MIL USHOR-2b Engine

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

Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-06) introduced a resolution recognizing the first week of June as Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS) Awareness Week.

“Hidradenitis Suppurativa affects millions of Americans, causing physical pain and emotional distress,” Dingell said. “We recognize this week as HS Awareness Week to bring renewed attention to the importance of federal research into new treatments and advanced understanding of the disease to improve patient outcomes.”

View the text of the resolution below and here.

RESOLUTION

Expressing support for the recognition of “Hidradenitis Suppurativa Awareness Week”.

Whereas Hidradenitis Suppurativa (in this resolution referred to as “HS”) is a chronic, inflammatory skin disease that affects approximately 3,300,000 people in the United States;

Whereas HS causes painful, boil-like nodules and abscesses anywhere on the body, and can progress to form tunnels under the skin and cause extensive scarring;

Whereas individuals with HS frequently suffer from 5 primary domains of physical and emotional suffering, pain, drainage, odor, itching, and profound psychological distress;

Whereas HS is associated with one of the highest completed suicide rates among dermatological diseases, second only to melanoma;

Whereas 75 percent of individuals with HS are misdiagnosed or not diagnosed until after age 25, missing critical windows for early intervention and care;

Whereas delayed diagnosis contributes to worsening disease progression, higher healthcare costs, avoidable emergency room visits, and unnecessary procedures;

Whereas individuals are often diagnosed with HS in the prime of their lives, affecting their ability to work, maintain relationships, and participate fully in society;

Whereas, as of June 1, 2025, there are only 3 biologic therapies approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of HS;

Whereas additional research is urgently needed to develop new treatments, understand the pathogenesis of the disease, identify biomarkers of HS, and improve outcomes for HS patients;

Whereas Federal policy can play a critical role in improving access to biologic therapies, wound care, and comprehensive care for HS patients; and

Whereas designating the first week of June as “Hidradenitis Suppurativa Awareness Week” would increase public awareness, foster understanding, and catalyze progress in diagnosing, treating, and ultimately curing HS:

Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives—

(1) supports the recognition of “Hidradenitis Suppurativa Awareness Week”; and

(2) recognizes the importance of—

(A) increasing awareness and education about HS among the public and health professionals;

(B) promoting timely and accurate diagnosis of HS through improved screening and culturally competent care;

(C) supporting biomedical research to better understand HS pathogenesis, treatment efficacy, and long-term outcomes;

(D) accelerating the development of effective treatments and expanding access to existing therapies for HS; and

(E) advancing policies that address disparities in access to care for patients with HS and improve the quality of life for individuals living with HS and the caregivers of such individuals.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Levin (CA-49)

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (1st District of Maine)

Today, Congressional Arts Caucus Co-Chairs Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) and Congressman Mike Turner (R-Ohio) led more than 120 of their colleagues in urging President Trump to restore National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) grant funding approved by Congress. The bipartisan push comes after the Trump Administration canceled NEA grants to hundreds of community organizations, many of which had already begun the projects for which they had been awarded. 

“Many grantees are anchors in their communities, whether as employers and educators, prominent Main Street destinations, and tourist attractions,” the lawmakers wrote. “Lost grants will hurt budgets, contract programming, and may lead to layoffs – right as the crucial summer season kicks off for many organizations and small businesses.”

They further explained that the NEA underpins a $1.2 trillion cultural sector, representing 5.4 million jobs and a $36.8 billion trade surplus. “In short, the bang for our buck delivered by the NEA is too significant to ignore,” Pingree, Turner, and their colleagues said. 

The full text of the letter is copied below and available here. 

In addition to cancelling NEA funds already appropriated by Congress, the President has proposed eliminating the agency entirely in his budget.

Pingree recently penned an op-ed in the Portland Press Herald condemning President Trump’s attacks on arts and culture and warning that his actions mirror the authoritarian playbooks of regimes in Turkey and Hungary.

Pingree is Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, which oversees the NEA, and is an ex-officio member of the National Council on the Arts.

+++

Dear President Trump,

We write to express our deep concern about recent grant cancellations at the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). These cancellations will have a resounding impact on communities in every part of the country, costing jobs and harming local economies. We urge you to direct their immediate reversal and restore full funding of the NEA as authorized by statute and approved by Congress.

The NEA is a small but efficient agency, using its modest resources to ensure that the benefit of federal funds reaches every Congressional district. The cancellation of hundreds of grants threatens a wide range of initiatives, from apprenticeship programs to youth engagement to economic development planning. Many grantees are anchors in their communities, whether as employers and educators, prominent Main Street destinations, and tourist attractions. Lost grants will hurt budgets, contract programming, and may lead to layoffs – right as the crucial summer season kicks off for many organizations and small businesses.

Our relatively minimal federal investment reaches Americans who would not otherwise benefit from the arts. In 678 counties across the country – primarily in rural areas – the Endowment does more to fund the arts than the top 1,000 foundations. And the benefit is not just local. It underpins the $1.2 trillion economic powerhouse that is the cultural sector, representing 5.4 million jobs and a $36.8 billion trade surplus. In short, the bang for our buck delivered by the NEA is too significant to ignore.

The NEA fulfills an essential role in our nation’s economic and cultural life, particularly as we look toward America250 celebrations next year. The Endowment’s support for local arts organizations remains a cornerstone of its statutory purpose and of its value to local communities across the country. We urge you to restore the full potential of that value by reversing grant cancellations to local arts organizations.

Sincerely,

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Scott Peters (52nd District of California)

San Diego, CA — Today, Representatives Scott Peters (CA-50) and Juan Vargas (CA-52), along with Representatives Sara Jacobs (CA-51) and Mike Levin (CA-49), and U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA) demanded answers from Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem over the outrageous and militarized ICE Raid at Buona Forchetta, a community restaurant.

In addition to this letter, Reps. Peters, Vargas, Jacobs, and Levin, and U.S. Senators Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Alex Padilla (D-CA) sent a letter to Sec. Noem expressing their concern over the deliberate targeting of immigrants trying to follow the legal process at courthouses, such as the San Diego Immigration Court located in the Edward J. Schwartz Federal Building.

In their letter, the members stated, “In 2024, President Trump’s now ‘border czar,’ Tom Homan, said immigration enforcement would focus on immigrants who are ‘public safety threats and the national security threats first.’  According to the facts outlined in the government’s warrant, the workers at Buona Forchetta do not appear to meet this standard. Instead, many immigrants, like those targeted in the operation, work challenging jobs and fill labor gaps in sectors like agriculture and construction. Immigrants are critical to the local and national economy, with those in the San Diego metro area contributing $11.3 billion in taxes annually.”

They continued, “The role of law enforcement is to keep our community safe. The incident at Buona Forchetta last week did not make us safer. Witness accounts and video recordings show over 20 ICE and [Homeland Security Investigations] agents present on the scene, many armed with assault weapons and fitted in military tactical gear. Agents were then witnessed aggressively entering the restaurant to handcuff all employees—including those who were not enforcement targets. Agents also used three noise flash diversionary devices, which produce loud bangs and smoke, to disperse civilians at the scene. These tactics created chaos and fear, all to arrest four immigrants reportedly working hard as dishwashers and servers… The Administration’s use of these tactics also suggests the intent of the raid was not uphold the law in a responsible manner, but rather to intimidate. This is unacceptable. The use of such tactics to execute warrants for non-violent crimes not only harms public trust in HIS and ICE, it also raises legitimate questions about the Department of Homeland Security’s stewardship of taxpayer dollars.”

And they concluded by asking that Sec. Noem promptly respond to the following questions:

1. Has ICE or HIS received any new directive or informal communications from the Administration to expand enforcement priorities to immigrants who are not violent criminals or public safety threats?
2. What is the process by which Department determines it is necessary to arm agents with assault weapons and military equipment during raids?
3. How does Department account for the level of public safety threat of enforcement targets or the likely concentration of civilians when it makes these determinations?
4. What tactics did ICE use to attempt to disperse the crowd before escalating to use noise flash diversionary devices?
5. Prior to the operation, did ICE consider any of the targeted immigrants to be public safety or national security threats?

The full text of the letter can be found here. 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (7th District of Washington)

WASHINGTON – U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Ranking Member of the Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee, today hosted a Shadow Hearing titled Kidnapped and Disappeared: Trump’s Lawless Third Country Disappearances, to dive deeper into the cases of those lawlessly kidnapped and disappeared to third countries like El Salvador, Panama, Costa Rica, South Sudan, and Libya. This hearing was the first in a series she plans to hold on Trump’s immigration actions. 

“Since taking office in January, President Trump has shown nothing but utter contempt for the Constitution.  He has ignored and decimated the traditional role of Congress and defied and defamed the courts, doing untold damage to our democracy.  He has attacked the rights of all people, starting with and especially immigrants. In his obsession to deport as many immigrants—lawful and undocumented—as he can, he has violated multiple constitutional rights,” said Congresswoman Jayapal. “Due process is the critical protection that requires anyone, no matter their citizenship status, to have their opportunity to present evidence, to be able to counter a government or any party falsely accusing them of being a terrorist or a gang member or of being kidnapped off the street and disappeared.”

The witnesses at this hearing included Lindsay Toczylowski the President and CEO of Immigrant Defenders Law Center (ImmDef) and legal counsel for Andry Romero, Robyn Barnard, the Senior Director of Refugee Advocacy at Human Rights First, Lee Gelernt the Deputy Director of the Immigrants’ Rights Project at American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), and Beatriz Guzman, a Venezuelan-American immigrant and immigration attorney.

“The Trump administration has used a pattern of disappearances to detain, remove, and expel people to countries which are not their countries of origin, and for which no removal proceedings have been conducted nor the required fear screenings. These actions are part of a broader effort to subvert due process and the checks and balances that are central to the U.S. Constitution,” said Robyn Barnard, Senior Director, Refugee Advocacy, Human Rights First. “Before being disappeared to these third countries, many asylum seekers were detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection in unbearable conditions. They went days or weeks without any contact with the outside world. They were subject to medical neglect, physical and psychological mistreatment, and intolerable living conditions that are especially traumatizing for children.”

“Andry Hernández Romero’s story is truly a canary in the coalmine, a warning of what happens when the rule of law and due process are trampled upon. If being denied due process and sent to a third country happened to him – a gay makeup artist with no criminal record and targeted solely for having tattoos – it could happen to me, it could happen to you, it could happen to any one of us,” said Lindsay Toczylowski, CEO and President of Immigrant Defenders Law Center (ImmDef). “ Andry’s case, and those of the 230+ men who were disappeared to El Salvador’s CECOT gulag, is about whether we will fight to uphold the rights enshrined by the Constitution. It  is about the future of our democracy. If we fail him, we will have failed our country.”

“People that are detained have no knowledge of our laws, often don’t speak English, and if a habeas corpus petition is not filed, they are deported to a gulag in El Salvador with no due process,” said Lee Gelernt, lead counsel in the ACLU’s legal challenges to the Trump administration’s use of the Alien Enemies Act. “At the same time the government has taken the position that once immigrants are deported to El Salvador, they can not be returned, no matter how many mistakes they have made. Even if immigrants are given due process, we do not think that this wartime authority can be used during peacetime.”

“Venezuelan immigrants have become a target despite the love we have for this country–the only place we can call home. Just like my kid clients who are now scared to go to school and who feel that pit in their stomach—that this country is not safe for them–now my parents and family feel that too. We feel it too even when we leave our homes with U.S. passports,” said Beatriz Guzman, Venezuelan-American U.S. citizen and immigration attorney for children.  “And this is all a flashback for my father–a reminder of the culture of fear that comes in the early days of authoritarianism. It is difficult for him to watch the first steps of those same changes that he fled over 20 years ago, happening now in his new home and country.”

The hearing was attended by Representatives Becca Balint (VT-AL), Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Jesús G. “Chuy” García (IL-04), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Glenn Ivey (MD-04), Jerrold Nadler (NY-12), Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Deborah Ross (NC-02), Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), Mark Takano (CA-39), and Juan Vargas (CA-52).

Issues: Immigration

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

Today, Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries held a press conference where he emphasized that Democrats remain united against Trump’s One Big Ugly Bill which will rip away healthcare and food assistance from millions of Americans in order to give billionaire Republican donors a tax break.  

LEADER JEFFRIES: Good morning, everyone. House Democrats continue to fight to stop the GOP Tax Scam in its tracks. Trump’s One Big Ugly Bill will rip away healthcare for more than 16 million Americans. Others across the country will pay higher premiums, co-pays and deductibles because of this unprecedented attack on Medicaid, Medicare and the Affordable Care Act. Hospitals will close, nursing homes will shut down and people will die if the GOP Tax Scam ever becomes law. 

Republicans are also trying to jam the largest cut to nutritional assistance in American history down the throats of the American people, are taking away more than $300 billion from SNAP, these extremists are literally ripping food from the mouths of children, seniors and veterans in the United States of America. It’s shameful. 

All of this is being done so that Republicans can provide massive tax breaks to their billionaire donors, and then they want to stick the American people with the bill, including by exploding the deficit by more than $3 trillion, saddling our children and grandchildren with this type of fiscal baggage that will hurt their ability to have a prosperous future and sets America on a possible path toward bankruptcy. The GOP Tax Scam is indeed a disgusting abomination.

Full press conference can be watched here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Salud Carbajal (CA-24)

U.S. Representative Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24) introduced the Space Launch Noise Mitigation Study Act to require the Department of the Air Force (DAF) to assess the impact of space launch activity on neighboring communities and make recommendations for noise mitigation. The emergence of frequent sonic booms from the increase in space launches is a new phenomenon that requires additional studies to more comprehensively understand the impacts. This legislation will produce recommendations to inform a grant program that allows affected communities to install noise-mitigating technologies. 

“With space launches occurring more frequently, nearby communities have voiced concern over the intensifying noise and its effect on their quality of life,” said Rep. Carbajal. “This legislation is a crucial step forward in equipping communities with the necessary resources to reduce the disruptive impact of sonic booms and protect their well-being.”

As a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee, Rep. Carbajal has worked to address space launch noise and its effect on local residents.

Last December, Rep. Carbajal secured language in the annual defense policy bill that – for the first time – acknowledged the impact of space launch noises on nearby communities and called for more resources to be allocated to communities impacted by the launches. 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07)

“Under Trump, the SEC isn’t protecting anyone. It’s not regulating. Its cases are being dictated by whoever is paying the president tens of millions of dollars’ worth of crypto bribes.”

“If this isn’t the definition of corruption, then what is?”

Video (YouTube)

WASHINGTON – In a House Financial Services Committee hearing, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) slammed Donald Trump over his corrupt crypto venture for personal financial gain and his indirect and improper acceptance of bribes from companies being sued by the SEC who have later had their charges dropped.

The Congresswoman laid out how Trump’s moves are a clear abuse of power over the SEC and blatantly enrich himself and his allies at the expense of everyday American investors.

A transcript of the Congresswoman’s remarks, as delivered, is available below, and the full video is available here.

Transcript: Pressley Slams Trump for Corruption, Bribery in Crypto Schemes

House Financial Services Committee

June 4, 2025

REP. PRESSLEY: Now in normal times, a U.S. president trafficking in corruption would be condemned by both Republicans and Democrats. In normal times, the appearance of bribery – even the hint of it – would be universally denounced. 

But these are not normal times. 

In fact, in this season of reverse Robin Hood culture, these are the worst of times.

The Trump family is engaging in mind-boggling levels of corruption – so blatant, so numerous, that we’re overwhelmed and can’t keep up, which is, in fact, the strategy.

Today I want to shed light on, specifically, the crypto bribery scheme happening in plain sight. 

Now, Trump launched World Liberty Financial, a crypto platform where 75% of revenues go straight to the Trump family’s pockets. This has become a pay-to-play corruption game. 

Trump has – Occupant Trump has – zero interest in lowering costs for working families but remains vigilant in his efforts to enrich himself. 

Now, further evidence of this pay-to-play corruption game.

Player one is Justin Sun. In 2023, the SEC sued him and his companies for defrauding investors, manipulating token prices, and secretly paying celebrities to promote tokens without disclosing payments. All of that is illegal.

But after Sun purchased $75 million worth of Trump’s tokens, he was appointed as an advisor to World Liberty Financial and, magically, Trump’s SEC dropped their case against him. 

Maybe that’s just a coincidence. But it sure does look like crypto-bribery. 

Then there’s Binance. The company’s founder, Changpeng Zhao, or CZ, was convicted for failing to prevent terrorists, child abusers, and cybercriminals from using his crypto-exchange. Binance paid a $4 billion fine and the SEC also sued Binance for running an unlicensed exchange. 

Now that would have been a slam dunk case. 

One Binance executive literally messaged another: quote, ‘We are operating as a f—ing unlicensed securities exchange in the USA, bro’ end quote.

I must say, the constituency of ‘bros’ are certainly living their best life in Donald Trump’s America. But I digress. 

But yet again, that case magically disappeared after a $2 billion investment in Binance using Trump’s stable coin. And we’re supposed to think that this is just a coincidence. 

So let me ask a very simple question. I promise you, this is not a ‘gotcha’ question. This is straightforward. So, I’m looking for a straightforward answer. 

Should companies be able to bribe the President of the United States to make SEC lawsuits go away? Yes or no?

And we’ll begin with Mr. Massad and work back. 

MR. TIMOTHY MASSAD: Absolutely not. 

MS. KATHERINE MINARIK: No. Bribery is a crime. 

MR. ROSTIN BEHNAM: No.

MR. VIVEK RAMAN: No.

MR. ELAD ROISMAN: I’m not here to talk about –

REP. PRESSLEY: Let me just – let me say the question again, sir. Again, there’s no gotcha here. This is very straightforward. 

MR. ELAD ROISMAN: Okay.

REP. PRESSLEY: Should companies be able to bribe the President of the United States to make SEC lawsuits go away? Yes or no? 

MR. ELAD ROISMAN: I don’t think anyone should bribe anyone to make lawsuits go away. 

REP. PRESSLEY: Yes or no? 

MR. ELAD ROISMAN: That’s my answer, ma’am.

REP. PRESSLEY: Yes or no? 

MR. ELAD ROISMAN: I think I just answered it.

REP. PRESSLEY: Under Trump, the SEC isn’t protecting anyone. It’s not regulating. Its cases are being dictated by whoever is paying the president tens of millions of dollars’ worth of crypto bribes.

And who pays the price? It’s not the billionaires or the foreign actors cutting deals behind closed doors. It’s the average Americans who use crypto for legitimate reasons, like remittances, who are left unprotected in a rigged system. 

And to be clear, these crypto scams are not simply about Trump and his billionaire friends making money. 

It’s even worse than that. 

It’s about them stealing money from everyone else. 

If this isn’t the definition of corruption, then what is?

I yield back.

###

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lois Frankel (FL-21)

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Lois Frankel (FL-22) issued the following statement in response to President Trump’s proposal to drastically slash international affairs funding—endangering Americans’ safety, economic security, and global standing:

“President Trump’s extreme plan to gut diplomacy and foreign assistance isn’t fiscal responsibility—it’s reckless and short-sighted. It will raise costs for American families, fuel global instability, and weaken our leadership in the world. Foreign assistance—less than one percent of our federal budget—prevents deadly diseases from reaching our shores, creates markets for American businesses, and helps keep our troops out of costly conflicts by addressing the root causes of violence and extremism. Meanwhile, China and other adversaries are ready to step in and fill the void we would leave behind.

Instead of rubber-stamping these dangerous cuts, Congress must work in a bipartisan, responsible way to pass a budget that reflects our values, protects our national interests, and strengthens our global leadership,”  said Rep. Frankel.

Rep. Frankel is a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee and serves as Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs, which oversees funding for the State Department and foreign assistance.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (7th District of Washington)

WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Immigration, Integrity, Security, and Enforcement, is leading dozens of  Members of Congress in demanding information from Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem regarding the kidnapping and disappearances of immigrants with no due process who have been removed to third countries including Panama, Costa Rica, South Sudan, and Libya.

“While we can all agree that the immigration system is badly outdated and in need of comprehensive reforms from Congress, it is not an appropriate solution to simply ignore the Constitutionally-protected right to due process, the laws that currently exist, and judges’ orders,” wrote the Members. “We have laws and procedures in place to remove people from this country. The administration cannot willfully ignore those laws and send people to third countries, in some cases, countries suffering from humanitarian disasters and armed conflict.”

In its efforts to quickly deport immigrants, regardless of legal status, criminal record, or any national security threat, the administration has been removing individuals with protection claims to countries they did not come from. The administration sent hundreds of non-Panamanian migrants and asylum seekers to Panama, including Artemis Ghasemzadeh, an Iranian national who secretly converted to Christianity, a crime punishable by death in Iran.

All persons in the United States are entitled to due process under the law, regardless of immigration status. These deportations have subverted that process and put people in potentially life-threatening situations.

You can read the full letter here. 

The letter was signed by Becca Balint (VT-At Large), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Julia Brownley (CA-26), André Carson (IN-07), Greg Casar (TX-35), Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Danny K. Davis (IL-07), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), Dwight Evans (PA-03), John Garamendi (CA-08), Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Glenn Ivey (MD-04), Sara Jacobs (CA-51), Henry C. “Hank” Johnson, Jr. (GA-04), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), Betty McCollum (MN-04), James P. McGovern (MA-02), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), Adam Smith (WA-09), Mike Thompson (CA-04), Dina Titus (NV-01), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Jill Tokuda (HI-02), Paul Tonko (NY-20), Juan Vargas (CA-52), Nydia M. Velázquez (NY-07), and Nikema Williams (GA-05). 

Issues: Civil Rights, Immigration