Rep. Judy Chu Condemns Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s Announcement to “Aggressively” Revoke Visas for Chinese Students

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Judy Chu (CA2-27)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28), the first Chinese American woman elected to Congress and Chair Emerita of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), issued the following statement in response to remarks by Secretary of State Marco Rubio that the United States will “aggressively” revoke visas for Chinese students:

“One of our country’s greatest assets is that we attract the most talented people from around the world to come to the U.S. to study and conduct research in groundbreaking fields. But by broadly revoking visas for Chinese students, the Trump Administration has yet again demonstrated they don’t value a free, democratic, and open society. Instead, they are undermining these very principles and removing students from our country simply because of their national origin. This will not make America stronger or more secure. In fact, the biggest beneficiary of this shortsighted decision is the Chinese government, which will now benefit from their most talented individuals staying in China instead of coming here and contributing to our country. This is just another example of the Trump administration targeting Chinese people instead of the Chinese government, unjustly assuming that every Chinese person is automatically a pawn for the Chinese Communist Party. The Trump administration’s xenophobic decision is reminiscent of the Chinese Exclusion Act and will only make the U.S. weaker.”

Rep. Judy Chu Hosts Wildfire Housing Roundtable and Press Conference

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Judy Chu (CA2-27)

ALTADENA, CA– Yesterday, Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28) hosted a wildfire recovery housing roundtable and press conference to address the housing needs of survivors displaced by January’s devastating Eaton Fire. The roundtable brought together local nonprofits, housing advocates, and government officials from every level to discuss obstacles her constituents are facing in finding stable, affordable housing in their own communities.

“In the aftermath of the Eaton Fire, which displaced over 20,000 residents and destroyed thousands of homes, it’s clear that housing is the biggest barrier to recovery,” said Rep. Chu. “FEMA has provided $40 million in Housing Assistance, which has been critical in helping survivors find long-term housing. But there are still survivors who are slipping through the cracks, with many still struggling to secure stable housing in their own communities.”

Rep. Chu emphasized that FEMA must explore all available options for providing disaster housing assistance, including its Direct Lease program that provides housing directly to survivors. And she continues to urge the Administration to request $40 billion in supplemental disaster assistance needed to support long-term recovery efforts.

The event provided a platform for community advocates and nonprofit leaders to share their experiences. Organizations in attendance included:

  • Altadena Rising
  • Altadena Town Council
  • Beacon Housing
  • Civic Soul
  • Clergy Community Coalition
  • Change Reaction
  • Community Women Vital Voices
  • CORE
  • Day One
  • Friends In Deed
  • Greenline Housing
  • Habitat for Humanity
  • My Tribe Rise
  • NAACP Pasadena
  • Neighborhood Housing Services

“These organizations are on the frontlines supporting displaced families and advocating for the resources our community desperately needs,” said Rep. Chu. “I’m deeply grateful for their work, and for sharing their findings with government leaders so we can ensure  no one is left behind.”

Government agencies participating in the roundtable included:

  • FEMA
  • CalOES
  • U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
  • California Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency (BCHS)
  • Los Angeles County Development Authority (LACDA)

The roundtable and press conference were part of Rep. Chu’s continued commitment to ensure all Eaton Fire survivors receive the support they need to recover, rebuild, and return home.

Read more about the roundtable here:

Rep. Judy Chu Votes No on Trump and Republicans’ Disastrous Health Care Cuts and Tax Giveaway

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Judy Chu (CA2-27)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – After an overnight debate that Republicans sought to hide from the American public, the House of Representatives voted 215-214-1 to advance H.R. 1, the One Big Ugly Bill. Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28), a member of both the Ways and Means Committee and Budget Committee, voted no on this bill and issued the following statement: 

“This is a shameful and cruel bill that House Republicans have spent the last week desperately trying to hide from the American people through midnight markups and votes. 

“They could not bring this bill up in the light of day because they know it will kick 14 million Americans off of Medicaid and ACA health plans; effectively end abortion coverage on ACA marketplace plans; threaten the SNAP food assistance of nearly 11 million people; reduce or eliminate Pell Grants for more than 4 million students; and take away the Child Tax Credit from millions of American children simply because one of their parents is not a citizen,” said Rep. Chu. 

“They know it will add as much as $5 trillion to the federal debt over the next ten years, an amount so high that the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has confirmed it would lead to nearly $500 billion in automatic cuts to Medicare benefits. And by gutting the energy tax credits that Democrats created under the Inflation Reduction Act, it will immediately raise families’ energy prices and crush American manufacturing. 

“And this bill wreaks all of this havoc for one reason: to give massive, permanent tax cuts to the ultra-wealthy. This is a reverse robin hood scheme that the CBO found is so unfair that it would actually make the poorest 10% of Americans even poorer while making the richest 10% even richer. So while Donald Trump and his billionaire donors will stuff their wallets, it’s my constituents who will be stuck paying the bill.” 

Reps. Judy Chu, Brad Sherman host Congressional Roundtable on Fire Recovery with Los Angeles County Leaders

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Judy Chu (CA2-27)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28) and Rep. Brad Sherman (CA-32) hosted a roundtable with California Members of Congress and Los Angeles County officials to discuss ongoing recovery efforts following January’s devastating Palisades and Eaton Fires. Together, these fires scorched more than 37,000 acres, destroyed over 13,000 homes, displaced tens of thousands of residents, and claimed 30 lives.

The discussion offered an opportunity for the Members to hear directly from Los Angeles County leaders, including Supervisor Kathryn Barger, Chair of the Board and Supervisor for Altadena and Pasadena, about the ongoing challenges facing fire-impacted communities and the work being done to ensure communities can rebuild swiftly and safely. During the roundtable, Members and LA County officials discussed the status of ongoing debris removal and mitigation, soil testing and remediation, utility restoration, social and medical services, and housing solutions for disaster victims.

After the roundtable, Rep. Chu and Rep. Sherman released the following joint statement: 

“In response to the many challenges our communities face following the Los Angeles fires, we were grateful to host today’s roundtable to discuss solutions with LA County officials leading recovery efforts on the ground and advocate for the urgent support our communities need to rebuild.”

The Members also emphasized the need to protect the federal agencies carrying out disaster recovery operations for their communities from the Trump administration’s mass layoffs of federal workers, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Small Business Administration, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and AmeriCorps . Lastly, the Members emphasized their commitment to securing additional federal disaster funding in Congress so that California disaster victims have the resources they need to rebuild their homes, businesses, and communities — just as Congress has done after every other major disaster across the country.

 Rep. Chu and Rep. Sherman concluded: “We have both consistently voted for disaster aid to Republican-led states regardless of whether we strongly disagreed with their policies, because disasters have no political affiliation. Our constituents have demonstrated so much strength and resolve throughout the course of this catastrophe, and they urgently need and deserve additional federal resources to rebuild their lives. Disaster relief is not and should never be a partisan issue, and we will continue to work with Congressional leadership and President Trump to deliver relief to our communities.

Far too many families are still living in uncertainty as we work to rebuild after the fires. We are committed to working alongside our local partners to deliver every possible resource to help our communities recover.”

Congressman Bennie G. Thompson Statement on Republicans Jamming Their GOP Tax Scam Through the House

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Bennie G Thompson (D-MS)

Washington, D.C. – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) voted against House Republicans’ Reconciliation Bill (H.R. 1).  The legislation includes drastic cuts to Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and other basic benefits, to pay for tax cuts for the rich and wealthy. 

Congressman Thompson releases the following statement:

“Since my first day in Congress, I have been clear that I will never vote for any cuts to Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, or any programs that benefit my constituents.  Today, I proudly voted against House Republicans’ “Big Ugly Bill.”

“This horrific bill is one of the most shameful pieces of legislation I have ever seen in over 32 years of serving in Congress. Mississippians will suffer.  The bill would take health care away from nearly 14 million people due to its harmful cuts to health care and nutrition assistance, which will cause tens of thousands of Mississippians to lose their benefits if this bill passes through the Senate and becomes law. 

“It is disgraceful what Republicans have done today.  Instead of helping people, they are making it harder for everyday people to make ends meet. They have continuously shown that they do not care about the poor and underserved.  I can only hope that today, the American people realized the hidden cruelty and deception woven into the bill by Republicans.”

SNAP CUTS

According to the USDA, 54,481 households in the Second Congressional District of Mississippi participate in SNAP.  African Americans have the highest rate (13,838 households or 25.4%) of SNAP participation in the District.  

HEALTH CARE CUTS

According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, nearly 14 million Americans will lose health care coverage due to this bill. These cuts to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act will cause more than 664,000 Mississippi residents to lose health care coverage.  This includes 35,337 residents in the Second Congressional District.

Wagner Applauds Financial Services Committee Passage of 19-Bill Pro-Growth Agenda

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO-02)

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO), Chair of the Financial Services Subcommittee on Capital Markets, released the following statement on this week’s Financial Services Committee markup:

“As Chairman of the Capital Markets Subcommittee, I am beyond proud of the 19-bill agenda advanced yesterday, on a bipartisan basis, through the Financial Services Committee. This strong, pro-growth package of legislation is the result of countless months of collaboration, negotiation, and refinement that will cut out unnecessary bureaucratic red tape, expand access for retail investors, and bolster the financial future of all Americans. Strong and sustainable capital formation is the heart of a growing and prosperous economy. I look forward to ushering all 19 of these bills to the floor of the House, and continuing my Subcommittee’s record of delivering substantive results for constituents in Missouri and across the nation.”

Read more on the 19 bills here.

Major Disaster Declarations Approved for Missouri

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO-02)

Ballwin, MO – Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO) released the following statement after President Donald Trump granted two Major Disaster Declarations for Missouri that cover the storms from March 14-15 and March 30-April 8:

“Our communities have been severely impacted by dangerous weather events, and we have seen a tragic loss of life here in Missouri. These Major Disaster Declarations are good news for Missourians who need help recovering and rebuilding, and I thank President Trump for acknowledging our deep losses and ensuring our state gets the help we need. I have been working with local officials and people on the ground to provide as much assistance as we can, and if anyone in MO-02 needs help from the federal government, you can call my Ballwin office at 636-779-5449 or go to Wagner.House.Gov.  I also joined my colleagues in the Missouri delegation this week, led by Rep. Wesley Bell, in preparing to support Governor Kehoe’s request for further federal assistance for the tornado that just hit St. Louis, and I continue to pray for those who lost their lives and those in need.”

Public Assistance Approval for MO-02 for March 14-15 storms:

Franklin County

Individual Assistance Approvals for MO-02 for March 14-15 storms:

Franklin County
St. Louis County

Missouri has recently been impacted by four series of major weather events.  The first two declarations were approved by President Trump today.  The third, covering the April 29th storms, was submitted by Governor Kehoe this week and is currently under review by the Administration.  The tornado that struck areas of St. Louis on May 16th is under review by FEMA officials on site as we speak, and once their review is complete, the Governor will submit a new request to the Administration for federal support.  As she has for each of the three previous storms, Wagner will sign a congressional letter of support, led by Rep. Wesley Bell, for the forthcoming gubernatorial disaster request covering the May 16th tornado.

Individuals in Franklin and St. Louis Counties can apply for assistance with FEMA the following ways:

1.         Apply online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov. 

2.         Call the FEMA phone number at 1-800-621-3362.

Wagner, Missouri Colleagues Support Disaster Declaration Request for Recent St. Louis-Area Tornado

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO-02)

Ballwin, MO – Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO) today joined her Missouri colleagues in supporting Governor Mike Kehoe’s request for federal support to aid disaster recovery from the May 16th tornado.

“Missourians are still recovering from the recent tornado, and our communities are in desperate need of federal assistance.  I fully support Governor Kehoe’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration that would unlock that vital aid, and I will continue to work with my colleagues in the federal government and our state and local officials to ensure those working to rebuild have everything they need.  I have seen this damage on the ground firsthand and talked with many victims of this tragedy, and I will keep working to help them however I can.”

Read the full support letter here.

You can read about Rep. Wagner’s past support for Missourians’ access to federal disaster assistance here.

Cole, Davids Announce Congressional Native American Caucus Vice Chairs for the 119th Congress

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | CONTACTOlivia Porcaro Zac Donley

Washington, D.C. – Today, Co-Chairs of the Congressional Native American Caucus, Congressman Tom Cole (R-OK) and Congresswoman Sharice Davids (D-KS), announced the new Vice Chairs of the Caucus. Congressman Nick Begich (R-AK) will serve as the Republican Vice Chair and Congresswoman Melanie Stansbury (D-NM) will serve as the Democrat Vice Chair.

After selecting the Vice Chairs, the Representatives released the following statements:

“I am excited to welcome Representatives Begich and Stansbury to the leadership team of the Congressional Native American Caucus. With their help, Congresswoman Davids and I will be able to better educate and inform Members of Congress on the unique issues concerning Native Americans and the constitutional rights of tribes. I look forward to all working together on this vital mission, which will improve the lives of tribes across the country” said Congressman Cole.

“It’s an important moment for the bipartisan Congressional Native American Caucus as we welcome Representatives Melanie Stansbury and Nick Begich as new Vice Chairs. Their dedication to Tribal communities and commitment to bipartisan collaboration will help us continue advancing policies that respect Tribal sovereignty and improve the lives of Native people across the country,” said Congresswoman Davids.

“I am honored to be selected as a Co-Vice Chair of the Native American Caucus. Representing Alaska – home to over 200 federally recognized Tribes – I recognize the importance of advocating for the voices of Alaska Natives in Congress and many of the challenges tribal communities face. I look forward to working closely with my colleagues to advance lasting solutions that reinforce self-determination and well-being for Native Americans across the nation,” said Congressman Begich.

“I am honored and humbled to have the opportunity to serve as Vice Chair for the Native American Caucus. It is our duty to ensure that the United States partners with and upholds its trust and treaty responsibilities to Tribal Nations. This bipartisan caucus is integral to that work and the fight to protect and strengthen partnerships with Indigenous communities across the country. I look forward to continuing to do this work in the 119th Congress,” said Congresswoman Stansbury.

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Cole Secures Funding for Historic Areas Affected by Natural Disasters

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | CONTACTOlivia Porcaro 202-225-6165

Washington, D.C. – Through his legislation, The American Relief Act, Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04) secured $50 million in competitive grant funding for the Historic Preservation Fund. This funding will allow areas, such as Historic Downtown Sulphur Commercial District, to be able to reconstruct and rehabilitate resources that were damaged or destroyed by natural disasters occurring in 2023 and/or 2024. After securing the funding, Congressman Cole released the following statement:

“As a lifelong Oklahoman, I know just how much devastation and destruction natural disasters, like tornadoes, can cause. This past Spring, multiple tornadoes devastated parts of my district, including the Town of Sulphur and its Historic Downtown Commercial District. Therefore, today, I am proud to announce that $50 million secured in my legislation is now available to apply for to help rebuild and support the local downtowns, businesses, and historic areas that have been crushed,” said Congressman Cole. “As the representative for the Fourth District of Oklahoma, I will always ensure that I am fighting for my local communities, and I look forward to seeing this funding be put to good use.”

How to apply for assistance:

Entities will be able to apply for two types of funding needs – preservation and capacity.

PRESERVATION:

For this grant, eligible applicants are state governments, city of town governments, county governments, Native American tribes, certain nonprofits, special district governments, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, independent school districts, Native American tribal organizations, and private institutions of higher education. The funding can be used for construction and rebuilding efforts of Historic Preservation Funding sites that have incurred damage in a natural disaster in 2023 and/or in 2024.

To apply for the emergency supplemental historic preservation fund for preservation needs, click here. The application period is now open and will close on July 15, 2025.

CAPACITY:

For this grant, eligible applicants are nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status, Native American tribes, and state governments. This funding can be used for capacity building, completing compliance requirements, survey, planning, and design.

To apply for the emergency supplemental historic preservation fund for capacity needs, click here. The application is now open and will close on June 12, 2025.

Please stay tuned for future announcements as additional disaster assistance is released and available to Oklahomans.

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