MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Stephanie Murphy (D-Fla)

Washington, D.C. — Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D., introduced the Protect Our Military Families’ 2nd Amendment Rights Act, alongside Senator Mike Rounds (SD), to ensure the spouses of our service members are afforded the same constitutional rights as those in uniform.

“I will always fight to protect the constitutional rights of my constituents and support our service members and their families,” said Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. “Too often, military families are overlooked when Congress tackles challenges facing our warfighters. We must ensure that military spouses’ Second Amendment protections are protected and equal to those serving our country in uniform. I am grateful to Senator Rounds for introducing companion legislation in the U.S. Senate and look forward to working together to advocate for this meaningful reform.” 
 

Background
Under current law, active-duty service members of the United States Armed Forces may purchase firearms at their assigned duty station with proper documentation. However, their spouses are not granted this same constitutional right.

This bill would amend chapter 44 of title 18, United States Code, to provide that a member of the Armed Forces and the spouse of that member shall have the same rights regarding the receipt of firearms at the location of any duty station of the member.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Frederica S Wilson (24th District of Florida)

Today, Congresswoman Frederica Wilson, Senior Member of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Education and Workforce, released the following statement following the executive order to abolish the U.S. Department of Education:

“I am a lifelong educator. It is who I am, and I am proud of it. I served as an elementary school teacher, a Head Start Coordinator, a school principal, and a member of the Miami-Dade County School Board. Have Republicans ever been to a PTA meeting? Have they ever greeted children as they enter the school doors every morning? Have they even talked to public school teachers or students recently? I have seen firsthand how important public education is for bettering the lives of all students. But this is not just another executive order. This is something that will change the heart and fabric of America.

“Closing the doors to the Department of Education is closing the doors to opportunities for our youth. The Republicans’ inability to understand why education is crucial to the future of America is laughable and shows how out of touch they are. They are trying to break down our public education system and attack children of color. Public education serves everyone, regardless of the color of their skin: the gifted, students with disabilities, the wheelchair-bound, the mentally challenged, the sick, the shut-in, the orphan, the ungovernable, everyone! Our country will not be an international leader if its government leaves its children behind.

“Think about the implications of this decision. If we gut public schools like Republicans want to do, where are our children supposed to go? A quality education is the number one preventer of crime, and we can’t just have kids being thrown out of a public education. What is the plan for these children? What is the plan for all the teachers that will be fired? I demand to know today! How would abolishing the Department of Education affect schools in Miami-Dade and Broward County Public Schools? Do schools know the plan? Do states know the plan? And you know what, I wish I could ask someone in the Department of Education these questions, but there are no staff to ask since they have already been gutting the Department. I demand to have answers today on what the plan is because I know damn well the administration doesn’t have a plan.

“And let’s not forget, Congress is the only branch of government authorized to create or destroy agencies, not an unelected billionaire who doesn’t know a damn thing about education. All Congressional Republicans should stand up and take immediate action to safeguard the Department of Education’s crucial functions. Providing students with resources to help pay for higher education is not wasteful spending. Funding Head Start programs are not wasteful spending. Making sure schools enforce anti-discrimination laws is not wasteful bureaucracy. This is the bare minimum we owe our children.

“These actions will not lower everyday living costs. They will not make our lives any easier. When Republicans strip away our access to public education, to student loans, and to Pell Grants, who is impacted? Who suffers? Our children, plain and simple. We cannot allow anyone who abuses the Constitution to control the fate of American education. This executive order ignores the voices of everyday American families.”

Congresswoman Frederica Wilson is a former public-school teacher, public school principal, school administrator, and Miami-Dade County school board member.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Frederica S Wilson (24th District of Florida)

This week, Congresswoman Frederica Wilson introduced the ‘Transportation Equity Act.’ The bill aims to re-establish an advisory committee that would independently advise the Secretary of Transportation to help advance equity in transportation planning and policy through collaboration with diverse stakeholders.

Congresswoman Frederica Wilson said, “While the Administration is busy eliminating programs aimed at increasing equal opportunity for all, I am focused on empowering communities to have a greater say in how transportation policies and investments are implemented. All Americans deserve a seat at the table in shaping their transportation futures. Whether it’s folks who don’t live near any public transit, those who can’t afford the fares, or people with disabilities who need extra support to get around, our government should all be in the business of providing better transportation resources to every single person. That is why I’m introducing the ‘Transportation Equity Act’ to reinstate the Transportation Equity Advisory Committee. This bill will empower stakeholders from diverse backgrounds to collaborate on solutions that promote accessibility, reduce disparities, and create fair opportunities for all Americans.”

The bill is also cosponsored by Henry C. “Hank” Johnson Jr (GA-04), André Carson (IN-7), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), and LaMonica McIver (NJ-10).

This bill is supported by the Transportation Choices Coalition, Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network, The Alliance – Blue Line Coalition, Alliance for Metropolitan Stability, CNT, America Walks, Madison Area Bus Advocates, Detroit Greenways Coalition, National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO), The Equiticity Racial Equity Movement, Freedom to Move Youth Movement, formerly National Organizations for Youth Safety (NOYS), Vehicles for Change, and Local Initiatives Support Corporation.

The bill does the following:

·       Re-establishes the Transportation Equity Committee: The bill mandates the creation of an advisory committee to provide independent advice to the Secretary of Transportation on issues related to transportation equity.

·       Focuses on Diverse Perspectives: The bill ensures balanced representation from a wide variety of stakeholders, including community groups, academia, industries, and marginalized communities, to guarantee a comprehensive approach to transportation planning.

·       Develops Strategic Recommendations: The committee will create a strategic plan that will include recommendations on national transportation metrics and assess the impacts of transportation on economic development and public engagement.

·       Evaluates and Enhances Community Connectivity: The bill empowers the committee to evaluate the Department of Transportation’s efforts in connecting individuals to economic opportunities, with the aim of revitalizing communities through equitable transportation policies.

For the bill text, click here.

For a one-pager bill description, click here.

For the section-by-section, click here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Frederica S Wilson (24th District of Florida)

This week, Congresswoman Frederica Wilson reintroduced the ‘American Teacher Act’ with 80 cosponsors. This bill seeks to raise teacher salaries across the country to a minimum of $60,000 to address the nationwide teacher shortage crises and ongoing attacks on public education.

“It’s about damn time we give our public-school teachers a raise. With the ongoing teacher shortage worsening each year, we fail to raise teacher salaries while prices rise; it’s no surprise that talented educators are leaving the profession. Speaking as a former public-school teacher and principal, I know firsthand how important our teachers are and how hard they work. Yet, despite teachers’ hard work, they often go unnoticed and are underpaid, forcing them to juggle multiple jobs just to make ends meet,” Congresswoman Frederica Wilson said. “That is why I am once again introducing the American Teacher Act to ensure every teacher across America makes at least $60,000. Once we start respecting our educators, we can expect better student outcomes and watch our teacher shortage shrink.”

According to a survey, 86% of public schools are struggling to hire educators, with high-poverty districts experiencing even more severe understaffing issues.

“The average starting salary for teachers is just $41,000, which is why the American Teacher Act is urgently needed,” said AFT President Randi Weingarten. “It is time to stop relying on teachers’ goodwill—they need a living wage to pay the rent and feed their families, and they deserve to live in the places in which they teach. I can’t thank Rep. Wilson enough for her deep commitment to valuing educators and raising salaries to a minimum of $60,000. Let’s pass this bill and honor and respect America’s teachers for all that they do for our children and our country.”

National Education Association President Becky Pringle said, “Students of every color, background and ZIP code deserve qualified and caring educators who are dedicated and have the resources to uncover the full potential of every child. Unfortunately, today, we continue to find ourselves in a 5-alarm crisis, with staffing shortages in schools across the country.  Moreover, we have a shortage of professional pay, basic dignity, and respect for the professionals they are. Educators proudly support the American Teacher Act, which will meet the goal of addressing educator shortage with long-term solutions, not band-aid approaches.  We must recruit large numbers of diverse educators into the profession and retain qualified and experienced educators in our schools to support our students in learning recovery and thriving in today’s world. We are grateful to Congresswoman Wilson for standing by our educators and fighting for our students.” 

“Every day teachers go beyond the call of duty in and out of the classroom for every child, lighting the way to brighter futures. It is critical that we elevate and support our teachers, invest in them and hold them with high public esteem,” said Yvonne Johnson, president of National PTA. “The American Teacher Act will help strengthen the teaching profession and address teacher shortages currently facing our nation, and we applaud Representative Wilson for introducing the bill.” 

Nínive Calegari, Co-Founder of the Teacher Salary Project, said, “The American Teacher Act is essential to closing the gap between how we pay teachers today and how we must pay them as professionals. We are so grateful to Congresswoman Wilson for her insight and courage on this issue that is so important to us all. Teachers are the most important part of any school and we must respect that importance with competitive pay.”

Ranking Member of the Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education subcommittee, Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, said, “Teachers should be fairly compensated for their important work to help prepare today’s students to be the leaders of tomorrow. Providing grants to incentivize states to raise teacher pay is a commonsense policy that will help schools recruit and retain talented educators, leading to better outcomes for students and the country. I’m pleased to join my colleague Congresswoman Wilson in leading this effort to invest in America’s educators.”

The American Teacher Act does the following:

• Minimum Salary Requirement: It establishes a framework for teacher salary incentive grants, mandating a minimum annual salary of $60,000 for full-time teachers in qualifying schools, along with provisions for inflation adjustments in subsequent years.

·       State Grant Application: State educational agencies can apply for four-year grants to ensure compliance with the minimum salary requirement, with an emphasis on sustainability and the allocation of funds to local educational agencies, particularly those serving high-need areas.

·       Cost-of-Living Adjustments: The bill includes provisions for cost-of-living adjustments to teacher salaries based on the Consumer Price Index, helping to ensure that salaries remain competitive and reflective of economic conditions.

• Awareness Campaign: It authorizes a national campaign to raise awareness about the teaching profession’s importance, encourage students to consider careers in teaching, and promote diversity within the teaching workforce.

The bills cosponsors include Rep. Adriano Espaillat (NY), Rep. Al. Green (TX), Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY), Rep. Alma Adams (NC), Rep. Andre Carson (IN), Rep. Andrea Salinas (OR), Rep. Ayanna Pressley (MA), Rep. Bennie Thompson (MS), Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ), Rep. Chellie Pingree (ME), Rep. Chris Deluzio (PA), Rep. Danny Davis (IL), Rep. Debbie Dingell, Rep. Deborah Ross (NC), Rep. Donald Norcross (NJ), Rep. Dwight Evans (PA), Rep. Dwight Evans (PA), Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (District of Columbia), Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (MO), Rep. Emilia Sykes (OH), Rep. Eric Sorensen (IL), Rep. Frank Mrvan (Indiana)*, Rep. Grace Meng (NY), Rep. Greg Casar (TX), Rep. Greg Landsman (OH), Rep. Gwen S. Moore (WI), Rep. Hank Johnson (GA), Rep. Hayley Stevens (MI), Rep. Henry Cuellar (TX), Rep. Hillary Scholten (MI), Rep. Ilhan Omar (MN), Rep. Jahan Hayes (CT), Rep. James Clyburn (SC), Rep. James McGovern (MA), Rep. Jamie Raskin (MD), Rep. Janice Schakowsky (IL), Rep. Jared Moskowitz (FL), Rep. Jill Tokuda (HI), Rep. Joe Courtney (CT), Rep. Joe Neguse (CO), Rep. John Garamendi (CA), Rep. Jonathan Jackson (IL), Rep. Josh Gottheimer (NJ), Rep. Judy Chu (CA), Rep. Kevin Mullin (CA), Rep. LaMonica McIver (NJ), Rep. Linda Sanchez (CA), Rep. Lucy McBath (GA), Rep. Madeleine Dean (PA), Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA), Rep. Mark Pocan (WI), Rep. Mark Takano (CA), Rep. Mark Takano (CA), Rep. Maxwell Frost (FL), Rep. Mike Quigley (IL), Rep. Mikie Sherrill (NJ), Rep. Nikema Williams (GA), Rep. Nikki Budzinski (IL), Rep. Nydia Velasquez (NY), Rep. Pramila Jayapal (WA), Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL), Rep. Rashida Tlaib (MI), Rep. Raul Grijalva (AZ), Rep. Robert Menendez (NJ), Rep. Rosa DeLauro (CT), Rep. Salud Carbajal (CA), Rep. Sean Casten (IL), Rep. Seth Magaziner (RI), Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL), Rep. Shontel Brown (OH), Rep. Shri Thanedar (MI), Rep. Stephen F. Lynch (MA), Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (OR), Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA), Rep. Ted Lieu (CA), Rep. Terri Sewell (AL), Rep. Val Hoyle (OR), Rep. Valerie Foushee (NC), Rep. William Keating (MA), and Rep. Yvette Clarke (NY).

For the bill text, click here.

For the section-by-section, click here.

For the one-page summary of the bill, click here.‘

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Frederica S Wilson (24th District of Florida)

Today, Congresswoman Frederica Wilson released the following statement on the Partisan Republican Funding Bill, to which she voted “No”:

“The Republicans worked so hard to gain control of the House, the Senate, and the White House. Now, with all this power, in today’s partisan funding bill, Congressional Republicans handed it over to an unelected billionaire who cares only about himself, not the American people.

“This Republican partisan budget essentially gives the Administration and Elon Musk a blank check to slash to health care programs, cut public school funding, gut affordable housing, and so much more. On top of this, Republicans want to take a chainsaw towards Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and SNAP. So, I voted ‘no’ today because I will not be part of Republicans and Elon Musk’s effort to slash and burn every program Americans rely on.

“Put it simply, this bill hurts the middle class, makes America less safe, makes Americans less healthy, and harms our environment, all because Republicans would rather risk a government shutdown and hurt working families than work with Democrats. Democrats have been ready to negotiate a bipartisan government bill—one that ensures no cuts to Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, SNAP, and other essential services—but Republicans have ignored Democrats’ good faith efforts.

“This is all part of Republicans stream of chaos because first they worked to slash Medicaid, SNAP, school lunches, and other essential programs to pay for tax cuts to the ultra-rich. And now, with this partisan funding bill, they are granting the administration unrestricted authority to cut funding to every government service, whether that be healthcare or affordable housing services.

“If the government shuts down, it’s on Republicans: They control the House, the Senate, and the White House, and they are the ones responsible for this failure to govern. Democrats and I are committed to working in a bipartisan manner to fund our government. However, I will not give Elon Musk unchecked power to cut essential services that Americans rely on, nor will I support any efforts that could lead to cuts to Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and SNAP.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Frederica S Wilson (24th District of Florida)

Today, Rep. Frederica S. Wilson led a letter to President Donald Trump and U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem alongside Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton, Rep. Joe Courtney, Rep. James P. McGovern, Rep. Gerald E. Connolly, Rep. Gwen S. Moore, Rep. William R. Keating, Rep. Terri A. Sewell, Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez, Rep. Henry C. “Hank” Johnson Henry Jr., Rep. Seth Magaziner, and Rep. Sarah McBride objecting to the Rescission of Haitian Temporary Protection Status.

For the full letter, click here.

Letter Text:

Dear President Trump and Secretary Noem,

The undersigned strongly oppose the Department of Homeland Security’s recent decision to partially vacate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian nationals. This decision undermines the urgent humanitarian needs of the Haitian people, who have endured protracted suffering due to economic instability, escalating violence, and devastating natural disasters.

Haiti has faced more challenges than any other nation in the Western Hemisphere, with crises and despair. The evidence is clear: the “extraordinary and temporary conditions” that warranted TPS designation remain dire and, in many respects, have worsened. The United Nations reported over 5,000 fatalities and more than 2,000 injuries in Haiti in 2022 alone. The country has been embroiled in violence and instability, especially following the July 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse.

Your recent notice contradicts the determination made by former Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, yet we see no compelling evidence that justifies this abrupt change.

Returning individuals to Haiti, where their safety and well-being are at serious risk, is not only unjust but also goes against our moral obligation to protect those in need.

As champions of equality and human rights, we are compelled to oppose this decision, which jeopardizes the well-being of Haitian nationals and sets a concerning precedent for U.S. humanitarian policy. When Haitians are supported and unified, they possess profound potential for recovery and growth. We remain highly concerned about your administration’s hostile tone concerning TPS, where a DHS spokeswoman claimed that the TPS system has been abused and exploited for decades. First, TPS is not being abused or exploited by foreign nationals, and the claims as such are cruel and uncouth. Temporary Protected Status is a system that was created under a Republican administration and has been utilized by both Democratic and Republican administrations, showing our nation’s diplomatic and humanitarian position in the world.

We urge you to rescind this decision, reaffirm TPS for Haitian Nationals, and engage with Congress, humanitarian organizations, and the Haitian diaspora to address the urgent situation in Haiti. Our values as a nation dictate that we extend compassion and support to our neighbors facing adversity.

We look forward to your prompt response and hope for a resolution that reflects our humane and just principles as Americans. America must remain the world leader in diplomacy, and it is prudent to show leadership in diplomacy among our neighbors in the Western hemisphere.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Austin Scott (GA-08)

WASHINGTON, DC ­– Today, Representatives Austin Scott (R-GA-08) and Al Lawson (D-FL-05) led several of their colleagues in sending a letter to the International Trade Commission (ITC) voicing support for a Section 201 safeguard investigation for the U.S. blueberry industry currently before the ITC. The members contend that extremely low pricing on rising imports during U.S. harvest periods have had a devastating impact on the domestic industry and request a prompt determination in the Section 201 case.

“Thousands of workers across the country have been laid off or not rehired. Scores of blueberry growers have gone out of business causing hardship on family farmers, economic harm to providers of packing and freezing services, and damage to the growers’ local communities and tax bases. Grower profits have declined or vanished as prices have plummeted and blueberries have been left on bushes because it is uneconomic to harvest.  In short, the effects of the import surge have been and remain devastating to the domestic blueberry industry,” wrote the Members. “As the Commission develops the evidentiary record in this case, it will be clear that imports are a substantial cause of serious injury to the domestic blueberry industry. We urge the Commission to promptly make an affirmative determination in this regard.”

In addition to the co-signers, the American Blueberry Growers Association and American Farm Bureau Federation support today’s letter.

Below is the text of the letter. You can also click here to read the letter.

December 11, 2020

U.S. International Trade Commission

500 E Street, SW

Washington, DC 20436

RE: Investigation No. TA-201-77 (Fresh, Chilled, and Frozen Blueberries)

Dear Chairman Kearns and Commissioners:

We write to express our support for the Commission’s ongoing Section 201 investigation regarding fresh, chilled, and frozen blueberries. The significant surge of imports of blueberries in recent years, the timing of such imports during U.S. harvest periods, the extremely low pricing of the imports, and the targeting of the U.S. blueberry market by foreign exporters has had a devastating impact on the domestic blueberry industry.

Current prices for blueberries are lower than they have been in years. Thousands of workers across the country have been laid off or not rehired. Scores of blueberry growers have gone out of business causing hardship on family farmers, economic harm to providers of packing and freezing services, and damage to the growers’ local communities and tax bases. Grower profits have declined or vanished as prices have plummeted and blueberries have been left on bushes because it is uneconomic to harvest. In short, the effects of the import surge have been and remain devastating to the domestic blueberry industry.

Blueberry imports have surged from a number of countries, especially Chile, Peru, Mexico, Argentina, and Canada, rising nearly 62 percent from 423 million pounds in 2015 to 684 million pounds in 2019. The blueberry market in these countries has been developed to expand exports to the United States rather than for domestic consumption. The large number of countries providing those exports indicates that a global solution is warranted and necessary to provide relief to the domestic blueberry industry.

The United States is already heavily dependent on imports for a variety of important food crops and failure to control the surge of blueberries threatens to sharply reduce the number of U.S. blueberry growers and the volume of U.S. blueberries produced. Not only do these imports threaten domestic businesses and livelihoods, they also expose U.S. consumers to products from countries with poor or inconsistent product safety records.

As the Commission develops the evidentiary record in this case, we believe it will be clear that imports are a substantial cause of serious injury to the domestic blueberry industry. We urge the Commission to promptly make an affirmative determination in this case.

Sincerely,

Rep. Austin Scott (R-GA-08)

Rep. Al Lawson (D-FL-05)

Rep. Rick Allen (R-GA-12)

Rep. James Baird (R-IN-04)

Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL-12)

Rep. Sanford Bishop (D-GA-02)

Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL-16)

Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24)

Rep. Buddy Carter (R-GA-01)

Rep. Doug Collins (R-GA-09)

Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR-04)

Rep. Suzan DelBene (D-WA-01)

Rep. Val Demings (D-FL-10)

Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL-25)

Rep. Neal Dunn (R-FL-02)

Rep. Drew Ferguson (R-GA-03)

Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01)

Rep. John Garamendi (D-CA-03)

Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-MI-02)

Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-CA-01)

Rep. Rick Larsen (D-WA-02)

Rep. Stephanie Murphy (D-FL-07)

Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA-04)

Rep. Bill Posey (R-FL-08)

Rep. John Rutherford (R-FL-04)

Rep. Kurt Schrader (D-OR-05)

Rep. Christopher Smith (R-NJ-04)

Rep. Darren Soto (D-FL-09)

Rep. Greg Steube (R-FL-17)

Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI-06)

Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ-02)

Rep. Ted Yoho (R-FL-03)

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Brad Schneider (D-IL)

LINCOLNSHIRE, IL – Rep. Brad Schneider (IL-10), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and co-chair and co-founder of the bipartisan, bicameral Abraham Accords Caucus, released the following statement in response to renewed fighting in Gaza.

“It’s been 530 days since thousands of Hamas-led terrorists invaded Israel, murdered more than 1,200 and took 250 hostages back to Gaza. The war Hamas started has been devastating, especially for Palestinians, and we all want it to come to an end with the release of all remaining 59 hostages and removal of Hamas from reigning over Gaza. Only then can recovery and renewal begin in Gaza, and only then can there be any hope for real and lasting peace for all the people in the region. 

“The breakdown of the ceasefire and resumption of deadly violence in Gaza is deeply concerning. The renewed fighting underscores once again the devastating cost of Hamas’s intransigence and its disregard for both Palestinian and Israeli lives.

“Hamas’s insistence on holding hostages as leverage is reprehensible. Their refusal to engage seriously in efforts toward a lasting ceasefire, despite sustained diplomatic conversations, has precipitated the tragic events unfolding now. The humanitarian toll of these renewed hostilities is heartbreaking and unacceptable.

“Israel has the right to defend itself and to act decisively to secure the release of hostages and to ensure the safety of its citizens. However, continued violence and instability cannot be the solution. It is imperative that diplomatic channels remain open and active.

“I strongly encourage all involved parties, with support from the United States and regional mediators, to urgently resume negotiations aimed at swiftly restoring a durable ceasefire so that the next phase of hostage releases can take place. It is critical to prioritize humanitarian considerations and the release of hostages as core components of any renewed dialogue.

“The international community, including the United States, must remain engaged and active in supporting efforts that can lead to a sustainable and peaceful outcome for Israelis and Palestinians alike.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Brad Schneider (D-IL)

LINCOLNSHIRE, IL – Rep. Brad Schneider (IL-10) released the following statement as the US Senate is set to vote on government funding today:

“House and Senate Republicans are relinquishing their Constitutional duties to Donald Trump and Elon Musk. Rather than working to pass legislation that responsibly funds the government, Republicans are giving a blank check to Trump, and empowering Musk and his DOGE bros to continue their devastating campaign of chaos through the federal government. 

Veterans, seniors, students, farmers and small businesses will all bear the burden of Republican cuts to VA healthcare, to Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security and other critical government programs. Meanwhile, billionaires like Musk get a free ride with massive tax cuts, paid for on the backs of working families and the most vulnerable Americans.

House Democrats were united in rejecting the extreme funding bill Republicans crammed through earlier this week, and we remain opposed to it as it moves through the Senate. We are committed to a path that keeps the government open with a temporary funding bill that gives time for Congress to negotiate responsible, full-year funding legislation that reflects the priorities, and addresses the needs of the country.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Brad Schneider (D-IL)

Schneider, Bilirakis Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Reclassify Turkey as a Middle Eastern country