MIL USHOR-2b Engine

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

Pressley Has Also Championed Legislation to End Qualified Immunity for ICE Agents, Federal Law Enforcement

WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley issued the following statement after voting NO on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) appropriations bill, which included an additional $28 billion for Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) with no accountability. Congresswoman Pressley continues to call for abolishing ICE and ending qualified immunity for ICE agents. 

“ICE is a rogue, violent agency that has operated with callous disregard for human life. They have terrorized our communities, kidnapped our neighbors, and killed people on the street with impunity—which is why I voted HELL NO to giving them a single penny,” said Congresswoman Pressley. “There is no reforming this lawless agency and Congress should not be funding their campaign of cruelty. We must abolish ICE, end qualified immunity for ICE agents, and dismantle the systems of oppression that have gotten us to this point.”

Last week, following the ICE murder of Renee Good, Congresswoman Pressley and Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) introduced the Qualified Immunity Abolition Act of 2026, which builds on the lawmakers’ prior work by granting victims the right to sue federal law enforcement officers—not just state and local—for civil rights violations and abolishing the defense of qualified immunity in these suits. The expanded legislation would help deliver accountability for families abused by law enforcement, including ICE agents.

Congresswoman Pressley delivered a floor speech on the need to end qualified immunity for federal law enforcement, including immigration officers. Watch the floor speech here.

Earlier this month, Congresswoman Pressley condemned the ICE murder of Renee Good in Minnesota and motioned to subpoena all records and footage related to the shooting, but Republicans obstructed it. Footage of Congresswoman Pressley’s motion to subpoena is here.

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

Temporary Protected Status for Over 350,000 Haitian Nationals Set to Expire February 3^rd

Haitian TPS Holders Well-Represented in Key Service Industries, Including Healthcare and Elder Care

Bill Text | Press Conference Footage

WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, Co-Chair of the House Haiti Caucus, announced a “discharge petition” that could compel the House vote on a bill to require the Trump Administration to extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti for three years. The discharge petition will need 218 signatures in the House to move forward. TPS for Haitians is set to expire on February 3, 2026, which would leave over 350,000 Haitian nationals at risk of deportation, many of whom make up key service industries including healthcare and elder care.

“Extending TPS for Haiti isn’t just the moral, humanitarian thing to do—it is also good policy, ensuring that our TPS holders, many of whom work in healthcare and elder care sectors, can continue their essential work and contributions to our communities,” said Congresswoman Pressley. “That’s why I’m proud to introduce this measure to force a vote on extending TPS for Haitians, because if the President won’t act to protect Haitian lives, then Congress must. I’m grateful to our advocates for joining us in this effort and for the broad coalition behind this important priority.”

At a press conference this morning organized by Rep. Pressley and joined by Congressman Maxwell Frost (FL-10) and Haiti Caucus Co-Chair Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09), a coalition of advocates sounded the alarm on the harm of terminating TPS for Haiti on seniors and the U.S. care economy. Speakers at that press conference included: Luis Zaldivar of the American Business Immigration Coalition, Arnoldo Diaz of the National TPS Alliance, Katia Guillaume of SEIU, Ronald Claude of Black Alliance for Just Immigration, Teofila Liriano of the National Domestic Workers Alliance, Katie Smith Sloan of LeadingAge, Monica Vargas of Haitian Bridge Alliance, and Rob Leibreich and Irma Canan of Goodwin Living.

Immigrants comprise 1 in 4 long-term care workers and over 30% of nursing home support roles. TPS holders, while a small part of the total population, represent 15% of all noncitizen healthcare workers—for instance, over 20% of Haitians nationwide work in healthcare. By 2050, the U.S. population aged 65+ will grow by 50%, yet the U.S. is currently facing a projected shortage of 3.5 million healthcare workers by 2030.

Footage from the press conference is available here and text of the bill is available here.

“The compounding political, economic, and gang violence crises Haiti faces today are not matters of debate. This is the lived reality for the Haitian people, and one that will only grow more grave if TPS for Haiti is allowed to expire on February 3rd. The Trump Administration knows this truth full well, but is still marching ahead towards its terrible goal of exposing 350,000 Haitian TPS holders to deportation, and all the terrible consequences that will follow. There is only one moral and humanitarian path forward, and that is to extend TPS for Haiti. While the president has ignored our pleas thus far, he should know that the longer our calls go unanswered, the louder they will become,” said Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke, Co-Chair of the House Haiti Caucus.

“In Haiti, women and girls are not merely caught up in this ongoing crisis, they are hunted by it. Every day, they face rape, trafficking, and violence. They deserve to be protected,” said Congresswoman Cherfilus-McCormick, Co-Chair of the House Haiti Caucus. “Revoking TPS for Haitians during this crisis is a malicious and inhumane act that benefits no one. Haitian TPS holders are contributing more than $35 billion a year to the U.S. economy, working in critical sectors like healthcare, manufacturing, and caregiving. We are not just deporting individuals, but deporting billions of dollars from our economy while leaving essential jobs vacant.”

“The administration’s decision to pull TPS for Haiti is a dangerous step that puts thousands of families at immediate risk. Haiti is facing extraordinary instability, and forcing people back into crisis is indefensible. That is why, alongside Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, we are filing a discharge petition to force a vote. This petition focuses on protecting people who have built their lives here and contribute in meaningful ways to our communities, and I hope our Republican colleagues who speak often about public safety choose to support it,” said Congressman Maxwell Frost.

“With Haiti’s TPS termination set for February 3, 2026, we’re warning of a humanitarian and economic crisis. Congress must act now to protect TPS families and provide a permanent solution. Our lives are not temporary; we’re parents, workers, and caregivers who’ve built our lives here. We urge everyone to work together to look for a legislative solution: act now, don’t wait. Protect our families, our communities, and the economy that relies on us.” – Arnoldo Diaz, National TPS Alliance 

“Foreign-born workers are essential to the nation’s aging services sector, and recent immigration policy changes, such as the coming termination of Haitian TPS, are exacerbating the aging services’ sector’s well-documented and increasing workforce needs. America’s population is rapidly aging. Demand for care is growing. And now, providers across the country are losing longtime, legally authorized caregivers, breaking trusted relationships and widening staffing gaps that directly threaten older adults’ access to needed care. Some of our nonprofit, mission-driven provider members face losing in one day 8% or more of their entire workforce, from nursing assistants to housekeeping and maintenance teams. These are losses that cannot be quickly replaced in today’s competitive labor market. Current policies are unsustainable for a sector that already navigates staffing challenges. We urge Congress and the Trump administration to reverse their approach and adopt immigration policies that strengthen, rather than destabilize, the caregiving workforce older adults and families depend on.” – Katie Smith Sloan, President and CEO, LeadingAge

This week in Boston, Congresswoman Pressley and Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) held a field hearing on the importance of extending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti.

As Representative for the Massachusetts 7th Congressional District, Congresswoman Pressley serves as Co-Chair for the House Haiti Caucus and represents one of the largest Haitian diaspora communities in the country.

• On June 28, 2025, Rep. Pressley condemned the Trump Administration’s abominable termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti.
• On June 5, 2025, Rep. Pressley and Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09) condemned Donald Trump’s executive order that bans citizens of 12 countries, including Haiti, from traveling to the United States, and places partial restrictions on citizens of seven more nations.
• On March 18, 2025, Rep. Pressley, Congresswoman Yvette Clarke (NY-09), and Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) led 62 of their colleagues in the House and 23 of their colleagues in the Senate in a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem demanding the Trump Administration redesignate and extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti, which the administration recently canceled on questionable legal authority:
• On February 20, 2025, Rep. Pressley and her Haiti Caucus Co-Chairs issued a statement condemning the Trump Administration’s decision to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti.
• On November 14, 2024, Rep. Pressley and her Haiti Caucus Co-Chairs issued a statement condemning violence in Haiti and calling on the Biden Administration to halt all deportations to Haiti.
• On September 25, 2024, Rep. Pressley and her Haiti Caucus Co-Chairs issued a statement condemning the false and dangerous lies about Haitian, Latino, and Asian immigrants.
• On September 20, 2024, Rep. Pressley and her Haiti Caucus Co-Chairs joined colleagues and advocates at a press conference to stand in solidarity with Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio and across America, and to demand accountability for the harmful and false narratives perpetuated by Republicans.
• On June 28, 2024, Rep. Pressley issued a statement applauding the Biden-Harris Administration’s extension and redesignation of Haiti for Temporary Protected Status (TPS). 
• On April 23, 2024, Rep. Pressley, alongside Co-Chairs Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09) and Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), led a group of 50 lawmakers urging the Biden Administration to redesignate Haiti for Temporary Protected Status (TPS), pause on deportations back to Haiti, extend humanitarian parole to any Haitians currently detained in Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s detention centers, end detention of Haitian migrants intercepted at sea, and provide additional humanitarian assistance for Haiti.
• On April 18, 2024, Rep. Pressley and Haiti Caucus Co-Chairs led a letter to House Ways and Means Committee leadership emphasizing support for the early renewal of the Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership Encouragement (HOPE) and the Haiti Economic Lift Program (HELP) Acts, commonly known as HOPE/HELP. 
• On April 12, 2024, Rep. Pressley joined Haitian-led activists, organizations, and a directly impacted person in Haiti for a press call urging federal action to address the worsening humanitarian crisis in Haiti.
• On March 27, 2024, Rep. Pressley joined Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and her colleagues on the Massachusetts congressional delegation in urging the Biden Administration to expedite visa processing for Haitians, particularly  for relatives of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents.
• On March 18, Rep. Pressley, Senator Markey, and the House Haiti Caucus led 67 lawmakers on a letter urging the Biden Administration to extend TPS for Haiti and halt deportations.
• On March 12, 2024, Rep. Pressley and Haiti Caucus Co-Chairs Reps. Cherfilus McCormick and Yvette Clarke issued a statement on the resignation of Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry.
• On March 6, 2024, Rep. Pressley issued a statement on the recent jailbreak and State of Emergency in Haiti.
• On December 8, 2023, Rep. Pressley and Congresswoman Yvette Clarke urged the U.S. Department of State to withdraw U.S. support for an armed foreign intervention in Haiti and encourage negotiations for a Haitian-led democratic political transition.
• On December 6, 2022, Rep. Pressley issued a statement applauding the Biden Administration’s extension and re-designation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti.
• On December 1, 2022, Rep. Pressley, Rep. Cori Bush, and Rep. Mondaire Jones led 14 of their colleagues on a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas urging the Department to extend and redesignate Haiti for Temporary Protected Status (TPS).
• In September 2022, Rep. Pressley and Rep. Velázquez led 54 of their colleagues on a letter calling on the Biden Administration to immediately halt deportations to Haiti and provide humanitarian parole protections for those seeking asylum. The lawmakers’ letter followed the Administration’s resumption of deportation flights to Haiti as thousands of Haitian migrants continue to await an opportunity to make an asylum claim at the border. 
• In September 2022, Rep. Pressley joined her colleagues on the House Oversight Committee in demanding answers regarding the inhumane treatment of migrants in Del Rio, Texas, by Border Patrol agents on horseback and pushing to Biden Administration to end the ongoing use and weaponization of Title 42.
• On August 17, 2022, Rep. Pressley, along with Haiti Caucus Co-Chairs Reps. Val Demings, Yvette Clarke, and Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), called on President Biden to appoint a new Special Envoy to Haiti, a position that has remained unfilled since September 2021.
• On July 7, 2022, Rep. Pressley and Haiti Caucus Co-Chairs Reps. Andy Levin (MI-09), Val Demings (FL-10) and Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09) released a statement marking the one-year anniversary of the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse.
• On May 31, 2022, Rep. Pressley and Reverend Dieufort Fleurissaint, chair of Haitian Americans United, published an op-ed in the Bay State Banner in which they called on the Biden administration to withdraw support for de facto ruler of Haiti, Ariel Henry, and instead support an inclusive, civil society-led process to restore stability and democracy on the island. 
• In April 2022, she joined her colleagues at a press conference reaffirming her support for President Biden’s decision to end Title 42. Full video of her remarks at the press conference is available here. Rep. Pressley applauded the Biden Administration’s end of Title 42 in a statement in April 2022.
• On May 26, 2022, Rep. Pressley, along with Representatives Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Andy Levin (MI-09), Jim McGovern (MA-02), and Frederica Wilson (FL-24), led a letter to United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Power urging her to act to ensure food security in Haiti.
• On March 16, 2022, Rep. Pressley and Rep. Mondaire Jones called on Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Rochelle Walensky to fully end Title 42, cease deportations of people to Haiti and affirm their legal and fundamental human right to seek asylum.
• On February 16, 2022, Rep. Pressley joined Congresswoman Cori Bush (MO-01), Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), and 100 House and Senate colleagues in urging President Biden to reverse inhumane immigration policies – such as Title 42, originally introduced under the Trump Administration – that continue to disproportionately harm Black migrants.
• On February 14, 2022, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), alongside Representatives Judy Chu (CA-27) and Nydia Velázquez (NY-07), led 33 other House Democrats on a letter to Rochelle Walensky, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, demanding answers about the agency’s justification for treating asylum seekers as a unique public health threat, how these expulsions are being coordinated, how asylum seekers being returned to dangerous situations are being cared for, and more.
• On February 14, 2022, Reps. Pressley, Judy Chu (CA-27), and Nydia Velázquez (NY-07) led 33 other House Democrats on a letter to CDC Director Walensky demanding answers about the agency’s justification for treating asylum seekers as a unique public health threat, how these expulsions are being coordinated, how asylum seekers being returned to dangerous situations are being cared for, and more. Days later, Rep. Pressley once again called on the Biden Administration to reverse the Title 42 Order and other anti-Black immigration policies.
• On January 12, 2022, Rep. Pressley and Haiti Caucus Co-Chairs Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09), Andy Levin (MI-09), and Val Demings (FL-10) released a statement on the 12-year anniversary of the catastrophic 7.0 magnitude earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12, 2010.
• On November 21, 2021, Rep. Pressley and Senator Elizabeth Warren led the Massachusetts congressional delegation on a letter to the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) calling on them to coordinate with the government agencies of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to assist newly arrived families from Haiti. 
• On October 18, 2021, Rep. Pressley, and Haiti Caucus Co-Chairs Reps. Val Demings (FL-10), Yvette Clarke (NY-09), and Andy Levin (MI-09) issued a statement following the kidnapping of American and Canadian missionaries in Haiti.
• On October 18, 2021, Rep. Pressley issued a statement on the civil rights complaint filed by Haitian families demanding a federal investigation into the heinous actions perpetrated by federal officials at the border.
• On October 22, 2021, Rep. Pressley, along with Oversight Chairwoman Carolyn B. Maloney, Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD), and Reps. Rashida Tlaib (MI-13), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), sent a letter to Troy A. Miller, the Acting Administrator of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), demanding a briefing and answers regarding press reports of the inhumane treatment of migrants in Del Rio, Texas, by Border Patrol agents on horseback. 
• On September 17, 2021, Rep. Pressley and Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez (NY-07) led 52 of their colleagues calling on the Biden Administration to immediately halt deportations to Haiti and take urgent action to address the concerns of the Haitian Diaspora after a 7.2 magnitude earthquake devastated Haiti.
• On August 14, 2021, Rep. Pressley Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Andy Levin (MI-09) and Val Demings (FL-10) and Mondaire Jones (NY-17) released a statement regarding the recent earthquake in Haiti.
• On July 14, 2021, Rep. Pressley and Haiti Caucus Co-Chairs Reps. Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Andy Levin (MI-09) and Val Demings (FL-10) sent a letter to U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas calling on him to take a series of steps to support the Haitian diaspora amid ongoing political turmoil in Haiti.
• In July 2021, the Reps. Pressley, Clarke, Demings and Levin issued a statement condemning the assassination of President Moïse and calling for swift and decisive action to bring political stability and peace to Haiti and the Haitian people.
• In May 2021, on Haitian Flag Day, Reps. Pressley, Levin, Clarke and Demings announced the formation of the House Haiti Caucus, a Congressional caucus dedicated to pursuing a just foreign policy that puts the needs and aspirations of the Haitian people first.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Julia Brownley (D-CA)

Washington, DC — Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA) released the following statement on her vote against the Fiscal Year 2026 Homeland Security Appropriations Act.

“In Ventura County and the Conejo Valley, and communities across the nation, ICE operations have been marked by alarming lawlessness, excessive use of force, and a disturbing disregard for human life.

“I could not in good conscience vote for a funding package that further empowers an agency of masked henchmen acting with impunity to terrorize our communities. Under Secretary Kristi Noem’s failed leadership, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has embraced chaos and fear over due process and civility, cruelty over the rule of law, and political theater over public safety. Instead of addressing systemic failures, Noem has allowed ICE to function as an unaccountable force, untethered from the basic standards that govern every other law enforcement agency in this country.

“House Democrats have been relentless in pushing for the urgent reforms needed to rein in ICE and restore the rule of law amid this very dark period in our nation’s history. These reforms include requiring judicial warrants, strengthening training and oversight, mandating body cameras, banning masked agents, and establishing clear accountability measures. Yet, House Republicans have rejected every one of these safeguards, choosing to enable abuse rather than protect the public.

“Our immigration system is undeniably broken, but it will not be fixed through fear, intimidation, or cruelty. We need a serious, bipartisan approach that creates an immigration system where those seeking employment, legitimate asylum seekers, and families who follow the law and pay taxes have a pathway to citizenship. 

“Further, it should never be normalized for unidentifiable individuals, who may or may not even be federal agents, to terrorize communities, violate due process, subject detainees to unsafe and unsanitary conditions, or tear families apart.

“The suffering and trauma inflicted by the Trump administration’s immigration agenda in just one year stands in direct opposition to America’s values and constitutional principles. House Democrats refuse to be complicit in this reckless misuse of power, and we will continue fighting for a future that upholds the foundation and values upon which this great nation was formed.”

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Issues: 119th Congress, Immigration

Source: United States House of Representatives – Julia Brownley (D-CA)

Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA) released the following statement after the House failed to advance H.Con.Res. 68, a Concurrent War Powers Resolution directing the removal of U.S. Armed Forces from Venezuela that have not been authorized by Congress.

“At a moment when Congress should assert its constitutional authority and act as a check on a lawless executive, the Republican majority instead chose blind loyalty to Donald Trump over their constitutional duty to the American people,” said Congresswoman Brownley. 

“The American people have been clear: they expect Congress to uphold the rule of law and prevent reckless, unauthorized military engagements. Yet, Republicans continue to abdicate their constitutional responsibilities, allowing this administration to operate without even the pretense of oversight or accountability. The result is a weakened Congress, a diminished Constitution, strained international alliances, and a United States that is increasingly viewed as unreliable and unserious on the world stage.

“As Donald Trump continues his authoritarian tactics, House Republicans have chosen to eliminate the rightful role of Congress as a co-equal branch of government. House Democrats, however, will not be silent. We will continue to call out abuses of power, demand transparency, and fight to restore Congress’s constitutional role. 

“Democrats remain ready to work across the aisle to uphold the U.S. Constitution, our laws, and the will of the American people. I urge the Republicans who voted against this resolution to reflect on the oath they swore and to start defending our democratic institutions instead of enabling a dangerous and unchecked presidency.”

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Issues: 119th Congress, Military

Source: United States House of Representatives – Julia Brownley (D-CA)

Washington, DC — Today marks the 53rd anniversary of the Supreme Court’s decision in Roe v. Wade, which for nearly half a century provided constitutional protection for abortion and affirmed the right to make personal health care decisions free from government interference. That protection was dismantled by the Supreme Court’s Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision, a devastating setback for reproductive freedom in the United States. Against this backdrop, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA) released the following statement on her strong opposition to two extreme, misleading bills brought to the House floor by anti-choice Republicans: the so-called Pregnant Students’ Rights Act and the Supporting Pregnant and Parenting Women and Families Act.

“These bills are not about supporting families — they are about control,” said Congresswoman Brownley. “House Republicans are advancing Donald Trump’s anti-choice agenda by censoring medically accurate information, stigmatizing abortion care, and inserting politics and extremist ideology into the most personal health care decisions a person can make.”

The Pregnant Students’ Rights Act fails to address the real, day-to-day needs of pregnant and parenting students, including medical leave, academic flexibility, childcare, lactation support, and financial assistance. Instead, it deliberately withholds information about comprehensive reproductive health care, denying students information on the full range of lawful medical options they deserve.

The Supporting Pregnant and Parenting Women and Families Act targets the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, a critical lifeline for over one million families who rely on it for food, housing assistance, and childcare. Rather than strengthening TANF to better support vulnerable families, the bill protects states’ ability to divert these scarce resources to so-called “Crisis Pregnancy Centers,” which are widely condemned by medical professionals for using deceptive and coercive tactics to deceive pregnant women and block access to abortion care.

“Using funds meant to help struggling families survive to advance an anti-choice agenda is not pro-family — it is cruel and immoral,” Brownley continued. “Donald Trump and his allies are willing to weaponize poverty, misinformation, and fear to impose their will on American families and strip away reproductive freedom.”

“Together, these bills advance a dangerous agenda of government control and bring us closer to a nationwide abortion ban,” Brownley said. “I voted no on both bills because families deserve real support, honest information, and the freedom to make their own health care decisions.”

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Issues: 119th Congress, Healthcare

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman John Rutherford (4th District of Florida)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Thursday, U.S. Congressman John H. Rutherford (FL-05), member of the House Appropriations Committee, released the following statement on the House passage of the Fiscal Year 2026 Consolidated Appropriations Act and the Fiscal Year 2026 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act:

“With the passage of these final appropriations bills, Congress will deliver core tenets of American strength to the American people, including combat-ready forces, a secure border, effective education and health systems, and modern transportation. That’s why I was proud to vote for, and pass, the final four full-year funding bills in the House today.

“These bills will cut billions of dollars in wasteful spending, delivering real savings for Americans. It also brings a lot of great wins to our area, including funding to support road and airport infrastructure in Northeast Florida.”

Included in this legislation are Rutherford’s priorities to:

• Restore American military superiority

• Increase pay by 3.8% for all servicemembers

• Reduce Permanent Change of Station (PCS) moves to improve quality of life for servicemembers and their families

• Support our military installations in Northeast Florida

• Provide funding for the procurement of three E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft made in St. Augustine

• Defund DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) programs, Critical Race Theory, and abortion-related travel within the Department of War

• Counter adversaries like China by strengthening American air, land, and maritime security

• Prevent terrorists, criminals, and illegals from crossing our border

• Stop fentanyl and transnational crime by strengthening DHS counter-drug, human trafficking, and child exploitation enforcement

• Safeguard American taxpayer dollars by cutting waste and reducing federal bureaucracy

• Protect the right to life by prohibiting taxpayer funding for abortion on demand

• Modernize American transportation infrastructure and air traffic control

• Improve transportation safety and mobility nationwide by investing in highways, ports, and airways

• Boost FEMA disaster relief and firefighter grants to keep communities safe and resilient

• Safeguard Social Security by enhancing frontline customer service and program integrity

• Protect American job creators

• Combat homelessness, preserve affordable housing, and address health and safety risks

• Prioritize funding for rural health to help Americans access critical care

• Support President Trump’s America First agenda

Learn more here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28)

Today, U.S. Congressman Henry Cuellar, Ph.D. (TX-28), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, released the following statement after the House passed the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill with bipartisan support:

“The House passed this bill because it delivers results,” said Congressman Cuellar. “It is not perfect, but it imposes real oversight, secures real funding, and produces real outcomes for our communities.

“As Ranking Member and as the representative of 280 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border, I focused on putting guardrails on the Department and directing resources where they are needed.

“The bill includes $513 million to maintain a strong Border Patrol workforce by sustaining approximately 22,000 agents on the ground, ensuring consistent staffing levels and operational readiness along the border. It also provides $84 million to support workforce care and suicide prevention efforts, along with $35 million for Border Patrol overtime pay to ensure agents have the support and flexibility needed to do their jobs. In addition, it provides $11.8 billion for the Transportation Security Administration to protect travelers and secure our aviation system.

“It also provides $2.6 billion for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, including $763 million dedicated to cyber operations such as vulnerability management, threat detection, and capacity building to defend critical infrastructure against growing cyber threats.

“In total, the bill delivers $32 billion for FEMA, an increase of $4.7 billion over last year, to strengthen disaster preparedness, response, and recovery nationwide. This includes $26.4 billion for the Disaster Relief Fund to help communities recover after major disasters and emergencies.

“The bill also invests $3.8 billion in grants, training, and exercises for firefighters, first responders, and emergency managers. Within that funding, it provides $684 million for firefighter hiring, training, and equipment through Assistance to Firefighters and SAFER grants, $300 million for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program to protect houses of worship and other at-risk organizations, and $85.5 million for Operation Stonegarden to enhance coordination between federal, state, and local law enforcement along the border.

“It includes funding for firefighter hiring, training, and equipment, nonprofit security grants, and port and border security.

“This is what governing looks like,” Congressman Cuellar continued. “Passing this bipartisan compromise ensures these investments and oversight measures take effect. The alternative would have delivered none of them.”

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Congressman Henry Cuellar, Ph.D. is a senior member of the U.S. House Appropriations Committee. Previously, he served as a Texas State Representative and Texas Secretary of State.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (1st District of Washington)

Today, Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) secured House passage for more than $22.2 million in federal funding legislation for 15 community projects across Washington’s 1st Congressional District. These projects include expansions of health, safety, and educational facilities, road and trail improvements, environmental sustainability initiatives, and utility upgrades.

The 15 community projects spanning the 1st Congressional District include:

• $6.8 million for projects in King County
• $15.3 for projects in Snohomish County

“This funding will help non-profits and local partners move forward with projects to make our communities more affordable, safe, and accessible,” said DelBene. “These federal investments will address important needs and create real, lasting benefits for residents across the region.”

These projects include:

The funding legislation now moves to the Senate and must be signed by President Trump.

DelBene submitted 15 projects for consideration in May 2025. Project submissions came directly from non-profit, city, and county entities. A summary of the projects submitted by DelBene in the FY26 funding package can be found here. 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Sean Casten (IL-06)

January 22, 2026

Washington, D.C. (January 22, 2026) — U.S. Congressman Sean Casten secured $9,052,500 million in federal funding for local projects in Illinois’ 6th Congressional District through government funding bills passed by the House of Representatives today.

“From replacing water mains to ensure access to clean water to fixing parking lots at local parks and ensuring kids have spaces for physical education at school, these projects will improve day-to-day lives for folks in communities across the 6th Congressional District,” said Rep. Sean Casten. “I’m incredibly proud to have brought more than $9,000,000 back to the 6th District and look forward to getting back to work on securing the next round of Community Funding Projects.”

These projects were selected by Rep. Casten as part of his Community Funding Projects for FY2026. The legislation is expected to soon receive consideration in the Senate and become law.

Projects receiving federal funding include:

• $2,000,000 to replace the existing Metra station in Glen Ellyn and include a pedestrian underpass

• $250,000 for a new public works facility in Countryside

• $250,000 for water main improvements in Lombard

• $250,000 for a water main replacement in Crestwood

• $302,500 for construction and rehabilitation to fix cracked concrete and flood-prone areas for Worth Park District

• $500,000 for a permeable paver parking lot at Ty Warner Park

• $500,000 for the Regional Source Water Project at the DuPage Water Commission

• $500,000 to improve Main Pump Stations in Palos Park

• $600,000 for solar panels and energy-efficient windows at group homes at the DuPage County Health Department

• $850,000 for water main replacement in Willowbrook

• $850,000 to improve wastewater treatment at the Salt Creek Sanitary District

• $1,000,000 to build an artificial turf field at Sutherland Elementary School

• $1,200,000 for the rehabilitation of reservoirs in Palos Hills

Earlier this month, Rep. Casten secured funding for two additional Community Funding Projects; $950,000 for research equipment at Elmhurst University and nearly $1.1 million for the City of Palos Heights to ensure residents of Palos Heights and Northwestern Community Hospital have a secondary water source, should the primary source become compromised. Learn more here.

A full summary of all 15 projects secured by Rep. Casten this month, totaling $11,094,500, can be found below.

Rep. Casten’s FY 2026 Community Project Funding

Project Sponsor: Elmhurst University’s Health Sciences Research Equipment

Amount Secured: $950,000

Project Description: $950,000 for the purchase of equipment to advance cutting-edge technology research in the field of health sciences. The equipment will create a modern skills lab where researchers can practice and demonstrate assessment and intervention skills in a realistic and convenient setting. The technological settings will mirror various healthcare settings such as emergency rooms, hospital rooms, labor and delivery rooms, and operating theaters to fully immerse researchers in the clinical experience. The lab and simulation spaces will have life-like mannequins and modern medical equipment, including an anatomy table and a high-tech, 3D anatomy system. This new technology will enable researchers to conduct studies that have the potential to advance the field of health sciences significantly.

Project Sponsor: City of Palos Heights

Amount Secured: $1,092,000

Project Description: This project will upgrade the 80th Ave Pump Station to provide the City of Palos and the Northwestern Community Hospital with a secondary water source in an event the primary source becomes compromised.

Project Sponsor: Board of Education of the City of Chicago, Sutherland Elementary

Amount Secured: $1,000,000

Project Description: This project would build an artificial turf field at Sutherland Elementary School. Incorporating sustainable green infrastructure and spaces in the city of Chicago, using artificial turf, would benefit the residents of District 6. The outdoor spaces at Sutherland are heavily utilized by students and the community for a wide range of activities. A turf field provides multiple benefits to the community.

Project Sponsor: DuPage County Health Department

Amount Secured: $600,000

Project Description: The funding would be used for solar panels and energy efficient windows in our group homes to offset the expense of utilities in these homes and would result in a reduction in expenditures in the accounting unit that supports these programs.

Project Sponsor: Village of Crestwood

Amount Secured: $250,000

Project Description: This funding would be used for the installation of approximately 2,000 lineal feet of 6” water main utilizing the open-cut method. This work also entails the installation of valves, hydrants, and fittings.

Project Sponsor: Village of Glen Ellyn

Amount Secured: $2,000,000

Project Description: The funding would be used to replace the existing Metra Commuter Station in Downtown Glen Ellyn including a Pedestrian Underpass of the UP-West Line.

Project Sponsor: Westmont Park District

Amount Secured: $500,000

Project Description: The funding would be used for the implementation of a permeable paver parking lot that will improve ground water infiltration and water quality.

Project Sponsor: Worth Park District

Amount Secured: $302,500

Project Description: The park area (developed in 1993) has deteriorated over the years with cracked and heaved concrete, broken and loose pavers and flood-prone areas. In addition to continuing moving forward in being an unattractive and dilapidated site, the area has become unsafe, especially for those with disabilities. This funding would allow for reconstruction and rehabilitation of the site.

Project Sponsor: City of Palos Hills

Amount Secured: $1,200,000

Project Description: The funding would be used for rehabilitation work, including the lining and painting of the reservoirs, and the purchase and installation of the scrubber.

Project Sponsor: Salt Creek Sanitary District

Amount Secured: $850,000

Project Description: This funding would be used to improve the District’s Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) to reduce phosphorus to Salt Creek.

Project Sponsor: Village of Palos Park

Amount Secured: $500,000

Project Description: The funding would be used for the replacement of Pump Nos. 1 and 2 and associated piping.

Project Sponsor: DuPage Water Commission

Amount Secured: $500,000

Project Description: The funding would be used to carry out necessary activities for its Regional Source Water Project including electric grid stability and electric supply analysis.

Project Sponsor: City of Countryside

Amount Secured: $250,000

Project Description: The City will utilize community project funding to acquire real property and construct a new public works facility.

Project Sponsor: Village of Willowbrook

Amount Secured: $850,000

Project Description: This project would be used for the construction and engineering associated with new water main installation and replacement along 75th Street between Sheridan Drive and Brookbank Road.

Project Sponsor: Village of Lombard

Amount Secured: $250,000

Project Description: This project includes the replacement and upgrade of the four (4″) inch water main on the blocks of Craig, Stewart, and Lombard. The project will increase water flow to these residents improving water quality and fire flows

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman David G Valadao (CA-21)

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman David Valadao (CA-22) voted in support of the Consolidated Appropriations Act and Homeland Security Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2026. The Consolidated Appropriations Act includes the Defense Appropriations Act; Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act; and Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. Congressman Valadao, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, also secured several key wins for the Central Valley, including over $29.9 million in direct funding for community improvement projects. This marks the advancement of all 12 full-year funding bills for Fiscal Year 2026 in the House of Representatives.

“As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, I was proud to vote to advance the final full-year government funding bills,” said Congressman Valadao. “This bipartisan package strengthens our national security, improves public safety, supports rural and underserved health centers, and invests in critical infrastructure like our nation’s highways. I’m especially proud to have secured more than $29.9 million for seven infrastructure projects across California’s 22nd Congressional District. From improving local roadways and farm-to-market corridors to expanding senior housing and increasing water supplies, these investments will deliver lasting benefits for our communities. I commend Chairman Cole for his leadership in advancing all 12 appropriations bills and look forward to the President signing them into law.”

Key investments secured by Congressman Valadao in the FY26 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act include:

• $8.1 million for the City of Delano’s Water Plant No. 6 Blending Tank Project to construct a 2-million-gallon concrete blending tank and booster pump station, increasing potable water production by approximately 1.5 million gallons per day and strengthening water reliability for Delano residents. 
• $7.57 million for the Housing Authority of the County of Kern’s Bakersfield Senior Center Housing Project to construct 36 units of affordable senior housing.
• $5 million for the City of Wasco’s Downtown Revitalization Project to reconstruct roads and alleys, improve sidewalks and gutters, expand ADA accessibility, enhance lighting, and upgrade water mains, increasing safety, supporting active transportation, and investing in small businesses in a rural, underserved community.
• $2.5 million for the Tulare County Resource Management Agency’s Avenue 192 and Road 192 Project to rehabilitate key farm-to-market corridors through targeted repairs and a full-width pavement overlay, revitalizing a primary transportation route serving the unincorporated communities of Plainview, Woodville, and Poplar.
• $3 million for the City of Bakersfield’s Monitor Street Safe Route to Schools Project to improve a 1.3-mile segment of Monitor Street from Merrimac Avenue near South High School to Fairview Road, enhancing pedestrian safety and improving quality of life in surrounding disadvantaged neighborhoods.
• $1.25 million for the City of Arvin’s 4th Street Project to make critical roadway and streetscape improvements between Campus Drive and Walnut Street, improving access and safety while supporting future housing and economic development in a rural, farmworker community.
• $2.5 million for the Kern Council of Governments’ State Route 43/7th Standard Road Roundabout Project to replace a rural four-way stop with a safer, trucking-enabled roundabout at the intersection of State Route 43 and 7th Standard Road, improving traffic safety and strengthening a critical goods movement corridor connecting the Cities of Bakersfield and Shafter with access to I-5.

Read the full Consolidated Appropriations Act here.

Read the full Homeland Security Appropriations Act here.

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