucky)

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Guthrie (KY-02) issued the following statement following the House passage of H.R. 3838, the Streamlining Procurement for Effective Execution and Delivery and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026.

“I was proud to vote in favor of this year’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which rightly re-focuses our military posture to restore peace through strength,” said Congressman Guthrie. “As a graduate of West Point and the proud representative of Fort Knox, I am especially excited by the investments this bill makes in Army Reserve aviation and the strategic partnerships it establishes with local communities to inspire the next generation of warfighters by preserving local museums, like the Patton Museum in my district. This bill is a generational investment in our national security that re-establishes deterrence on the world stage and streamlines our current bureaucratic acquisition process.”

Background:
The FY26 NDAA authorizes $892.6 billion in spending at the Department of War, setting the stage for our United States armed forces to carry out their mission. This bill fulfills House Republicans’ and President Trump’s policies by investing in our military industrial capabilities, securing all servicemembers a well-deserved pay raise, making meaningful strides to secure our southern border, and more.  

Specifically, this bill:

–  Supports the Trump Administration’s 3.8% pay raise for all servicemembers.
–  Reauthorizes and expands military bonuses and special pay.
–  Codifies all or parts of 15 Executive Orders issued by President Trump pertaining to national security.
–  Authorizes President Trump’s budget request of over $900 million to fight drug trafficking.
–  Authorizes over $577 million to renovate military hospitals and build new medical facilities.
–  Authorizes $19 billion for military construction and family housing projects that ensure readiness for our soldiers and families. 
–  Authorizes over $38 billion for the development, procurement, or modification of military aircraft.
–  Authorizes the National Guard Youth Challenge Program.
–  Authorizes the Secretary of the Army to identify and enter into public-private partnerships to maintain museum operations and enhance the financial sustainability and public engagement of the museums in the Army Museum system.

Additional information about the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act, prior to amendments, can be found here.

García, Espaillat, Wilson, lead Colleagues in Urging the Department of Education and DOJ to Protect English Learners

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

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04) joined by Representatives Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) and Frederica Wilson (FL-24) led 77 colleagues on a letter demanding the Department of Education and the Department of Justice to protect English Learners. The agencies recently rescinded 2015 federal guidance that clarified states’ obligations to English Learner students. This rollback threatens to weaken enforcement of existing laws, strip protections for nearly 5 million students nationwide, and limit the ability of parents with limited English proficiency to make informed decisions about their children’s education.

The letter calls on the Departments of Education and Justice to:

  • Reinstate the 2015 guidance;
  • Fully fund and staff the Office of English Language Acquisition (OELA) and Office of Civil Rights (OCR);
  • Restore monitoring and enforcement mechanisms; and
  • Clarify how they will enforce existing laws and precedents in practice.

“This Administration is doing all it can to create an underclass of people by denying even the most basic right, like education, to people with immigrant roots. Nearly 5 million English Learning students nationwide rely on schools to meet their legal obligations regarding their education, and most of them are U.S. citizens. I once was one of these children, and without the additional resources that helped me become fluent, I would not have thrived,” said Rep. García. “Let me be clear: the law is still the law; pulling the guidance sends a dangerous signal that compliance is optional. This rollback undermines transparency, weakens enforcement and makes it harder for parents with limited English proficiency to make informed choices about their children’s education.”

“Every student in our nation deserves the opportunity to learn, grow and achieve,” said Representative Espaillat.“Yet, the latest actions of the Department of Education are focused on stripping away the progress we have made to support millions of English Learner (EL) students. We cannot afford to leave these students and their families behind. We must do all that it takes to reverse course and put into place protections that will help them thrive.”

“I represent an immigrant-rich community. In South Florida—and across the nation—many of our children in schools are English learners simply trying to build their futures. America is built by immigrants from every walk of life, yet this administration will stop at nothing to terrorize immigrants through every possible avenue, even targeting children in the classrooms,” said Rep. Wilson. “Ripping away resources and guidance for English learners is a cruel and foolish decision. Our education system has always had an obligation to welcome every child who comes through our doors. Stripping away these English learning resources undermines the rights of millions of children, weakens our ability to help them become the English speakers the President claims to want, and betrays this nation’s commitment to immigrants. This decision must be reversed immediately.”

“Rescinding this civil rights guidance is the latest assault on English learner children by the Trump Administration. Ending the guidance must not be an excuse to deny a student’s right to a quality education. We endorse Representative Garcia’s call for the guidance’s immediate reinstatement,” said Janet Murguía, President and CEO, UnidosUS.

A full text of the letter can be found here.

Co-signers of the letter include: Representatives  Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Alma Adams (NC-12), Andre Carson (IN-07), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Angie Craig (MN-02), Becca Balint (VT-At Large), Bennie Thompson (MS-02), Betty McCollum (MN-04), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), Chuy Garcia (IL-04), Daniel Goldman (NY-10), Danny Davis (IL-07), Darren Soto (FL-09), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25), Deborah Ross (NC-02), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), Dina Titus (NV-01), Donald Beyer (VA-08), Doris Matsui (CA-07), Dwight Evans (PA-03), Eleanor Norton (DC-At Large), Eric Swalwell (CA-14), Gabe Amo (RI-01), Gabe Vasquez (NM-02), George Whitesides (CA-27), Gilbert Cisneros (CA-31), Grace Meng (NY-06), Greg Casar (TX-35), Greg Landsman (OH-01), Henry “Hank” Johnson (GA-04), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Jahana Hayes (CT-05), James McGovern (MA-02), Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Janice Schakowsky (IL-09), Jennifer McClellan (VA-04), Jill Tokuda (HI-02), Joaquin Castro (TX-20), John Garamendi (CA-08), Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05), Juan Vargas (CA-52), Judy Chu (CA-28), Kathy Castor (FL-14), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Laura Friedman (CA-30), Linda Sánchez (CA-36), Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07), Lou Correa (CA-46), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Mark Takano (CA-39), Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), Mike Quigley (IL-05), Monica McIver (NJ-10), Nanette Barragán (CA-44), Nellie Pou (NJ-09), Norma Torres (CA-35), Nydia Velázquez (NY-07), Paul Tonko (NY-20), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Raul Ruiz (CA-25), Ritchie Torres (NY-15), Robert Garcia (CA-42), Robert Menendez (NJ-08), Robin Kelly (IL-02), Sarah McBride (DE-At Large), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), Stephen Lynch (MA-08), Summer Lee (PA-13), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Ted Lieu (CA-36), Terri Sewell (AL-07), Val Hoyle (OR-04), Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03), and Yvette Clarke (NY-09).

 

This letter is endorsed by the following organizations: National Writing Project, Public Advocacy for Kids, UnidosUS, ACTFL, Students Engaged in Advancing Texas (SEAT), Kids First Chicago, Metropolitan Family Services, Enlace, TCEP, Latino Policy Forum, YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago, El Valor

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Congressman García Votes Against Racist Criminalization Bill

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

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04) issued the following statement after voting against the Stop Illegal Entry Act: 

“This bill is a draconian measure that will not deter unauthorized migration and does nothing to improve public safety. It will drastically increase the number of undocumented people imprisoned for non-violent offenses and could even subject them to life sentences. Trump is openly flouting the law to persecute immigrants — racially profiling people, kidnapping them, incarcerating them without access to basic needs, and deporting them to third countries without due process. I voted against this bill because I will not give a stamp of approval to his racist narrative and ongoing actions to criminalize and abuse immigrants and anyone else he doesn’t like.

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Congressman Harris Pays Tribute to American Patriot Charlie Kirk

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01)

Congressman Andy Harris, M.D. (MD-01) issued the following statement after the passing of Charlie Kirk.

Statement From Congressman Harris:

“Charlie Kirk was an American patriot whose impact will never be forgotten. Nicole and I are praying for his wife Erika and his children during this time of unimaginable loss.”

For media inquiries, please contact Anna Adamian at Anna.A@mail.house.gov 

Congressman Harris Warns Offshore Wind Projects Could Compromise National Security

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01)

Washington, D.C. — Congressman Andy Harris, M.D. (MD-01) spoke on the House Floor yesterday to warn that offshore wind projects off Maryland’s First District pose a direct threat to national security, given that the district’s shoreline is the closest to Washington, D.C.

He cautioned that massive offshore wind turbines—rushed through an abbreviated permitting process—could interfere with America’s ability to detect threats from adversaries like Russia and China. Submarines operating off the U.S. coast could gain a critical advantage if detection systems are disrupted, leaving the nation more vulnerable to attack.

Congressman Harris also pointed out that other nations have faced similar risks. Sweden recently canceled offshore wind projects near Russia after defense officials determined the turbines would delay missile detection by one to two minutes—a potentially catastrophic gap in readiness during a crisis.

Remarks From Congressman Harris:

Time is not our enemy — Russia and China are our enemies. Russia has submarines that could come close to our coast, launch a weapon, and not be detected because we don’t know what the effect is of these windmills. The priority must be to protect the American people. National security cannot be sacrificed in pursuit of expensive, untested energy experiments that put both the Eastern Shore and the nation at risk.

To watch the full video and remarks, click HERE.

For media inquiries, please contact Anna Adamian at Anna.A@mail.house.gov 

CONGRESSMAN DAVIS REMEMBERS 9/11, CALLS FOR RENEWED COMMITMENT TO UNITY, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND PROGRESS

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Danny K Davis (7th District of Illinois)

CONGRESSMAN DAVIS REMEMBERS 9/11, CALLS FOR RENEWED COMMITMENT TO UNITY, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND PROGRESS

CHICAGO, IL — Today marks the 24th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, a day that forever changed America. We mourn the lives lost, honor the bravery of first responders, and recommit ourselves to the ideals that define our nation.

On that morning 24 years ago, nearly 3,000 lives were stolen. Thousands more were forever altered. Families, communities, the entire nation felt the pain, the fear, the uncertainty. But from that tragedy also came clarity about who we are,  and who we should be.

We cannot allow the memory of 9/11 to become hollow. It must push us to be better: more united, more compassionate, more just. As your Congressman, I pledge to fight for legislation that reflects those values and ensures we do not forget,  because forgetting weakens us.

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About Congressman Danny K. Davis
Congressman Davis represents Illinois’s 7th Congressional District and is the Ranking Member of the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Worker and Family Support. A long-time advocate for justice, healthcare, and equity, he believes we must learn from the past while building a stronger future.

Bonamici Introduces 3 Bipartisan Bills to Increase Access to Jobs

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Suzanne Bonamici (1st District Oregon)

WASHINGTON, DC [9/11/23] – Today Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) announced that she is leading a bipartisan package of legislation to provide more pathways into the workforce and strengthen the economy. 

The package of workforce development legislation includes three bills that would increase access to youth career counseling programs, apprenticeships, and workforce training programs.

The ACCESS Act – introduced with Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA) – would improve career counseling programs for youth to help them access high-skill, high-wage, and in-demand jobs.

The BUILDS Act – also co-led by Rep. Thompson – would provide workers with skills needed to fill infrastructure jobs by creating new grants for industry partnerships in the infrastructure sector. The bill includes funding for support services, including child care and transportation, to help workers stay in and complete workforce programs.  

The PARTNERS Act – co-led with Reps. Brett Guthrie (R-KY), Haley Stevens (D-MI), and Zach Nunn (R-IA) – would establish a grant program to support the creation and expansion of industry partnerships to help small- and medium-sized businesses develop work-based learning programs and provide mentoring and support services for workers.

“Having a robust workforce is essential to growing the economy, and there are commonsense steps we can take to help workers find and obtain quality jobs,” said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. “Investing in partnerships among businesses, schools, and community partners is essential so we can continue to support and grow the workforce. I am pleased to work with my colleagues Reps. Thompson, Guthrie, and Stevens to create more opportunities for good-paying jobs that are needed in today’s economy.”

“As Co-Chair of the Bipartisan Career and Technical Education Caucus, I am proud to join Rep. Bonamici in introducing these two critical pieces of legislation that will help connect the next generation to in-demand jobs and support our nation’s workforce,” Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson said. “These bills continue to support Americans looking to climb the ladder of opportunity and develop skills to find high-quality, family-sustaining jobs.”

“As our country continues to reshore manufacturing, we must have a skilled workforce ready to meet demand. Apprenticeships are an excellent way to provide millions of Americans with access to on-the-job training and profitable future careers in countless fields,” said Congressman Brett Guthrie. “As the co-Chair of the Apprenticeship Caucus, I am honored to reintroduce the PARTNERS Act to establish a grant program to allow small and medium businesses to create industry partnerships advancing work-based opportunities.”

“Helping small and medium-sized businesses expand their training programs opens pathways to high-wage, secure jobs for workers and provides businesses with a skilled workforce,” said Congresswoman Haley Stevens. “That is why I am proud to once again co-lead the PARTNERS Act, which will give Michigan businesses the tools they need to empower their workers and build successful companies. I will always be working towards solutions that help Michigan and our nation maintain our best-in-class workforce.”

“Not every career starts with a four-year degree, and it shouldn’t have to,” said Rep. Zach Nunn. “In Iowa, we know the value of hard work and hands-on training. The PARTNERS Act helps local businesses offer paid, skill-building jobs that lead directly to long-term employment. It’s a win for working families, employers, and Iowa.”

“The bipartisan ACCESS, BUILDS, and PARTNERS Acts introduced by Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici provide exactly the kind of investment and support needed to strengthen workforce development programs across the country,” said Connie Ashbrook and Janelle DeJan, Co-Chairs of the National Taskforce on Tradeswomen’s Issues. “These bills will expand opportunities for women and other underrepresented workers to enter and thrive in the construction industry—helping meet the urgent demand for skilled workers while ensuring our nation’s infrastructure is built by a more diverse and inclusive workforce.”

“As a country, we are making important investments in infrastructure, clean energy, and technology but the promise of these investments won’t be fully realized without the support of workers with the skills required to do the work. These bills will help us meet our nation’s workforce needs by bringing employers together, supporting workers’ access to skills training and supportive services, and providing our nation’s young people with awareness of the career opportunities available to them.” – National Skills Coalition

“The next generation of workers needs to know about the high-quality, in-demand jobs in emerging industries, and the ACCESS Act will provide access to professional assistance in navigating those opportunities,” said Brad Turner-Little, President & CEO, National Association of Workforce Boards (NAWB). “The National Association of Workforce Boards is proud to endorse the ACCESS Act, and applauds Congresswoman Bonamici and Congressman Thompson for their leadership on this issue.”

The ACCESS Act has been endorsed by: Jobs for the Future, National Association of Workforce Boards, National Skills Coalition, ACTE, Advance CTE, National Taskforce on Tradeswomen’s Issues, and National Community Action Foundation.

The BUILDS Act has been endorsed by: Jobs for the Future, National Skills Coalition, ACTE, Advance CTE, National Taskforce on Tradeswomen’s Issues, U.S. Conference of Mayors, and National Community Action Foundation.

The PARTNERS Act has been endorsed by: Jobs for the Future, National Skills Coalition, National Taskforce on Tradeswomen’s Issues, U.S. Conference of Mayors, and National Community Action Foundation. 

Bonamici and Guthrie also introduced a bipartisan resolution designating September 2025 as National Workforce Development Month. The text of the resolution is available here.

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ECESE Ranking Member Bonamici Demands Committee Subpoena Stephen Miller

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Suzanne Bonamici (1st District Oregon)

ECESE Ranking Member Bonamici is demanding Stephen N. Miller, White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy, to come before the committee as a witness to answer for the Trump Administration’s antisemitic actions

WASHINGTON Ranking Member Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) delivered the following opening statement at today’s Early Childhood and Secondary Education Subcommittee hearing entitled, “From Playground to Classroom: The Spread of Antisemitism in K-12 Schools.”

 

“Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, and thank you to the witnesses. 

 

“We can all agree that schools are responsible for creating safe learning environments for students, teachers, and faculty free from discrimination, harassment, and violence.  There is no question that antisemitic acts of harassment and intimidation have increased since October 7, 2023, and as I’ve said repeatedly in this committee, we must do more.  But this is now the eleventh hearing on antisemitism we have had in the past few years.  And what has happened?  Are things better?  No. Antisemitism is on the rise, and tensions and divisions have increased.

 

“We can and must do more to protect Jewish students and Jewish Americans who are threatened, harassed, and attacked because of who they are.  But once again, I do not see the work of this Committee as productive in accomplishing the stated goal.  Today’s hearing and multiple past hearings have been used to attack schools and their leaders and educators rather than to have a substantive discussion about how to curb antisemitism.  Some on this committee belittled and shamed the now former President of Northwestern University, Michael Schill, a descendant of Holocaust survivors, and gloated when he resigned.  That does not stop the spread of antisemitism.

 

“One of our strongest tools is the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) in the Department of Education.  OCR is dedicated to investigating and resolving civil rights violations, including antisemitic incidents, at schools and universities.  But the Trump Administration fired almost half of OCR’s staff and closed seven of its twelve regional offices.  

 

“Instead of offering any real solutions, Republicans use antisemitism as an excuse to turn our nation’s civil rights laws upside down and undermine public education.  We have seen this most prominently with higher education, and it is clear the committee is now seeking to do the same thing to our local public elementary, middle, and high schools.

 

“The reality is that the Trump Administration and Congressional Republicans are using the real plight of Jewish students experiencing antisemitism to destabilize institutions they don’t approve of, whether institutions of higher education or teachers’ unions. 

 

“And if you wonder why, here’s a quote from the Academe magazine last spring: ‘Donald Trump is coming for America’s universities and higher education workers for the same reason that Benito Mussolini demanded loyalty oaths in 1931 and Viktor Orbán launched a ‘vicious smear campaign’ against Hungary’s premier university in 2019: Our commitment to open inquiry over propaganda, to persuasion over coercion, to democracy over dictatorship provides a check on authoritarian rule.’

 

“And I will add that all of this is happening while Republicans in Congress continue to refuse to address the antisemitic cancer that is metastasizing in their own party, including in the Trump White House, and against the backdrop of the promotion of White Christian Nationalists into key government roles. 

 

“I have consistently called out the multiple Trump White House officials with ties to antisemitic extremists, which my colleagues have not, including the liaison to the Department of Homeland Security, the communications director for the Office of Management and Budget, and the deputy press secretary of the Department of Defense who posted Nazi slogans on her social media accounts and promoted the antisemitic ‘Great Replacement’ conspiracy theory. 

 

“The leader of President Trump’s antisemitism task force agreed that the president could ‘revoke someone’s Jew card’ and shared a post on social media from the former leader of a white supremacist organization that called for the ‘Nazification of America.’  

 

“The current White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy, Stephen Miller, is known as a racist and white nationalist.  The Rabbinical Assembly called for his firing during the first Trump Administration because of his white supremacist views.  So did 25 Jewish Members of Congress, who wrote, ‘These hateful views have no place in our government, much less just steps from the Oval Office.  At this time of rising antisemitism, xenophobia, racism, and white supremacy, we must forcefully call out and refuse to accept intolerance or hate anywhere within our government.’

 

“And now Stephen Miller has far-reaching influence in the White House.  In an interview, President Trump said that it would be a downgrade if he appointed Stephen Miller as national security adviser, instead saying that ‘Stephen is much higher on the totem pole than that.’ Mr. Chairman, you just criticized the trafficking of antisemitic tropes, and you said to use ‘every tool possible.’

 

“What will truly help Jewish students – and Jewish Americans – would be to determine why the Trump Administration has been infiltrated by white nationalists and antisemites, and to ascertain their reasoning for dismantling the Office of Civil Rights.  Defunding universities and undermining public schools will hurt students, Jewish and others, instead of providing them a safe place to learn.  If this committee truly cares about Jewish students and fighting antisemitism, we do have an obligation – we have an obligation, as the Chairman said, to use ‘every tool possible’ and to exert our full authority. 

 

“So therefore, I move that the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education subpoena Stephen N. Miller, White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy, to come before this committee as a witness no later than thirty calendar days from the adoption of this motion, to answer for the Trump Administration’s antisemitic actions, and to answer for the defunding the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights, which will exacerbate antisemitism at our nation’s schools. 

 

“If my colleagues truly care about rooting out antisemitism, they will surely support this motion. 

 

“I look forward to the discussion on the motion, and I yield back.”

 

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Merkley, Wyden, Padilla, Bonamici, Bipartisan Colleagues Urge Administration to Release $52.1 Million in Federal Education Funds for Agricultural Farmworker Students

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Suzanne Bonamici (1st District Oregon)

Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, California’s U.S. Senator Alex Padilla, and U.S. Representative Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) today led 26 lawmakers to demand Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought and Education Secretary Linda McMahon immediately release $52,123,000 for the High School Equivalency Program (HEP) and the College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP), which support educational opportunities for agricultural farmworker students.

“Continuing and potential new grantees, all of which are colleges and non-profit organizations, were slated to receive funding and begin providing support to students by July 1 but have yet to receive the funding that Congress provided earlier this year,” the lawmakers wrote to Director Vought and Secretary McMahon. “We understand the Department of Education informed HEP and CAMP leaders in June that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) was reviewing these programs, but grantees have not received follow up information as to when the funds will be released, which has imposed challenges on individuals and families served by these programs and applicants and grantees (and their employees) impacted by the uncertainty and delay.”

Across the nation, HEP and CAMP programs serve more than 8,000 students from agricultural farmworker families. The failure to release this previously allocated funding threatens to undermine the students’ success.

In a 2024 report to Congress, HEP and CAMP showed that the percentage of HEP participants who received a High School Equivalency Diploma (HSED) increased by 4.2 percentage points from FY 2021 to FY 2022, and 84 percent of HSED recipients entered postsecondary education or training programs, attained upgraded employment, or entered the military. And CAMP exceeded the national retention rates for first-time college freshmen returning in their second year.

“We should strive to retain more students enrolled in college, just as CAMP programs have achieved. These are results that can help strengthen the economy for agricultural farmworker families and rural communities,” they emphasized.

In addition to Merkley, Wyden, Padilla, and Bonamici, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Angus King (I-ME), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Gary Peters (D-MI), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Patty Murray (D-WA), and Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA), and U.S. Representatives Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), Melanie Stansbury (NM-01), Deborah Ross (NC-02), Angie Craig (MN-02), Scott Peters (CA-50), Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-25), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Dwight Evans (PA-03), and Chellie Pingree (ME-01).

Full text of the letter can be found by clicking here and follows below:

Dear Director Vought and Secretary McMahon: 

We write today to express our strong support for the High School Equivalency Program (HEP) and the College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP). We urge you to implement the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025, which President Trump signed into law and requires $52,123,000 to be used for carrying out CAMP and HEP. This funding is necessary to ensure these educational programs provide critical access to educational opportunities for agricultural farmworker students. 

Continuing and potential new grantees, all of which are colleges and non-profit organizations, were slated to receive funding and begin providing support to students by July 1 but have yet to receive the funding that Congress provided earlier this year. We understand the Department of Education informed HEP and CAMP leaders in June that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) was reviewing these programs, but grantees have not received follow up information as to when the funds will be released, which has imposed challenges on individuals and families served by these programs and applicants and grantees (and their employees) impacted by the uncertainty and delay.  

HEP helps students who have dropped out of high school get their High School Equivalency Credential and serves more than 6,000 students annually. CAMP assists students in their first year of college with academic, personal, and financial support, and serves approximately 2,400 participants annually. Overall, nearly three-quarters of all CAMP students graduate with baccalaureate degrees.

The HEP/CAMP FY 2024 Report to Congress shows that despite the challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the percentage of HEP participants who received a High School Equivalency Diploma (HSED) increased by 4.2 percentage points from FY 2021 to FY 2022 and 84 percent of HSED recipients entered postsecondary education or training programs, attained upgraded employment, or entered the military.

Similarly, the CAMP program is achieving results for students. The HEP/CAMP FY 2024 Report to Congress shows that “Despite pandemic-related challenges, in both fiscal years[2021 and 2022], CAMP exceeded the national retention rates for first time college freshmen returning in their second year.” We should strive to retain more students enrolled in college, just as CAMP programs have achieved. These are results that can help strengthen the economy for agricultural farmworker families and rural communities. 

HEP and CAMP programs rely on this funding to serve more than 8,000 students across the country. We urge the administration to release this previously allocated funding. We look forward to working with you to make this funding available as soon as possible.

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