MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Darren Soto (D-FL)

The Protect Patriot Spouses Act would help military families of mixed immigration statuses remain together in the United States

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon(PA-5)

Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05) and Rep. Kweisi Mfume (MD-07) today led 43 House colleagues in condemning the diversion of U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) resources to assist aggressive deportation efforts by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

The USPIS is the federal law enforcement arm of the USPS, tasked with supporting and protecting the USPS, its employees, infrastructure, and customers by enforcing the laws that defend the United States’ mail system from illegal or dangerous use. The USPIS’ core functions include fighting mail fraud, assaults on postal workers, and the use of the mail system for drug distribution. Reallocation of USPIS’ time and resources to supplement DHS’s operations will severely impact the primary responsibilities of the USPIS.

The USPIS came to the public’s attention during the first Trump administration when it arrested Trump advisor Steve Bannon for mail fraud. A few months later, that administration restricted USPIS’ law enforcement powers. 

“In recent years, chronic underfunding and politicization of USPS functions have seriously restricted the activities of the Inspection Service. The USPIS has cut back on staff and jurisdiction, even as crime against mail carriers is on the rise – having the USPIS take on additional tasks at this time drastically limits their ability to protect their own employees,” the members wrote.

“Using the U.S. Postal Service requires people to share address data, credit card numbers, IP addresses, and other critical financial information that could result in real harm if made public. Millions of Americans depend on the reliability and privacy of the USPS to receive personal items such as tax documents, medication, and mail-in ballots. It is deeply concerning that immigration enforcement agencies have access to the USPS’s sensitive data systems, and the use of the USPS to facilitate deportations raises serious constitutional and civil liberties concerns. The U.S. Postal Service should not be operating as a surveillance arm of federal immigration enforcement,” the members continued.

Amidst ongoing threats to disband the USPS Board of Governors, fire thousands of USPS employees, and fold the USPS into the Department of Commerce, this reportedly placed pressure on the Inspection Service to abandon its primary responsibilities in favor of assisting the administration’s mass deportation agenda. Despite their objections, the Inspection Service is being forced to participate in order to avoid the same fate as other critical agencies, such as the Department of Education or the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

“As Members of Congress, we demand that you terminate any general access by the Department of Homeland Security or any immigration enforcement agency to USPS’s broad data systems. We also ask for a commitment from your administration to refrain from any further actions to undermine the Postal Service’s critical role as an independent, depoliticized agency of the federal government. We appreciate your attention to this matter and look forward to your swift response,” the members concluded.

Find the full letter here.

###

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon(PA-5)

Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, today joined Reps. Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Ranking Member of the Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee, Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Ranking Member of the Oversight Subcommittee, Jerrold Nadler (NY-10), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on the Administrative State, Regulatory Reform, Hank Johnson (GA-04), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, Artificial Intelligence, and the Internet, and Lucy McBath (GA-07), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Crime and Federal Government Surveillance, in releasing the following statement in response to Justice’s (DOJ) unfounded targeting of Representative LaMonica McIver (NJ-10):

“The targeting of Representative McIver is a blatant attempt to intimidate Members of Congress and to block our oversight of this administration’s actions, which have been enjoined more than 150 times by federal courts. We stand by Representative McIver’s exercise of her constitutional rights and duties. If you come for the legal rights of one of us, you come for the rights of all of us. 

“Members of Congress have the right to conduct oversight, full stop — whether that’s holding Cabinet officials accountable or visiting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities. Representative McIver was performing her proper oversight role, a role she was elected by the American people to do — and even participated in a one-hour tour after the incident occurred. 

“Charging Members of Congress for doing our jobs is a dangerous precedent to set. It reveals the increasingly authoritarian nature of this Administration and its relentless, illegal attempts to suppress any dissent or oversight, including from judges, Members of Congress, and the American people, which check lawless executive power. Representative McIver has our full support, and we will do everything in our power to help fight this outrageous threat to our constitutional system.”

Background:

Section 527 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 (Public Law 118-47) explicitly states that the Department of Homeland Security cannot prevent Members of Congress from “entering, for the purpose of conducting oversight, any facility operated by or for the Department of Homeland Security used to detain or otherwise house aliens […]. The law goes on to state that “Nothing in this section may be construed to require a Member of Congress to provide prior notice of the intent to enter a facility […] for the purpose of conducting oversight.”

###

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon(PA-5)

Washington, D.C.— Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on the Constitution, today joined Reps. Jamie Raskin, Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee and Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement, in leading Judiciary Committee Democrats to demand that the Department of Justice (DOJ) and White House Counsel’s Office provide legal memoranda that reportedly blessed Donald Trump’s efforts to flout the clear text of the Constitution’s Foreign Emoluments Clause in order to justify his accepting a luxury private jet from the State of Qatar without seeking the consent of Congress.

“President Trump is reportedly relying on memos that you authored, at his request, to accept a $400 million airplane from the State of Qatar—described in media reports as a ‘flying palace’ and ‘the most luxurious private jet in the world’—without obtaining, or even seeking, Congress’s consent. Any legal memo purporting to make such a claim would obviously fly in the face of the text of the Constitution’s Foreign Emoluments Clause, which explicitly prohibits the President from accepting any ‘present [or] Emolument . . . of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State’ unless he has ‘the Consent of Congress.’ Accordingly, we are writing to request that you provide the Committee on the Judiciary with these memos immediately as their analysis and conclusions are apparently the basis for the President’s decision to disregard the plain text of the Constitution,” wrote the members.

On May 11, an ABC News report revealed President Trump’s plans to accept a $400 million private jet from the Qatari Royal Family to use as Air Force One—a lavish and unconstitutional gift which he intends to transfer to his personal presidential library foundation at the conclusion of his term.

Reports indicate that the DOJ and White House Counsel’s Office are aiding Trump’s efforts to paper over this clear Constitutional violation and reportedly drafted an analysis for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth arguing that it is legal for the Department of Defense to accept the aircraft as a gift and later turn it over to Trump’s presidential library.

The Constitution is clear that Congress—not the Attorney General or the White House Counsel—has the exclusive authority to approve or reject a gift “of any kind whatever” given to the President by a foreign government.

Attorney General Pam Bondi’s involvement in this matter is particularly egregious given her clear conflict of interest. Bondi was previously a registered foreign agent of the Qatari government, earning $115,000 per month to lobby on its behalf.

Trump’s acceptance of this unprecedented and unconstitutional gift has sparked bipartisan criticism and outrage, with even Republican Members of Congress and conservative media raising concerns about national security risks and the appearance of corruption. Additionally, this allegedly “free plane” likely will cost taxpayers billions of dollars to overhaul to meet “all the survivability, security and communications requirements of Air Force One.”

Judiciary Democrats requested that Attorney General Bondi and White House Counsel David Warrington provide all documents and communications related to or purporting to justify or provide legal analysis regarding the constitutionality of the President’s acceptance of the Qatari plane; all documents and communications related to an agreement between the State of Qatar and the United States regarding the transfer of the plane; and all documents related to whether Attorney General Bondi should recuse herself in matters related to emoluments from Qatar.

The letter comes after Judiciary Democrats filed a Resolution demanding Trump comply with the Constitutional rules on foreign gifts by seeking the consent of Congress before accepting the Qatari plane.

Find the full letter here.

###

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon(PA-5)

Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05) today released the following statement:

“This weekend was marked by two extraordinary statements from the Trump White House – statements which, in any other presidential administration, would have generated immediate condemnation and dismissals.

“On Friday, White House Senior Advisor Stephen Miller announced that the Trump administration, including the President, was considering suspending habeas corpus – the fundamental constitutional right to have a court determine whether or not someone is being held illegally. The Constitution’s Suspension Clause, the second clause of Section 9 of Article I, specifically states that habeas corpus cannot be suspended, except when an invasion or rebellion endangers public safety. In fact, it has only been invoked four times in the history of our nation, twice during the Civil War, and it is a power that belongs to Congress, not the President. 

“As justification for the suspension of habeas corpus, Mr. Miller cited the administration’s string of losses in the courts, threatening that the administration might suspend habeas corpus depending on “whether the courts do the right thing or not.”

“Although this White House has repeatedly cited non-existent national emergencies to justify its illegal and unconstitutional actions, the suspension of habeas corpus would be a direct assault upon one of the founding principles of our Constitution.

“In addition, on Saturday, ICE agents physically accosted three members of Congress who were conducting lawful oversight at a privately-run Newark detention facility. The mayor of Newark was arrested outside the facility, and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) subsequently announced that it was considering arresting the members of Congress. 

“During the first Trump administration, Congress was forced to pass a law requiring ICE to admit members of Congress for unannounced inspection visits after ICE denied such visits. The members present for Saturday’s visit had waited several hours before armed and masked ICE agents provoked the confrontation with the mayor and arrested him. 

“Of course, these actions come in the wake of other White House attempts to subvert the rule of law and constitutional boundaries, including deporting individuals with no due process and efforts to intimidate courts by, among other things, threatening to impeach judges with whose decisions they disagree and arresting a Wisconsin state judge who challenged ICE’s authority to arrest someone without a judicial warrant.  

“These assaults upon the rule of law – the underpinning of our nation which ensures that all in this country are treated fairly and equally, and that the government is not allowed to act arbitrarily – are part of a growing body of action by the second Trump administration.

“As this administration continues to undertake mass deportations without due process, it is absolutely critical for all Americans to understand that without due process, no one is safe from being falsely accused of being a noncitizen, a criminal, or a threat to national security, and being detained or wrongfully deported to a foreign prison. And in fact, we have seen all three of these scenarios occur already.

“We are at a critical inflection point. Regardless of whether one favors the goals of this administration, the tactics it is using constitute a clear and present danger to the constitutional protections for every American. 

“Congress could put an end to these illegal activities immediately through legislation. This would require some Republicans to put their duty to the Constitution and country over their fear of retaliation by the administration. 

“While Democrats are clear-eyed about the danger presented by this administration’s actions, until a majority of Congress is willing to act, we must rely upon the courts and the community.

“The courts have, by and large, stayed or rejected the White House’s illegal power grabs as they have been challenged in court.

“Americans must continue to reject clear and present dangers to their freedoms as well – at the ballot box, in their outreach to their elected representatives, and in their refusal to stay silent.”

###

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon(PA-5)

Chester, PA – Congresswoman Scanlon (PA-05) today announced the winners of the 2025 Congressional Art Competition following a reception on Sunday, April 27 to honor PA-05 high school art students. 

Photos from this event are available here for media use.

The Congressional Art Competition is an annual art competition open to students in grades 9 to 12 who reside in Pennsylvania’s 5th Congressional District. Participating students are offered the opportunity to showcase their talent by submitting original artwork for a district-wide competition. The winning artwork hangs in the U.S. Capitol complex for a full year.

“Art is a powerful platform for self-expression and can be a moving source of hope and inspiration,” said Rep. Scanlon. “It reflects our personal, cultural and social perspectives as well as its impact on our well-being. This is why each year I look forward to having this opportunity to view our community through the eyes of our student constituents.”

A team of volunteer judges comprised of local artists and art educators scored submissions for originality, craftsmanship, use of elements of art, and use of principles of design in 9 categories: painting, black and white drawings, color drawings, collages, printmaking, mixed media, computer-generated art, black and white photography, and color photography.

This year’s best in show was awarded to Jayasri Prasad from Garnet Valley High School for her black and white drawing titled “Air Dry”.

Additional category winners are as follows:

Painting:

• First place: Ziman Zou, Strath Haven High School
• Second place (tie): Coco Conner, Radnor High School and Devon Ferkler, Springfield High School
• Third place (tie): Eva Kahlert, Upper Darby High School and Ava Emery, Garnet Valley High School

Drawings, Black and White:

• First place: Jayasri Prasad, Garnet Valley High School
• Second place (tie): Dayton German, Sun Valley High School and Carolin Chen, Springfield High School
• Third place: Chloe Lau, Radnor High School

Drawings, Color:

• First place: Juliana Dreyer, Garnet Valley High School
• Second place: Cindy Yang, Radnor High School
• Third place: Abigail Kotch, Garnet Valley High School

Collages:

• First place: Aashritha Sama, Garnet Valley High School
• Second place: Grant Wessel, Sun Valley High School
• Third place: Zakiyah Sanyeneh, Sun Valley High School

Prints:

• First place: Theo Tempesta, Garnet Valley High School
• Second place: Amvi Vyas, Garnet Valley High School
• Third: Ella Barry, Garnet Valley High School

Mixed Media:

• First place: Madeson Gilbert, Springfield High School
• Second place: Ella DiBonaventura, Strath Haven High School
• Third place: MacKenzie Cameron, Springfield High School

Computer Generated Art:

• First place: Evan Brooks, Garnet Valley High School
• Second place: Sarah Bagonis, Strath Haven High School
• Third place: Mira Caplan, Radnor High School

Color Photography:

• First place: Laila Roe, Strath Haven High School
• Second place (tie): Ming Cerdan, Strath Haven High School and Mikayla Leary, Sun Valley High School
• Third Place: Emma Ross, Strath Haven High School

Black and White Photography:

• First place: Alyssa Iorio, Springfield High School
• Second place: Dalina Thach, Sun Valley High School
• Third place (tie): Orli Schoff, Strath Haven High School; Nolan Spivey, Springfield High School; and Isaac “Cheetah” Lothrop, Strath Haven High School

###

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ralph Norman (SC-05)

Washington, D.C. – On Thursday, Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC) issued the following statement after the House of Representatives passed President Trump’s One Big, Beautiful Bill Act with a vote of 215-214-1.

Statement:

“The House just secured BIG WINS for taxpayers in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” said Rep. Norman on Thursday. “This bill, while not perfect, secured the following wins for the American people:

A. Tax cuts for all American families are made permanent

B. Border security funding to enable the deportation of illegals

C. No tax on tips & overtime

D. Prohibits funds for transgender treatments

E. Protects life by restricting Medicaid funds for Planned Parenthood

Now let me be clear — I didn’t just cast a vote. I worked my tail off during this process to make this bill better for the American taxpayer. I fought tooth and nail to include key changes that were non-negotiable for me:

1. Work requirements for Medicaid recipients were moved up from 2029 to 2026

2. Biden’s Green New Scam tax credits for wind and solar repealed faster

Leadership isn’t about making the perfect the enemy of the good, but it’s about moving the ball forward without selling out your principles. My vote was about securing the wins we’ve fought for and continuing to move forward in the fight to rein in Washington’s cancerous spending.

South Carolinians expect results, and this bill is a step toward restoring trust, accountability, and common sense in government. The American people sent us here to stop reckless spending, and today we delivered.“

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ralph Norman (SC-05)

Washington, D.C. – On Tuesday, Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC) reintroduced H.R. 3377 to authorize the President to award the Medal of Honor to Major James Capers, Jr., a retired United States Marine and decorated combat veteran whose record of valor and sacrifice has inspired generations of servicemembers.

Rep. Norman has introduced legislation to award Major James Capers, Jr., the Medal of Honor during the 117th and 118th Congresses.

Background

The Medal of Honor is awarded to a military service member who: “distinguishes himself conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty

1) While engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States;

2) While engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or

3) While serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party.”

Major James Capers, Jr., born in Lee County, South Carolina, exemplified actions above and beyond the call of duty, more than meeting the requirements for a Medal of Honor when he led his team of nine out of an ambush where they were outnumbered 3:1 during the Vietnam War.

Thanks to the selfless sacrifice by Major Capers, all nine members of the team were brought to safety and survived the attack, though all members of the team, including Major Capers, were injured.

During his career, Major Capers and his team conducted over 50 classified missions in Vietnam, amphibious assaults, covert missions to rescue POWs, and a recovery mission for a downed B-57 bomber, while enduring countless injuries, including a broken leg.

Major Capers was previously nominated for the Medal of Honor, but due to administrative shortcomings and delays, he never received the recognition he earned in combat. Despite receiving the Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and many other commendations, the full measure of his heroism remains unjustly overlooked.

Rep. Norman remains committed to ensuring H.R. 3377 is passed to authorize the presentation of the Medal of Honor, correcting a decades-old oversight.

Statement

“Mr. James Capers, Jr. isn’t just a hero, he’s a living legend in every sense of the word,” said Rep. Norman in a statement on Tuesday. “His courage in Vietnam, his humility throughout life, and his unwavering devotion to this country are second to none. It’s an honor to reintroduce this bill, because a man like Major Capers deserves nothing less than the Medal of Honor.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ralph Norman (SC-05)

Washington, D.C. – Yesterday, Rep. Ralph Norman (SC-05) joined Rep. Chip Roy (TX-21) and 20 other House Republicans in sending a letter to their colleagues urging structural Medicaid reform to be included in the upcoming budget reconciliation package.

Background

Originally designed as a safety-net program for low-income children, pregnant women, seniors, and individuals with disabilities, Medicaid has drifted far from its 1965 mission. In recent years, structural flaws, a lack of eligibility enforcement, and continuous financial schemes have led to skyrocketing costs and inefficient spending.

The Congressional Budget Office now projects that from 2025 to 2034, Medicaid spending will be $1.2 trillion higher than forecasted in 2021. Much of this increase is not the result of improved care. Instead, it stems from flawed policies, including the Affordable Care Act’s expansion model, which rewards states with a 90% federal match for able-bodied, working-age adults, compared to just 60% for the truly vulnerable.

Improper payments have exceeded $1.1 trillion over the past decade, with many states exploiting loopholes such as provider taxes and intergovernmental transfers to artificially inflate federal contributions. Meanwhile, Medicaid now serves more individuals above the poverty line than below it. In California, federal funds have been used to expand coverage to illegal immigrants and eliminate asset tests, allowing even wealthy residents to qualify for taxpayer-funded care.

The letter outlines three guiding principles: prioritize the truly vulnerable, end the use of financial gimmicks, and strengthen state accountability. Without action, Medicaid will continue to drain federal resources, increase healthcare costs nationwide, and push the program further from its original intent.

Statement

“Medicaid was never meant to be a bottomless well of taxpayer money,” said Rep. Norman on Thursday. “It was created to help the most vulnerable, not to reward states for gaming the system or to cover able-bodied adults who can and should work. We’ve got to stop enabling waste and start restoring accountability. This reform is about protecting both patients and taxpayers, and I’m proud to support it.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ralph Norman (SC-05)

Washington, D.C. – On Thursday, Rep. Ralph Norman (SC-05) wrote a letter to the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Director William Pulte, applauding the agency’s referral of New York Attorney General Letitia James for criminal prosecution related to her alleged involvement in mortgage fraud.

The letter also urges that the FHFA provide legislative recommendations to Congress on how to better combat fraud in the housing finance system, strengthen transparency, and restore public trust.

Background

FHFA referred Attorney General Letitia James for criminal prosecution following a broader initiative to root out corruption and fraud in government-backed mortgage lending. Reports indicate that Attorney General James may have repeatedly misrepresented her state of residence to fraudulently qualify for mortgage benefits reserved for owner-occupants under federally backed loan programs. Evidence suggests a pattern of misrepresentation that spans multiple states and applications. Director Pulte has vowed to work with lawmakers to prevent further abuses and ensure the housing system works for honest Americans, not political elites.

Rep. Norman’s letter called for a comprehensive FHFA-led review of the proposed actions:

• Stronger identity and occupancy verification for government-backed loans;
• Real-time data sharing between FHFA, HUD, federal law enforcement, and state attorneys general;
• Stricter penalties and automatic disqualification from public office for government officials found guilty of mortgage fraud;
• Strengthening the role of the FHFA Inspector General;
• Creation of a public mortgage fraud offender registry; and,
• Improved systems to recall fraudulently obtained loans.

The letter highlights the serious consequences of mortgage fraud, particularly when committed by elected officials entrusted with enforcing the law. Misconduct of this nature not only distorts underwriting practices and drives up housing costs but also undermines the integrity of taxpayer-funded programs. Rep. Norman reinforces his support for FHFA’s ongoing efforts and urges the agency to recommend legislative reforms that can be incorporated into upcoming financial oversight and housing reform packages.

Statement

“Letitia James is accused of deliberately falsifying her primary residence on a sworn mortgage application to obtain a preferential loan rate, potentially violating federal and state mortgage fraud statutes,” said Rep. Norman in a statement on Friday. “If true, this isn’t just fraud—it’s a betrayal of the public trust. I applaud Director Pulte and FHFA for taking decisive action.”