BOSTON – Today, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), a member of the House Oversight Committee and a survivor of sexual abuse, led committee Democrats in calling for a Congressional hearing to prioritize the individuals who survived the horrific abuse associated with by Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, and their associates, and whose firsthand accounts may not be sufficiently represented in the Department of Justice’s records.
The letter comes as the Committee moves forward with its investigation into Epstein, Maxwell, and their co-conspirators, and comes after Rep. Pressley successfully helped pass a motion by Congresswoman Summer Lee and Ranking Member Robert Garcia to force the Committee to subpoena the Epstein files.
“If we are to hold powerful people to account, our investigation must center the voices they tried to silence,” the lawmakers wrote in their letter. “To ensure that our investigation is comprehensive and credible, we urge the Committee to allow survivors the opportunity to provide their testimony if they wish to do so.”
In their letter to Chairman James Comer, Rep. Pressley and her colleagues detailed Epstein’s history exploiting and trafficking young women and girls, leaving them with deep, lasting trauma. The lawmakers argued that these individuals should have their stories heard and their healing centered in Congressional efforts to achieve transparency and accountability.
“If the Committee is to conduct credible oversight, it must hear directly from survivors, or their representatives, who volunteer to advance our investigation on their own terms,” the lawmakers continued. “Some survivors have expressed a clear willingness and desire to come before Congress, and the Committee cannot meet their strength and bravery with inaction.”
The lawmakers made the case that releasing the full, unredacted Epstein files will not tell the full story, and that hearing testimony from Maxwell, an unreliable and untrustworthy co-conspirator, while ignoring those who were abused, will only contribute to more pain for survivors and more misinformation for the public.
“For too long, powerful abusers and their enablers have been shielded by institutions more interested in protecting predators than centering survivors,” the lawmakers continued. “The Committee now has an opportunity to break that cycle. A public hearing focused on survivors who wish to speak out would be a meaningful step towards transparency, accountability, and healing.”
Joining Rep. Pressley in sending the letter are Ranking Member Robert Garcia and Representatives Eleanor Holmes Norton, Stephen F. Lynch, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Ro Khanna, Kweisi Mfume, Summer Lee, Greg Casar, Jasmine Crockett, Emily Randall, Suhas Subramanyam, Yassamin Ansari, Lateefah Simon, Dave Min, and Rashida Tlaib.
In a recent interview, Rep. Pressley described why her work to subpoena the Epstein files is deeply personal to her.
This week, Rep. Pressley issued a statement after Oversight Democrats forced Chairman James Comer to issue a subpoena to the Department of Justice (DOJ) to release files relating to child sex trafficker and Trump’s longtime friend Jeffrey Epstein.
In July 2024, Rep. Pressley reintroduced the Bringing an End to Harassment by Enhancing Accountability and Rejecting Discrimination (BE HEARD) in the Workplace Act of 2024. In June 2024, Rep. Pressley renewed her calls for accountability and survivor-focused solutions following the damning reports of a toxic work environment at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). In June 2024, Rep. Pressley also sent a letter to the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) requesting information about the botched closure of FCI Dublin, abuse of women while they were being transferred to other facilities, and BOP’s management of investigations into the staff sexual misconduct and abuse at FCI Dublin and other federal BOP facilities.
Rep. Pressley is also a lead co-sponsor of H.R. 5388, legislation that would prevent the Secretary of Education from rolling back Title IX protections for survivors, as well as H.Res. 560, a resolution calling for an impeachment inquiry into Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, following reporting on new allegations of sexual misconduct committed by the Associate Justice.
In April 2019, following the passage of the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2019, Rep. Pressley issued a statement honoring her mother, Sandra Pressley, a survivor of domestic violence. Rep. Pressley is also the lead co-sponsor of an amendment to the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) that would establish the first-ever grant program dedicated to supporting LGBTQ+ survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, which passed the House of Representatives in March 2021.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)
Today, Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries appeared on ABC News Live to discuss Donald Trump and Republicans’ plans to gerrymander congressional maps with impunity and Democratic efforts to push back on their extremism.
JAY O’BRIEN: Joining me now to talk about all of that is House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. Mr. Leader, welcome in, sir.
LEADER JEFFRIES: Good to be with you.
JAY O’BRIEN: I’m sure you’ve seen this today, but Senator John Cornyn of Texas said that the FBI has now promised him that they will get involved for searching for some of those Texas Democrats who fled the state. The FBI hasn’t commented one way or the other, but in your view, is this something the FBI even has the authority to get involved with?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Donald Trump and extreme MAGA Republicans are desperate and continue to demonstrate a willingness to weaponize federal law enforcement to try and target people they view as political adversaries. John Cornyn is a dead Senator walking. And this is another example of a desperate ploy to try to save his own skin even if it means engaging the FBI in what would be a corrupt abuse of power by the Trump administration. The FBI should be spending its time chasing down violent criminals, terrorists, drug traffickers and child predators, not targeting political adversaries in a democracy here in America.
JAY O’BRIEN: In your view then, Mr. Leader, would the FBI be acting illegally if it were to get involved in this and try to find and in other ways engage in this redistricting process?
LEADER JEFFRIES:There would be no authority for the FBI to target Democrats from the Texas legislature in connection with an act that Democrats have taken that is authorized by the Texas Constitution.
JAY O’BRIEN: We’ve had some Republicans on this show over the last few days and they have claimed that this redistricting effort is necessary. They say the political landscape in the state has changed. They say that they’re not just acting within President Trump’s wishes just because he’s asked. They say that the state has changed since the last 2020 census. What is your response when you hear that?
LEADER JEFFRIES: It’s the most ridiculous statement ever. This is a clear power grab because Donald Trump and House Republicans are desperate to try to hold on to their thin majority in the House of Representatives. Republicans have no track record of accomplishment to run on. Their One Big Ugly Bill is now a deeply unpopular law. It rips away healthcare from the American people, millions of people, including those in Texas. Steals food from the mouths of hungry children. And all of this is being done in order to enact massive tax breaks for their billionaire donors. Republicans promised that they were going to lower costs on day one. They haven’t lowered costs. Costs are going up, and the Trump tariffs are costing everyday Americans thousands of dollars per year.
JAY O’BRIEN: You called this redistricting effort a power grab. We’ve seen some Democratic governors now say that if Texas acts, they will respond. They will do mid-decade redistricting in their states, too. One of them is your home state of New York. Would you advise Democratic governors against doing that because, as we’ve seen Democrats say, there’s a view that this is just playing politics with people’s districts?
LEADER JEFFRIES: It’s important for us to respond coast to coast. And to the extent that there are responses that take place in California, New York or elsewhere, I’m confident that they will be done in a manner consistent with the law. And, to the extent necessary, voters will be asked to weigh in to determine the best course of action moving forward.
JAY O’BRIEN: But should that response involve redrawing districts in their states? Some of them have said they want to, but couldn’t that start a redistricting arms race?
LEADER JEFFRIES: The redistricting arms race has already begun, and it was started by Donald Trump and compliant Republicans in Texas. When Donald Trump says jump, the Republicans simply ask how high even if that means trying to strip away the voices of their own constituents and undermine the ability for there to be free and fair elections in the midterms next year.
JAY O’BRIEN: But if Democrats redistrict in their own states, do they lose in a way their moral authority on this issue?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Absolutely not. Certainly, under these circumstances, one cannot unilaterally disarm. The Republicans are counting on that as part of their scheme to try to steal the midterm elections and gerrymander these congressional maps with impunity across the country. We’re not going to stand for it. And the American people don’t expect us to stand for it because they know we are fighting for an economy that actually makes life better for them as opposed to an economy of the billionaires, by the billionaires and for the billionaires. We are fighting to protect Medicare and Medicaid and Social Security, and fighting to make sure that their children can have a future.
JAY O’BRIEN: We saw Vice President J.D. Vance in Indiana today. There’s talk of that state potentially engaging in mid-decade redistricting too. Did you expect to have to fight this redistricting fight this summer? Is this something that you had in your sights and you thought the White House would try to do, or did it come as a surprise?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, this is all unprecedented, but nothing comes as a surprise in terms of this group that is desperately trying to cling on to power as part of their effort to drive their extreme, right-wing agenda down the throats of the American people. As Democrats, we’re not afraid to make our case on the merits to everyday Americans, and upon doing that, we are confident that we will win back control of the majority in 2026. We’re prepared to continue to fight to lower the high cost of living, to fix our broken healthcare system, to clean up corruption in Washington, D.C., so that we have a government that actually works for the American people. Republicans cannot make a credible argument to maintain their majority based on what they’ve done, which is why we are seeing these extreme, partisan gerrymandering tactics being employed all across the country.
JAY O’BRIEN: While we have you, I want to get you on one piece of news today, which is we saw on tariffs, that laundry list of President Trump’s so-called reciprocal tariffs snap into place today. Congress is out on recess. That’s why you’re coming to us from New York. It’s why I’m not on the Hill today and I’m in this chair. Your Members are traveling in their various states and districts. Have you heard this issue come up in constituent conversations that you’ve had and your Members have had?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Yeah, as I’ve traveled throughout the district that I’m privileged to represent here in Brooklyn and all across the country, I’ve consistently heard from everyday Americans complaining about the fact that America is too expensive, that costs are too high. Donald Trump promised that he was going to lower costs for the American people, but costs, of course, continue to go up, inflation is going up and the Trump tariffs are gonna make things worse. And that is an issue of deep concern for people all across the country, whether they’re Democrats, Independents or Republicans.
JAY O’BRIEN: A question here that’s probably a little bit too soon, but I gotta ask it to you. When Congress comes back in just a couple of weeks in September, they’ve got to avert a government shutdown. And we’ve seen before Republicans not have the votes in their own ranks to pass government funding legislation. And there have been times, as you know better than anyone, that Democrats have stepped in and given them those votes to avert a government shutdown. Do you see Democrats doing that again here, or will they withhold those votes?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Leader Schumer and I sent a letter to John Thune and Mike Johnson earlier this week asking for a Four Corners sit-down conversation in a bipartisan and bicameral way so that we can work on an appropriations process that actually passes a spending bill that meets the needs of the American people in terms of their health, their safety, our national security and the economic well-being of everyday Americans who are struggling while working hard in this country. We haven’t heard from the Republicans as it relates to our offer to sit down and initiate this bipartisan discussion to try to get to a resolution. And perhaps we haven’t heard from them because Republicans are determined to shut the government down as part of their ideological effort to jam their extreme ideas down the throats of the American people. We’re not going to stand for it.
JAY O’BRIEN: House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, thank you so much for your time, sir.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Julia Brownley (D-CA)
Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (CA-26), Ranking Member of the Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Health, Congressman Mark Takano (CA-41), Ranking Member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, and fellow committee members Chris Pappas (NH-01), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), Morgan McGarvey (KY-03), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), Nikki Budzinski (IL-13), Tim Kennedy (NY-26), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), Herb Conaway, Jr. (NJ-03), and Kelly Morrison (MN-03) issued the following statement after the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced that it would terminate collective bargaining agreements for most VA bargaining-unit employees.
“While Secretary Collins tries to spin this horrific VA decision to terminate union contracts for most bargaining-unit VA employees, we see it for what it is – a politically motivated attack on VA employees’ rights, power, and autonomy. This administration is showing once again that it is anti-worker, anti-veteran, and anti-VA. They are outright violating the law to retaliate against workers and their unions who have dared exercise their First Amendment right to oppose this administration’s actions that harm workers. This administration fears unions because they know that there is strength and power in unions. At a time when VA employees are leaving the agency in droves due to the toxic work environment created by Secretary Collins, it is more important than ever that we work together to protect VA employees’ rights. We remain committed to ensuring VA employees have all the tools they need, including collective bargaining rights, to do their job and to improve the care and benefits veterans receive at VA. We stand with the hardworking union members who serve our nation’s veterans, and we call on Secretary Collins to end these naked political attacks at the expense of veterans and to support the fundamental American principle that Americans have the right to join unions and to collectively bargain. Violating that principle is unpatriotic.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Julia Brownley (D-CA)
Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (CA-26), a member of the House Natural Resources Committee, joined Congressman Jared Huffman (CA-02), the Committee’s Ranking Member, and 11 Democratic colleagues in a letter demanding answers from Interior Secretary Doug Burgum over the Trump administration’s ongoing efforts to rewrite American history by scrubbing national parks of accurate, inclusive, and science-based content.
The lawmakers raised concerns about widespread censorship stemming from Secretarial Order No. 3431 and Executive Order 14253, a directive issued by President Trump that aims to reshape the way historical narratives are presented on public lands to conform to a narrow ideological agenda.
“Rather than fostering unity, this directive… seeks to present a more sanitized, inaccurate, and potentially divisive view of our national story,” the lawmakers wrote. “These efforts have already led to the attempted erasure of stories, narratives, and historical events at units of the National Park System all over the country.”
The letter outlines a disturbing pattern of censorship: the removal of a Native history exhibit at Muir Woods, efforts to soften references to slavery at Independence National Historical Park, and suppression of LGBTQ+ narratives at Stonewall National Monument. Across the park system, materials have been flagged or removed – from Junior Ranger books discussing slavery to signage on climate science, air pollution, and Indigenous dispossession.
The lawmakers also criticized the administration’s simultaneous push to slash the National Park Service’s budget by nearly 30% – the largest cut in over a century – which would threaten thousands of jobs, gut preservation programs, and lead to the potential sale or transfer of smaller park units.
“This is just one example of a broader pattern and much larger problem,” the lawmakers continued. “Pressuring historical interpretation to conform to specific ideological standards threatens unbiased scholarship and public education… The freedom to learn the full scope of our history remains a fundamental part of our American heritage.”
The letter requests detailed documentation on all interpretation changes made under the order, the personnel involved, a review of changed or removed properties by each bureau, and a full accounting of public feedback.
“True patriotism involves confronting the nation’s past honestly, building unity, and promoting reconciliation through a shared commitment to equality and justice,” the lawmakers wrote. “The American people deserve answers, transparency, and a recommitment to preserving history, not rewriting it.”
In addition to Congresswoman Brownley and Congressman Huffman, the letter was also signed by Representatives Sarah Elfreth (D-MD), Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ), Nydia Velázquez (D-NY), Joe Neguse (D-CO), Val Hoyle (D-OR), Maxine Dexter (D-OR), Melanie Stansbury (D-NM), Dave Min (D-CA), Emily Randall (D-WA), Seth Magaziner (D-RI), and Debbie Dingell (D-MI).
The Honorable Doug Burgum Secretary of the Interior U.S. Department of the Interior 1849 C Street NW Washington, DC 20240
Dear Secretary Burgum,
We write with deep concern regarding the implementation of Secretarial Order No. 3431(SO), issued on May 20, 2025, pursuant to President Trump’s Executive Order 14253, “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History,” and its consistency with the National Park Service Centennial Act and the National Park Service’s management policies.
America is a nation where innovation and progress have long thrived—grounded, in no small part, in our willingness to confront and learn from the past. Rather than honoring that legacy, this directive seeks to rewrite history to present a propagandized, inaccurate version of our national story.
Even more troubling, as part of your directive to “review property for inappropriate content”, the administration has taken the alarming step of asking visitors to report “any signs or other information that are negative about either past or living Americans or that fail to emphasize the beauty, grandeur, and abundance of landscapes and other natural features.” These efforts have already resulted in the removal or alteration of stories, narratives, and historical events at National Park System units all over the country.
Recent reports indicate that the National Park Service has removed the exhibit “History Under Construction” from Muir Woods National Monument. This exhibit was installed in 2021 to provide visitors with a deeper understanding of the Coast Miwok and Southern Pomo people’s profound connection to the landscape. It challenged visitors to grapple with the colonial violence used to displace native tribes who stewarded the land for centuries and highlighted efforts by women’s organizations to save the forest in the early 20th century. Censoring content that reflects the site’s full historical legacy diminishes the richness of the visitor experience and undermines the National Park Service’s mission to present an accurate and complete account of the American story.
This is just one example of a broader pattern and much larger problem. The attack on history started earlier this year when the stories of transgender and queer Americans were erased and suppressed at Stonewall National Monument. Unfortunately, it did not end there. The SO explicitly promotes revisionist history at Independence National Historical Park, a site that symbolizes the founding ideals of the United States and preserves national and international icons of freedom and democracy, by downplaying the brutalities of slavery. At Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, efforts are underway to obscure references to the imprisonment of Native Americans inside the Spanish stone fortress.5 Reports also indicate that signage will omit anything deemed “negative” at Manzanar National Historic Site, one of the locations where Japanese American citizens were incarcerated during World War II.
The screening process and censorship also extend to bookstores and gift shops. Materials flagged across various park units include a Junior Ranger book addressing slavery, accounts of Navy-caused damage to Native lands in Guam, books about civil rights icons like Malcolm X and the Freedom Riders, and descriptions of the methods used to control enslaved people. To make matters worse, reports indicate that at Cape Hatteras National Seashore, the administration is set to review and possibly remove or alter signs that explain how climate change is driving sea-level rise—an existential threat to the area. Similarly, at Great Smoky Mountains National Park, officials are considering edits to an exhibit on the environmental consequences of air pollution.
The consequences of these actions are deeply troubling and threaten to undermine the integrity of the National Park System. Sites of remembrance like Sand Creek and Amache may no longer speak plainly about massacres of Native Americans or the large-scale internment of Japanese Americans during World War II. At Lowell National Historical Park, the struggles of immigrant laborers who fueled the Industrial Revolution may be softened or obscured. And at Selma-to-Montgomery National Historic Trail and César E. Chávez National Monument, the resilience, sacrifice, and complexity that define America’s ongoing fight for justice risk being censored. Units of the National Park System play a vital role in preserving and interpreting the full scope of our nation’s history. They offer opportunities not only to celebrate our nation’s achievements, but also to acknowledge and recognize the more difficult chapters of our past—so that we may continue to learn and move closer to realizing America’s founding ideals.
As a shared heritage for all Americans, national parks and monuments are entrusted to the National Park Service, which is responsible for preserving these sites and their full histories, including stories that may reveal moments of systemic injustice and suffering. Any attempt to reshape history must be approached with care and balance. A truthful account of the past must include not only moments of achievement, but also events and figures that are complex, painful, or difficult to face.
Congress passed the National Park Service Centennial Act on a broadly bipartisan basis in 2016. This ongoing effort to reframe history and science not only infringes on intellectual freedom and institutional integrity—it directly violates the Act’s clear directive that the National Park Service ensure “a broad program of the highest quality and interpretation and education” that reflects “current scientific and academic research, content, methods, and audience analysis.” Pressuring historical interpretation to conform to specific political or ideological preferences threatens unbiased scholarship and public education. Such interference weakens both the quality and credibility of what visitors encounter and clearly violates the spirit, if not the letter, of this law.
If we erase these stories, we don’t just alter historical interpretation—we compromise the public’s ability to understand who we are as a nation, how we got here, and what it means to be American. What’s left is not a fuller or more unifying account of our past, but one deprived of many stories of people who helped build, defend, and shape our nation. This concern is not ours alone. The response of the American Historical Association and the Organization of American Historians to the SO included these concerns:
“New policies that purge words, phrases, and content that some officials deem suspect on ideological grounds constitute a systemic campaign to distort, manipulate, and erase significant parts of the historical record. Recent directives insidiously prioritize narrow ideology over historical research, historical accuracy, and the actual experiences of Americans.”
“New policies that purge words, phrases, and content that some officials deem suspect on ideological grounds constitute a systemic campaign to distort, manipulate, and erase significant parts of the historical record. Recent directives insidiously prioritize narrow ideology over historical research, historical accuracy, and the actual experiences of Americans.”
The SO raises a fundamental question: What does it mean to be American? That question echoes throughout every corner of the National Park System, where every site preserves a piece of the answer. These places do more than mark land; they mark the moments that define who we are and who we aspire to become. Yet under the SO, that story is being rewritten in a way that is inconsistent with the core mission of many parks, the law and the agency’s own policies.
For example, Chapter 7.3.1.1 of the 2006 National Park Service Management Policies affirms that, “Parks will be managed as places to demonstrate the principles of science, to illustrate the national experience as history, to engage learners throughout their lifetimes, and to do these things while challenging visitors in exciting and motivating settings.” The policies also underscore the importance of remaining relevant in the 21st century by engaging a diverse public, reflecting on civic responsibility in a participatory democracy, and interpreting pressing contemporary issues, including the effects of climate change. All of these commitments now appear to be at risk.
We recognize the importance of presenting history in a way that fosters unity and pride. At the same time, it is vital to maintain a truthful and comprehensive account of our past, including its more difficult aspects. This balanced approach is essential to honoring the experiences of all Americans and preserving the educational mission of our public lands and institutions. True patriotism involves engaging with our nation’s history honestly, building unity not by erasing the past, but by acknowledging it and promoting reconciliation through a shared commitment to equality and justice. Erasing or glossing over elements of our history risks not only legal and regulatory conflicts but also undermines the trust and respect of communities whose stories are integral to our national narrative. The freedom to learn the full scope of our history remains a fundamental part of our American heritage.
The rewriting and whitewashing of history coincide with a devastating proposed budget that would decimate the National Park Service, slashing the operating budget by approximately $900 million, or 30%, the largest cut in more than a century. These cuts would severely impact historic preservation programs, natural resource initiatives, and staffing, threatening thousands of positions across the agency. The budget even considers transferring or selling off smaller park units—including national historic sites, national memorials, and other treasured historical resources that tell some of our most complex and dynamic histories. Taken together, these actions raise serious concerns about this administration’s stewardship of our national parks.
The SO also includes strict timelines. Each land management bureau was required to conduct a comprehensive review within 30 days to identify all public monuments, memorials, statues, markers, or similar properties that have been removed or modified since 2020 and submit a formal report within 60 days. The SO further directed the land management bureaus to conduct a thorough review of all properties within 90 days to ascertain the presence of any inappropriate content. Additionally, each bureau is required to facilitate the removal of all content deemed to “inappropriately disparage Americans” within 120 days.
As we approach the 90-day mark, the American people deserve to know how decisions are being made about the future of their national parks.
Pursuant to the Committee on Natural Resources’ jurisdiction under House Rules X.1(m) to conduct oversight and investigations of all matters relating to national parks, and as part of ongoing efforts to understand the administration’s approach to history and interpretation within the National Park Service, please provide the following documentation by August 20, 2025.
A detailed rationale for the ongoing efforts to rewrite history, including a reconciliation of the SO with Section 301 of the National Park Service Centennial Act and Chapter 7 of the National Park Service’s 2006 Management Policies;
All comments from the public to the Department of the Interior or any of its bureaus that were submitted between May 20, 2025 and the date of this letter regarding interpretation content;
Documents sufficient to show the criteria the Department of the Interior or its bureaus are using or will use to make decisions about interpretation content;
Documents sufficient to show the names and titles of all personnel involved in making decisions about interpretation content at any unit managed by the Department of the Interior or any of its bureaus;
Documents sufficient to show all changes in interpretation that have been made or are planned at any unit managed by the Department of the Interior or any of its bureaus;
Documents and supporting reference materials sufficient to show the justification for each change in interpretation that has been made or is planned at any unit managed by the Department of the Interior or any of its bureaus;
All communications about Secretarial Order 3431 and its implementation; and
All documents produced pursuant to Secretarial Order 3431.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (7th District of Washington)
SEATTLE, WA – U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Ranking Member of the Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee, released the following statement after a Chinese national, Chaofeng Ge, died at the Moshannon Valley Processing Center in Pennsylvania.
“First and foremost, my heart goes out to Mr. Ge’s family and loved ones. His death is an unacceptable tragedy, and I look forward to reviewing the full investigation in order to understand exactly what happened at the Moshannon Valley Processing Center, owned and operated by the private, for-profit GEO Group.
“This is the 12th death in ICE detention in under 7 months since Trump became President. This is unacceptable, especially as the Trump administration has gutted independent oversight. They have fired nearly every person in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Office, DHS Ombudsman, and the Office of Immigration Detention, while also illegally denying members of Congress the ability to conduct unannounced inspections of detention facilities.
“I am deeply concerned about conditions at current ICE facilities as well as what may happen as Republicans increase detention as a result of the passage of Trump’s Big Bad Betrayal Bill, which directs billions to further militarize and expand Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which is already acting as a rogue agency.
“ICE should be finding ways to reduce its overreliance on detention. The vast majority of detained people are there pending immigration court proceedings, not due to criminal charges. Nearly 65 percent of people detained in ICE custody have no criminal record, and many more only have minor offenses such as traffic violations. There are workable solutions, such as humane community-based alternatives to detention, that have proven to be successful in producing compliance with court proceedings at a fraction of the cost of detention. Finally, ICE must eliminate its reliance on for-profit prison operators who cut corners at great expense to the care of people in their custody.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO-02)
Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO) along with Reps. Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ) and Steve Cohen (D-TN), released the following statement after they introduced the ENFORCE Act, legislation to combat Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) generated by or modified with Artificial Intelligence (AI):
Congresswoman Ann Wagner said: “Child Sexual Abuse Material is an evil that must be purged from our nation. The rise in Artificial Intelligence (AI) has made these horrific crimes easier to commit, and it’s time we made sure prosecutors have the necessary tools to fight back against the predators who are exploiting innocent victims. My ENFORCE Act will ensure AI-generated CSAM is prosecuted and penalized with the same weight as other federal sex crimes. The world is constantly changing with AI, and predators and child abusers are adapting to these new technologies. It is imperative that our laws are properly updated to meet the moment so victims are protected and abusers are held accountable.”
Congressman Jeff Van Drew said: “The rise of AI-generated child exploitation is sickening, and it is happening even faster than most people realize. We have a responsibility to make sure our laws keep up with this technology so that predators can be held fully accountable. This bill gives law enforcement the tools they need to properly go after these crimes and protect our kids. I am proud to stand with my colleagues in introducing this important bill.”
Congressman Steve Cohen said: “The prevalence of computer-generated, AI-enhanced child pornography is astounding and must be combatted effectively. The ENFORCE Act will give prosecutors the tools they need to address this offensive material and to hold those who produce, possess and distribute these heinous materials responsible.”
Supporting Organizations
RAVEN
“The ENFORCE Act ensures that offenders who produce obscene content involving minors, whether through deepfakes or generative AI, are finally held accountable in the same way as those prosecuted under existing child sexual abuse material laws. Our laws must reflect the reality that digital abuse causes real harm. This bill gives prosecutors the tools they need, to include mandatory sex offender registration, to respond effectively and pursue these crimes with the seriousness they demand.” — Jennifer Dunton, Director of Legislative Affairs, RAVEN
National Children’s Alliance
“Kids are sexually abused and exploited online 10 times every second, and AI image generators are expanding the scope of the problem at an alarming rate. This much needed bill updates federal law to ensure that AI generated and AI modified images are treated and prosecuted as CSAM. This change is critical because AI generated CSAM is not a victimless crime, often using images that victimize real children. We thank Rep. Ann Wagner (R-MO) for her continued leadership in fighting to protect kids online, and thank her and Reps. Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ) and Steve Cohen (D-TN) for introducing the ENFORCE Act, and urge all Members of the House to cosponsor this bill and for its swift passage.” – Teresa Huizar, CEO of National Children’s Alliance, the nation’s largest network of care centers for child victims of abuse.
Child Rescue Coalition
“The ENFORCE Act is a critical step forward in protecting children from the growing threat of AI-generated child sexual abuse material. By empowering prosecutors with stronger laws, victim protection, sentencing structure, and sex offender registration requirements, the legislation fills dangerous gaps in our current system on this issue. As a former federal prosecutor, I am acutely aware that these changes would have certainly helped our investigations into GAI – a problem that increasinglyaffects us all. Child Rescue Coalition – an organization that is dedicated to helping law enforcement worldwide in identifying predators rescuing victims through cutting-edge technology—recognizes that the ENFORCE Act amplifies those efforts on a national scale. We urge Congress to pass the ENFORCE Act without delay to give our children the protection they urgently deserve.” – Greg Schiller, CEO of Child Rescue Coalition.
National District Attorneys Association
“The ENFORCE Act helps prosecutors combat the proliferation of generative artificial intelligence (GAI) and deep fake Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) by closing critical statutory loopholes such as requiring GAI CSAM crimes to receive the same sentencing as other CSAM offenses and removing the statute of limitation on these crimes. With these tools prosecutors across the country can better pursue child abuse offenders and protect our most vulnerable.” – Nelson Bunn, Executive Director of the National District Attorneys Association.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Haley Stevens (MI-11)
New Report Warns: OBBA Will Raise Costs and Eliminate Protections for Michigan Families
WASHINGTON, D.C. – After anew report released this weekby the Center for American Progress found that the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) would raise costs dramatically for Michigan families and strip away critical protections that working people rely on, Congresswoman Haley Stevens is calling out the bill
From higher health insurance premiums and grocery bills, to increased housing and energy costs, the report details how Michigan households would be among the hardest hit nationwide.
In response to the report’s findings, Michigan Congresswoman Haley Stevens issued the following statement:
“This report is deeply concerning and underscores what so many working families across Michigan are already feeling every day: costs keep going up and up, and Donald Trump’s Big Ugly Bill will only make things worse.
“I will continue to fight to lower costs, create jobs, protect the benefits Michiganders earned over lifetimes of hard work, bolster our manufacturing sector, and put Michigan families first — and stand up to policies that leave hardworking Michiganders to pick up the tab.”
Thereportoutlines the following projected impacts:
“For example, a 55-year-old earning nearly $63,000 per year in Michigan will see their annual premium costs increase by at least $3,070 on average.”
Cuts to food assistance and higher grocery costs
“This puts 123,000 people in Michigan at immediate risk of losing some of their SNAP benefits, including parents with children ages 14 and older, older workers, veterans, those experiencing homelessness, and youth aging out of foster care”
“This elevates hunger and raises costs of groceries for millions of people at a time when food prices are rising due to Trump’s tariffs, which will strain families’ budgets.The costs of grocery items including bananas and coffee have already risen by more than 5 percent since the start of the year.”
Job losses and budget shortfalls
“2,226 grocery stores and other SNAP retailers in Michigan will face increased risk of financial instability due to decreased business from SNAP recipients.”
“Medicaid and SNAP cuts will cause the loss of an estimated 41,500 jobs in Michigan in 2029.”
“Michigan’s state and local governments will also lose an estimated $319 million in tax revenue, squeezing public budgets for vital services such as education and social services.”
Energy and fuel costs
“This national electricity rate hike will increase electricity costs in Michigan by an average of $60 per year starting in 2026.”
“Michigan households will spend an average of $80 more on gasoline annually by 2030.”
Housing and mortgage impacts
“For future Michigan homebuyers, the OBBBA will increase interest on a mortgage for the median single-family home by an average of $360 annually, or approximately $10,790 over a typical 30-year loan in 2030.”
Increased costs for small-business loans
“Small-business loan borrowers in Michigan can expect an increase in costs for a fixed-rate loan by an average of $830 annually in 2030, equivalent to approximately $12,470 over the length of an average fixed-rate loan.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Adam Smith (9th District of Washington)
SEATTLE, WA. – Yesterday, Congressman Adam Smith (D-Wash.) visited the Sound Generations’ Meals on Wheels program and hosted a Veterans Town Hall in South King County.
At Sound Generations, he met with program staff to discuss the need to preserve funding for these critical programs that provide nutritious meals to seniors.
Meals on Wheels is a food delivery program run by Sound Generations that ensures more than 2,100 homebound older adults aged 60+ have access to nutritious meals in King County. Drivers deliver 475,934 meals a year while offering a social connection and providing access to other services that can assist them as they age at home.
“For many older adults, Meals on Wheels is not just a lifeline, it’s their only connection to nutritious food and community support,” said Rep. Smith. “We must increase federal support for senior nutrition programs, not cut it.”
The visit to Meals on Wheels highlighted the urgent need to invest in food nutrition programs, especially as the recently passed Big Ugly Bill could impact food assistance for 42 million Americans.
Later that evening, Smith hosted a Veterans Town Hall in Auburn, where local service members and veterans spoke about challenges accessing health care, the national debt and potential firings of VA employees.
“We’ve seen reckless, unnecessary cuts to the Seattle VA over the past few months, but I remain committed to helping our veterans access their benefits and essential care,” saidRep. Smith. “I will continue fighting to expand access to mental health services, reduce the VA backlog, and improve housing support for veterans in our district.”
Earlier this year, my office received news that the Seattle VA had laid off dozens of probationary employees and accounts had been frozen due to demands from the Trump administration. They’ve fired employees who are providing crucial services and medical research to veterans, which is not making our government any more efficient or helping our veterans receive care. The Trump Administration has shared plans to fire tens of thousands of VA staffers, many of them veterans themselves. This is just one of the many threats from the President and DOGE on the federal workforce, especially considering that 25% of federal employees are veterans.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II (5th District Missouri)
(Washington, D.C.) This week, marking the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Voting Rights Act and as part of a legislative package to protect the voting rights of all Americans, U.S. Representatives Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO), Ranking Member of the Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance, and Nikema Williams (D-GA), along with Reps. Terri Sewell (D-AL), Julie Johnson (D-TX), Marc Veasey (D-TX), Robert “Bobby” Scott (D-VA), Delia Ramirez (D-IL), and Kevin Mullin (D-CA), introduced legislation to protect the voting rights of unhoused individuals. The Unhoused Voter Opportunity Through Elections (VOTE) Act provides legal protections and minimum standards for accessibility to voting for unhoused Americans, in addition to providing resources for efforts to expand access to the ballot for unhoused people.
“In the United States of America, every citizen has a right to make their voice heard in our democracy—and there must be no exceptions for those who are temporarily unhoused,” said Congressman Cleaver. “As the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance, I’m proud to join with Congresswoman Williams in introducing the Unhoused VOTE Act to ensure that every American, including those who are struggling with housing instability, are able to cast a vote in our elections.”
“As we mark the 60th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, we are unfortunately facing the same struggle for voting rights. The tactics of voter suppression may look different, but the intent remains the same,” said Congresswoman Williams. “Congressman John Lewis taught us that every generation has an obligation to move our country one step forward. My legislative package takes a major step to ensuring everyone can practice their fundamental right to vote. In the face of Jim Crow 2.0 and intentionally racist gerrymandering, we urgently need comprehensive national standards to protect voting rights for everyone—no matter your ZIP Code, no matter your bank account.”
Specifically, the Unhoused VOTE Act would protect voting rights for unhoused Americans by:
Formally establishing in law that no state may deny an individual the right to vote because they do not have a traditional home – an idea that was first put forth by Congressman John Lewis through the Voting Rights of Homeless Citizens Act.
Setting federal standards and formal protections for voting rights of unhouse people, such as:
Ensuring voting dropboxes are deployed in accessible locations;
Requiring shelters be eligible to be used as a place of residence when registering to vote;
Ensuring that people can use an unsheltered street location in order to vote;
Requiring that an ID issued by a criminal justice entity is eligible for use as voter ID;
Requiring outreach and resources be made available online and to relevant stakeholders; and more
Conducting a study on the voting rights of unhoused Americans to determine the extent to which unhoused people are able or unable to register to vote in elections; and
Providing grant funding to expand access to voting for unhoused individuals.
The Unhoused VOTE Act is co-sponsored by Reps. Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ), Shontel Brown (D-OH), André Carson (D-IN), Sean Casten (D-IL), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL), Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Jasmine Crockett (D-TX), Suzan DelBene (D-WA), Christopher Deluzio (D-PA), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Sarah Elfreth (D-MD), Dwight Evans (D-PA), Cleo Fields (D-LA), Shomari Figures (D-AL), Jesús “Chuy” García (D-IL), Al Green (D-TX), Jonathan Jackson (D-IL), Henry “Hank” Johnson (D-GA), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA), Robin Kelly (D-IL), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), John Larson (D-CT), Summer Lee (D-PA), Stephen Lynch (D-MA), Jennifer McClellan (D-VA), LaMonica McIver (D-NJ), Gregory Meeks (D-NY), Kweisi Mfume (D-MD), Gwen Moore (D-WI), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), Andrea Salinas (D-OR), Janice Schakowsky (D-IL), Lateefah Simon (D-CA), Marilyn Strickland (D-WA), Emilia Sykes (D-OH), Shri Thanedar (D-MI), Bennie Thompson (D-MS), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), and Paul Tonko (D-NY).
The Unhoused VOTE Act is endorsed by Southern Poverty Law Center, The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Campaign Legal Center, Common Cause, National Housing Law Project, League of Women Voters, ACLU, End Citizens United, Demos, Democracy Defenders Action, National Alliance to End Homelessness, Voto Latino, Public Citizen, National Council of Jewish Women, Faith in Public Life Action, NextGen America, National Network for Arab American Communities (NNAAC), GALEO Impact Fund, Coalition for the People’s Agenda, NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice, RepresentUs, MoveOn, In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda, Interfaith Alliance, Spread the Vote, People Power United, The Workers Circle, Climate Hawks Vote, Center for Common Ground, Return My Vote, Georgia Equality, CAIR-Georgia, Indivisible Georgia Coalition, Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice, The Sikh Coalition, Field Team 6, Union for Reform Judaism, and Avondale ACTion.
Official text of the Unhoused VOTE Act is availablehere.
Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee’s Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Greenwood, Blue Springs, North Kansas City, Gladstone, and Claycomo. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee and Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)
Know Your Immigration Rights
If you or a loved one encounter immigration enforcement officials, it is essential that you know your rights and have prepared your household for all possible outcomes.
Ask for a warrant: The Fourth Amendment of the Constitution protects you from unreasonable search and seizure. You do not have to open your door until you see a valid warrant to enter your home or search your belongings.
Your right to remain silent: The Fifth Amendment protects your right to remain silent and not incriminate yourself. You are not required to share any personal information such as your place of birth, immigration status or criminal history.
Always consult an attorney: You have a right to speak with an attorney. You do not have to sign anything or hand officials any documents without speaking to an attorney. Try to identify and consult one in advance.
The New York City Office of Civil Justice and the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) support a variety of free immigration legal services through local nonprofit legal organizations. To access these resources, dial 311 and say “Action NYC,” call the MOIA Immigration Legal Support Hotline at 800-354-0365 Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. or visit MOIA’s website.