Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Nanette Diaz Barragán (CA-44)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 18, 2025
Contact: Jin.Choi@mail.house.gov
Rep. Barragán Attends Historic Inaugural Mass of First American Pope
14 bipartisan House Members were at the Vatican to celebrate the Inaugural Mass of Pope Leo XIV
Vatican City — Today, Congresswoman Nanette Barragán (CA-44) attended the historic Inaugural Mass of the first American Pope as a member of the official bipartisan Congressional Delegation (CODEL). His Holiness, Pope Leo XIV, is the first American in the history of the Catholic Church to have been elected to the papacy. The Inaugural Mass was held at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City.
“This was a deeply meaningful and joyous occasion for American Catholics and the over one billion Catholics around the world who look to the Church for spiritual guidance and leadership,” said Rep. Barragán. “It was truly special to be here—as a Catholic, a Member of Congress, and a representative of a district that is home to a large Catholic community — for the Inaugural Mass to celebrate the start of Pope Leo’s pontificate, our first American Pope. Our prayers are with Pope Leo as he guides the Church with faith, compassion, and a commitment to justice in the years ahead. May his leadership inspire unity, hope, and renewal within the Church and throughout the world.”
The Congressional Delegation, led by Rep. French Hill (R-AR), also includes Reps. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Michael McCaul (R-TX), Joe Courtney (D-CT), Mike Kelly (D-AR), Ann Wagner (R-MO), Madeleine Dean (D-PA), Stephanie Bice (R-OK), Michelle Fischbach (R-MN), Andrew Garbarino (R-NY), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA), and Jeff Hurd (R-CO).
For photos and videos from the Inaugural Mass, click HERE.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Nanette Diaz Barragán (CA-44)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 17, 2025
Contact: Jin.Choi@mail.house.gov
Rep. Barragán Sounds Alarm in Marathon Energy and Commerce Committee Markup Over Republican Plans to Take Health Care Away from Millions of Americans
Washington, D.C. – After a 26-hour markup this week, House Republicans on the Energy and Commerce Committee advanced their piece of Donald Trump’s budget reconciliation plan — with no Democratic votes. The bill slashes $715 billion from Medicaid and other critical health care programs — combined with the provisions passed by the Ways & Means Committee this week and a proposed regulation from the Trump Administration, 13.7 million Americans now stand to lose their health care.
“This bill is nothing short of an assault on the health care of working families, children, seniors, and people with disabilities,” said Rep. Barragán. “The Republican reconciliation bill, along with the actions of the Trump Administration and Republicans’ failure to extend the Affordable Care Act subsidies, will cause almost 14 million people to lose their health care. Republicans forced us to debate this bill in the dead of night, when they knew most Americans would not see their attempt to take health care away from millions of people. House Democrats will continue to fight this bill and make sure all Americans know that these painful cuts to essential services and programs are so that Republicans can give even larger tax breaks to their billionaire donors.”
Throughout the marathon markup, Rep. Barragán and Democratic Committee Members introduced amendments to reverse, blunt, or improve upon the harms of the bill, which Republicans, as a whole, rejected. This bill will now be combined with the Republican reconciliation bills that have passed out of other House committees for full House consideration.
The approved bill text includes harmful provisions that will:
Make it harder for people to enroll and keep their health coverage:
Burdensome new paperwork for Medicaid enrollees, designed to reduce access — not improve care.
Barriers to enrolling and renewing coverage for people on Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
Shortened enrollment period for Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace coverage, reducing time to sign up.
Make it more expensive to access care:
New copays for Medicaid recipients.
New fees and documentation requirements for people seeking ACA subsidies.
Barriers to programs that help low-income seniors on both Medicare and Medicaid afford health care.
Decrease access to high-quality, affordable care for hospitals, community health centers, nursing homes, and at-home services:
Delays implementation of nursing home minimum staffing standards, putting elderly residents at risk.
Restricts states’ use of provider taxes, which support payments to health care providers and expansion of covered services.
Cuts federal Medicaid support for states that use their own funds to cover undocumented immigrants.
Beyond health care, the bill also includes sweeping attacks on environmental protections, clean energy investments, and telecommunications infrastructure:
Guts clean energy and environmental investments — including pollution reduction programs in schools and low-income communities.
Lets fossil fuel companies pay to bypass safeguards, including a $1 million fee to fast-track LNG exports and $10 million to expedite pipeline permitting.
Raises $88 billion through a spectrum auction and diverts those funds to tax cuts for billionaires, rather than investments in internet affordability and NextGen 911.
The legislation now moves to the House floor, where it will be considered as part of the broader Republican budget reconciliation package.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Nanette Diaz Barragán (CA-44)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 17, 2025
Contact: Jin.Choi@mail.house.gov
Rep. Barragán Joins Bipartisan Congressional Delegation to Attend Pope Leo XIV’s Mass for the Beginning of his Pontificate
14 bipartisan House Members will travel to the Vatican to celebrate the first American Pope
Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Nanette Barragán (CA-44) left this morning for Rome as part of the official Congressional Delegation (CODEL) to the Vatican to attend the Inaugural Mass of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV. Pope Leo XIV is the first American ever elevated to the papacy — a historic milestone for the Catholic Church and American Catholics.
“I’m honored to join this congressional delegation to witness a historic moment for the Catholic Church,” said Rep. Barragán. “As a Catholic and someone who represents a diverse district with a large Catholic population, it is especially meaningful to be at the Vatican for the inauguration of the first American Pope. This is a moment of pride, reflection, and hope for millions of people who look to the Church for guidance, compassion, and moral clarity. My prayers are with Pope Leo as he begins this monumental duty and spiritual journey.”
The Inaugural Mass will take place on Sunday, May 18th at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. The Congressional Delegation, led by Rep. French Hill (R-AR), also includes Reps. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Michael McCaul (R-TX), Joe Courtney (D-CT), Mike Kelly (D-AR), Ann Wagner (R-MO), Madeleine Dean (D-PA), Stephanie Bice (R-OK), Michelle Fischbach (R-MN), Andrew Garbarino (R-NY), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA), Jeff Hurd (R-CO).
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Nanette Diaz Barragán (CA-44)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 13, 2025
Contact: Jin.Choi@mail.house.gov
Rep. Barragán Brings Guest from New Jersey Republican Congressman’s District to Demand Republicans Vote Against Cuts to Medicaid
Washington D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Nanette Barragán (CA-44) brought a guest from Republican Congressman Tom Kean’s (R-NJ-07) district to speak out against the cruel Republican cuts to Medicaid in the House Energy and Commerce (E&C) Committee’s mark-up on their portion of the partisan reconciliation bill. In her opening remarks, Congresswoman Barragán shared the story of Sasha, a young constituent from Rep. Kean’s district, who was born with cerebral palsy. Since birth, Sasha has experienced grand mal seizures and is a survivor of a perinatal stroke. Medicaid has helped Sasha access the care and support services she needs to survive — and thrive as a college student and Special Olympics athlete. Congresswoman Barragán shared Sasha’s story with Rep. Kean and asked him to oppose the Republicans’ proposed reconciliation bill that has at least $715 billion in cuts to Medicaid and health care. Rep. Kean, who also sits on the Energy and Commerce Committee, has over 70,000 constituents in his district who currently rely on Medicaid, like Sasha.
During today’s E&C mark-up session, House Democrats will offer amendments to the House Republicans’ budget to protect Medicaid and highlight the harm of the Republican cuts. If Republicans refuse to support these amendments, their cuts to Medicaid and healthcare of at least $715 billion— the largest proposed cut to Medicaid in U.S. history — would kick at least 13.7 million Americans off their health insurance.
“House Republicans have the opportunity to make things right — so that the millions of Americans like Sasha who depend on Medicaid can continue to have access to the basic right of healthcare,” said Rep. Barragán. “Sasha, and the millions of Americans who see Medicaid as a lifeline, are real human beings whose lives will be devastated by these cuts, not just numbers on a page. House Democrats are committed to doing what House Republicans seem too afraid to do — listening to the stories of their constituents and amplifying them so that we can defeat these dangerous Medicaid cuts.”
“Thanks to Medicaid, I have been able to live an active and full life, going to college and even competing as a Special Olympics athlete. I’m speaking out because no one should have to fight this hard just to get the care they need to live. I ask that our Members of Congress remember that Medicaid provides essential support for millions of Americans across the country, and to please stand against any cuts to the program,” said Sasha, guest and constituent from Rep. Kean’s district.
To see Sasha’s original story submission, see here.
To tune into the livestream of the mark-up, click here.
LAREDO, Texas – Two members of the Tango Blast gang identified as Juan Miguel Regalado, 28, and Samuel Grajeda Jr., 21, were sentenced May 15 after being convicted of conspiracy to transport undocumented immigrants, following an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Border Patrol’s Laredo Sector and the Texas Department of Public Safety.
U.S. District Judge John A. Kazen imposed a 66-month sentence for Regalado. Grajeda previously received a 30-month-term of imprisonment as well as a consecutive six months for violating his supervised release for a previous alien transporting conviction. Both must also serve three years of supervised release following their sentences. As part of their guilty pleas, Nov. 12, 2024, both admitted to their involvement in the conspiracy
“These sentences reflect the serious consequences awaiting those who engage in human smuggling and endanger public safety,” said ICE Homeland Security Investigations San Antonio Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee. “Tango Blast gang members put countless lives at risk during these reckless pursuits. Through strong collaboration with our federal and state law enforcement partners, we remain committed to dismantling violent criminal organizations and protecting our communities.”
According to court documents, the investigation began April 20, 2024, when a group of suspected illegal aliens entered a green Tahoe in the Mines Road area. Regalado was driving and soon led law enforcement on a high-speed chase, during which multiple individuals jumped out of the vehicle. Regalado drove up to 100 miles per hour before driving the Tahoe into the Rio Grande River. Regalado then swam across to Mexico. Over the next several months, authorities continued to monitor the Mines Road area for other possible smuggling attempts. In November 2024, another group of illegal aliens entered a white Ford Taurus parked near Father McNaboe Park within the Mines Road area.
Authorities followed until a black Mercedes sedan cut them off. Grajeda and Regalado were the respective drivers. An attempted traffic stop of the Ford Taurus then led to another vehicle pursuit in which Grajeda crashed into an innocent bystander’s vehicle and continued to evade law enforcement. As it ended, law enforcement discovered four illegal aliens and the Ford Taurus abandoned in a north Laredo neighborhood.
Authorities then found Grajeda and Regalado within the vicinity of the abandoned vehicle and took them into custody.
Grajeda and Regalado remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined at in the near future.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa A. Lopez from the Southern District of Texas prosecuted the case.
FAIRFAX, Va. — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested an illegally present Guatemalan gang member with an extensive history of criminal activity that includes a multitude of charges and convictions for assault and battery, burglary, credit card fraud, trespassing and drug crimes. Officers with ICE Washington, D.C. arrested Mykol Santos-Santos, 25, in Fairfax May 12, after the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center refused to honor ICE’s 16th immigration detainer lodged against him.
Santos-Santos resisted the arrest heavily, resulting in the injury of an ICE officer.
“Mykol Santos-Santos is a habitual offender. He is a documented member of a violent criminal gang with a lengthy criminal history and represents an egregious danger to our Virginia communities,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Washington, D.C. Field Office Director Russell Hott. “While we are happy to have arrested him, we find it inexcusable that local law enforcement refused to honor 16 separate immigration detainers against Santos-Santos, forcing ICE officers to make an at large arrest where one of our officers was injured. We could have worked together with local law enforcement to arrange a safe transfer of custody. Instead, they decided to place politics ahead of public safety, and as a result one of our brave officers was injured. ICE Washington D.C. will continue to prioritize the safety of our public by arresting and removing criminal alien threats to our communities.”
U.S. Border Patrol arrested Santos-Santos July 11, 2014, after he illegally entered the United States near Hidalgo, Texas. Border Patrol officials issued him a notice to appear before a Justice Department immigration judge.
ICE Washington, D.C. arrested Santos-Santos July 17, 2018, during a targeted enforcement operation in Annandale, Virginia.
On Jan. 2, 2019, a Justice Department immigration judge granted him an $8,000 immigration bond.
On June 30, 2023, a Justice Department immigration judge ordered Santos-Santos removed from the United States to Guatemala.
Between Feb. 20, 2020, and May 8, 2025, Fairfax County Police arrested Santos-Santos at least 30 times and charged him with crimes including assault and battery, drug possession, drug possession with intent to distribute, burglary, theft, larceny, trespassing, property damage, obstruction of justice, attempting to flee police, failure to appear and violating court orders.
Between June 17, 2022, and May 12, 2025, ICE Washington, D.C. lodged 16 separate immigration detainers against him with the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center. The facility ignored all 16 detainers and released Santos-Santos back into the community on each occasion.
Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.
Learn more about ICE’s mission to increase public safety in our communities on X at @EROWashington.
People who use SR 307 and SR 308 are invited to give feedback during open house events
POULSBO – The Washington State Department of Transportation is seeking feedback on several fish barrier removal projects in Kitsap County during an online open house and two in-person open houses.
Starting in 2027, WSDOT will correct six fish passage barriers under Bond Road/State Route 307 and SR 308.
WSDOT is proposing to close the roadway at each location. During the work, a section of the roadway will be removed, and replaced with a fish-passable culvert or bridge. While the road is closed, signed detours will be provided.
The open houses are an opportunity for the public to provide input on these detours.
Kitsap 29 Fish Barrier Removal online open house
When: Now through Thursday, June 26 Where: engage.wsdot.wa.gov/kitsap-29-fish-barrier-removal/ Details: Information is available online 24/7 for people to visit and leave comments whenever best fits their schedule.
Kitsap 29 Fish Barrier Removal in-person open houses
When: 4 to 6 p.m. Monday, June 2, 2025 Where: North Kitsap High School Commons 1780 NE Hostmark St. Poulsbo, WA 98370
When: 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, June 5, 2025 Where: Hilder Pearson Elementary School Gym 15650 Central Valley Road NW, Poulsbo, WA 98370
Details: The in-person open house will have the same information as the online open house. Project team members will be available to explain the project, answer questions and take comments. A translator fluent in Spanish will be present. There is no formal presentation. Attendees are welcome to drop by anytime during the two-hour event.
Free, temporary internet access is available to those who do not have broadband service. To find the nearest Drive-In WiFi Hotspot visit the Department of Commerce website.
Free WiFi access is available at these locations for people who wish to participate in the online open house:
Kitsap Regional Library, 700 NE Lincoln Road, Poulsbo, WA 98370
Kitsap Regional Library, 3650 NW Anderson Hill Road, Suite 101, Silverdale, WA 98383
WASHINGTON— Stephen Paul Edmund Sutton, 53, a United Kingdom citizen, pleaded guilty and was sentenced today for his participation in a fraud scheme, perpetrated when he was employed by a contracting firm that implemented a U.S. Agency for International Development-funded (USAID) power distribution program (PDP) in Pakistan, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro and Acting Assistant Inspector General for Investigations Sean Bottary.
Sutton pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit theft concerning a program receiving federal funds, which is a felony. In his role as a Logistics Operations Manager, Sutton took kickbacks of USAID-funds used to pay for the services rendered. After fighting extradition for more than two years, Sutton was extradited to the United States. District Court Judge Amit P. Mehta sentenced Sutton to time-served and ordered that Sutton be turned over to immigration authorities.
He pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit theft concerning a program receiving federal funds. He was sentenced to time-served and one day of supervised release.
According to court documents, PDP was a component of U.S. government assistance to the government of Pakistan to support its energy sector. Launched in September 2010, the five-year program was designed to facilitate improvements in Pakistan’s government-owned electric power distribution companies through interventions and projects addressing governance issues, technical and non-technical losses, and low revenue collection. The main goal of the PDP was to improve the commercial performance of the participating distribution companies through technology upgrades and improvements in processes, procedures, and practices, as well as training and capacity building. Under the PDP contract, Sutton’s employer subcontracted through purchase orders with vendors in Pakistan for certain goods and services.
From May through November 2015, Sutton and his co-conspirator, an employee supervised by Sutton, participated in a kickback scheme by creating two companies, obtaining PDP purchase orders for forklift and crane services for the companies, and distributing the profits to themselves. As part of the scheme, his co-conspirator arranged for low-grade local vendors to provide the services for at least half the contract rates, and Sutton ensured that the company paid the invoices despite suspicions raised by an accounts payable officer. U.S. government sentencing documents indicate the agency was defrauded of almost $100,000 and that for his part, Sutton received at least $21,000 in kickbacks.
Sutton’s co-conspirator is also charged by indictment and his case is pending disposition.
This case was investigated by the USAID Office of Inspector General and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Emily Miller and former Special Assistant United States Attorneys Scot Morris and Nicholas Coates of the Fraud, Public Corruption, and Civil Rights Section. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in securing the arrest and extradition of Sutton from the UK.
ALBUQUERQUE – A Ojo Amarillo man has been charged by criminal complaint with assault following an incident that left the victim with multiple fractures and severe facial injuries.
According to court documents, on May 6, 2025, the Navajo Nation Police Department responded to a residence in Ojo Amarillo, New Mexico, where officers discovered the victim suffering from extensive facial lacerations, swelling, and a right eye swollen shut. She was immediately transported to San Juan Regional Medical Center for emergency treatment.
The victim reported that Kyle Kee, 33, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, attacked her without warning, striking her repeatedly in the face, back, and stomach. The assault only ended when a phone call interrupted the attack. The victim said that Kee had previously assaulted her and was on probation for a prior offense.
Officers located Kee hiding in a nearby field. After initially attempting to evade capture, Kee was apprehended and became verbally aggressive, spitting on and kicking an officer during the arrest.
Medical records confirm the victim sustained an orbital fracture, nasal bone fractures, multiple contusions, and a laceration above her right eye requiring sutures.
Keeis charged with assault resulting in serious bodily injury and will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been set. If convicted, Kee faces up to 10 years in prison.
U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Philip Russell, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Farmington Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Jordan is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
World Health Organization Member States, meeting today in Committee A of the World Health Assembly, approved a resolution that calls for the adoption of an historic global compact to make the world safer from future pandemics. The WHO Pandemic Agreement will next be considered for final adoption by the Assembly on Tuesday during the plenary session.
Monday’s approval of the Pandemic Agreement resolution follows a more than three-year process, launched by governments during the COVID-19 pandemic, to negotiate the world’s first such accord to address the gaps and inequities in preventing, preparing for and responding to pandemics. This watershed agreement was adopted under Article 19 of the WHO Constitution. It aims to foster stronger collaboration and cooperation among countries, international organizations like WHO, civil society, the private sector and other stakeholders to prevent pandemics occurring in the first place, and to better respond in the event of a future pandemic crisis.
“Governments from all over the world are making their countries, and our interconnected global community, more equitable, healthier and safer from the threats posed by pathogens and viruses of pandemic potential,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization. “I congratulate WHO‘s Member States for resolving to come together in the aftermath of COVID-19 to better protect the world from future pandemics. Their work to develop this global accord will ensure countries work better, faster and more equitably together to prevent and respond to the next pandemic threat.”
The Pandemic Agreement and the resolution calling for its adoption will be taken up by the full plenary of the World Health Assembly on Tuesday, 20 May. Immediately after, there will be a High-Level segment featuring statements from Heads of States of multiple countries.
“The WHO Pandemic Agreement is a demonstration of the shared desire by all people to be better prepared to prevent and respond to the next pandemic, with a commitment to the principles of respect for human dignity, equity, solidarity and sovereignty, and basing public health decisions to control pandemics on the best available science and evidence,” said the Honorable Dr Esperance Luvindao, Minister of Health and Social Services of Namibia, and Chair of the Committee A meeting that adopted today’s resolution. “The costs that COVID inflicted on lives, livelihoods and economies were great and many, and we – as sovereign states – have resolved to join hands, as one world together, so we can protect our children, elders, frontline health workers and all others from the next pandemic. It is our duty and responsibility to humanity.”
The resolution sets out several steps for taking the world forward and preparing for the Pandemic Agreement’s implementation. It includes the launch of a process to draft and negotiate an annex to the Agreement that would establish a Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing system (PABS) through an Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG). The result of this process will be considered at next year’s World Health Assembly. Once the Assembly adopts the PABS annex, the Pandemic Agreement will then be open for signature and consideration of ratification, including by national legislative bodies. After 60 ratifications, the Agreement will enter into force.
In addition, Member States also directed the IGWG to initiate steps to enable setting up of the Coordinating Financial Mechanism for pandemic prevention, preparedness and response, and the Global Supply Chain and Logistics Network (GSCL) to “enhance, facilitate, and work to remove barriers and ensure equitable, timely, rapid, safe, and affordable access to pandemic-related health products for countries in need during public health emergencies of international concern, including pandemic emergencies, and for prevention of such emergencies.”
According to the Agreement, pharmaceutical manufacturers participating in the PABS system will play a key role in equitable and timely access to pandemic-related health products by making available to WHO “rapid access targeting 20% of their real time production of safe, quality and effective vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics for the pathogen causing the pandemic emergency.” The distribution of these products to countries will be carried out on the basis of public health risk and need, with particular attention to the needs of developing countries and those supported through the GSCL.
The Pandemic Agreement aligns with the International Health Regulations, amendments to which were adopted by governments at last year’s World Health Assembly to bolster international rules to better detect, prevent and respond to outbreaks.
Dr Tedros thanked the Bureau of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB) that coordinated and facilitated the process to draft and negotiate the Pandemic Agreement. The WHO Director-General also praised the tireless work and excellence of the WHO Secretariat team that supported the Bureau and Member States, led by Dr Michael Ryan and Dr Jaouad Mahjour.
“An immensely talented, experienced and driven WHO team was assembled to support the vision of governments to develop this historic Pandemic Agreement,” Dr Tedros said. “This group of individuals, representing so many countries and regions of the world, deserve enormous credit and thanks from the international community for what they have done to help make the world safer for future generations.”
The INB was established in December 2021, at a special session of the World Health Assembly. WHO Member States were tasked to develop a convention, agreement or other international instrument under the WHO Constitution to strengthen pandemic preparedness, prevention and response. Members of the INB Bureau that guided the process were Co-Chairs Ms Precious Matsoso (South Africa) and Ambassador Anne-Claire Amprou (France), and Vice-Chairs Ambassador Tovar da Silva Nunes (Brazil), Ambassador Amr Ramadan (Egypt), Dr Viroj Tangcharoensathien (Thailand); and Ms Fleur Davies (Australia). Past members included former Co-Chair, Mr Roland Driece (the Netherlands), and former Vice-Chairs Ambassador Honsei Kozo (Japan), Mr Kazuho Taguchi (Japan), and Mr Ahmed Soliman (Egypt).
Illegal Aliens, Using the CBP Home App, Chose to Return Home the Right Way
WASHINGTON – Today, The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) conducted avoluntary charter flight from Houston, TX, to Honduras and Colombia, bringing 64 participants who opted to self-deport back to their home countries. This charter flight is one of the first actions the Department has taken to fulfill President Trump’s recent proclamation to create Project Homecoming.
This was a voluntary charter flight, not an ICE enforcement operation. All participants were offered the same benefits as any illegal alien who self-deports using the CBP Home App. Theyreceived travel assistance, a $1,000 stipend, and preserved the possibility they could one day return to the United States legally.
In Honduras, 38participants were warmly welcomed by their home government and family members. They also benefitedfrom the Honduran government’s “Hermano, Hermana, Vuelve a Casa” program, which includes an additional $100 bonus for people over 18, food vouchers, and assistance in finding employment.
In Colombia, 26 participants were welcomed back by their families and representatives of the Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Migration Colombia. The Colombian government provided social services from the Family Welfare Institute (ICBF), and the Department of Social Prosperity.
“Today, DHS conducted its first Project Homecoming charter flight of 64 individuals who voluntarily chose to self-deport to their home counties of Honduras and Colombia,” said Secretary Kristi Noem. “If you are here illegally, use the CBP Home App to take control of your departure and receive financial support to return home. If you don’t, you will be subjected to fines, arrest, deportation and will never be allowed to return. If you are in this country illegally, self-deport NOW and preserve your opportunity to potentially return the legal, right way.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks’ (IA-02)
Washington, D.C.– Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-01) is leading a formal letter to Speaker Mike Johnson requesting an invitation for Pope Leo XIV to address a Joint Session of Congress.
The letter comes just days after Congresswoman Miller-Meeksjoineda historic congressional delegation to the Vatican for the (inaugural) Mass of Pope Leo XIV—the first American pope—alongside Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and nearly 20 members of Congress.
“Pope Leo XIV represents a profound moment in both American and world history,”said Miller-Meeks. “His life, leadership, and message of faith are already uniting people across the globe. Whether you’re Catholic or not, his message is one of human dignity, responsibility, and truth. It would be an incredible honor for Congress and the American people to hear directly from him. At a time when the world is searching for moral clarity and renewed purpose, Congress should welcome that message.”
If accepted, Pope Leo XIV would become only the second pontiff in history to address a Joint Session of Congress.
Joining Rep. Miller-Meeks in penning this letter are Reps. Jeff Hurd (CO), Michael T. McCaul (TX), Chuck Fleischmann (TN), Don Bacon (NE), Tom Barrett (MI), Buddy Carter (GA), Mark B. Messmer (IN), Rob Bresnahan Jr. (PA), Glenn Grothman (WI), Carlos Gimenez (FL), Darin LaHood (IL), Rick Crawford (AR), and Michael V. Lawler (NY).
To read the full letter to Speaker Mike Johnson, please clickHERE.
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, May 19 (Xinhua) — Zhao Leji, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC), held talks with Sergio Gutierrez Luna, president of the Chamber of Deputies (lower house) of Mexico, in Beijing on Monday.
Zhao Leji said China is willing to work with Mexico to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, implement the five plans for building a community with a shared future for China and Latin American and Caribbean countries (LAC), enrich the content of the China-Mexico comprehensive strategic partnership, and promote unity and prosperity between China and LAC.
The above-mentioned five programs, covering aspects such as solidarity, development, civilization, peace and people-to-people connectivity, were introduced by Chinese President Xi Jinping at the opening ceremony of the 4th China-CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) Forum Ministerial Meeting in Beijing last week.
The NPC Standing Committee chairman noted that the Chinese side highly appreciates the long-term commitment of the Mexican Chamber of Deputies to the one-China principle and welcomes Mexico’s flexible participation in the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative.
According to Zhao Leji, China welcomes deepening cooperation with Mexico in traditional sectors such as infrastructure construction, expanding cooperation in new sectors including electric vehicles, new energy and agricultural machinery, strengthening cultural and people-to-people exchanges, and expanding cooperation in education, think tanks and the media.
Zhao Leji stressed that the Chinese National People’s Congress is willing to strengthen exchanges and maintain close coordination with the Mexican parliament.
As important representatives of the Global South, China and LAC countries should carry forward the glorious tradition of independence and self-reliance, safeguard their right to development, uphold international fairness and justice, and practice genuine multilateralism, the NPC Standing Committee chairman added.
S. Gutierrez Luna, for his part, stated that Mexico is ready to work with China to promote the implementation of the results of the China-CELAC Forum and strengthen cooperation in the areas of economics, science, technology, culture, education and tourism.
Mexico advocates for strengthening international cooperation instead of erecting barriers, S. Gutierrez Luna emphasized, adding that the Chamber of Deputies of the Mexican Congress hopes to deepen exchanges with the NPC to promote Mexico-China relations and LAC-China relations. –0–
Cheers to New Adventures: Rip Shively’s Retirement Celebration!
We are both excited and saddened to announce the retirement of Rip Shively, who has served as the Environmental Health Program Coordinator for the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) since 2022.
Rip’s contributions to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) span an impressive career of over 35 years, during which he has significantly advanced our understanding of environmental health issues and fostered meaningful collaborations across various sectors.
Throughout his distinguished career, Rip has exemplified dedication and passion as a civil servant. Rip began his career at the Western Fisheries Research Center (WFRC) in Cook, WA in April of 1990. In 1990, WFRC was a US Fish and Wildlife Service organization. He was a temp employee until November of 1992 when he was hired as a term employee, but his leadership and can-do attitude soon garnered him a permanent position. In 1993, WFRC was moved into the newly created National Biological Service (NBS). He continued to lead field teams to collect data on the Columbia River, looking at a variety of issues in support of State and Federal Agencies. The change continued, and in 1996 the NBS was swept up into the USGS. Around 2000, Rip took a position in Klamath Falls, OR working on the Suckers in Klamath Lake. His ability to navigate the highly charged political environment and bring in researchers from the Oregon Water Science Center to assist on the project was rewarded with a DOI Conservation Service Award in 2005. Then in 2008, Rip’s wife’s job required the family to move, and he took a position as the Bureau Approving Official for Biology. While it was not what he was accustomed to, he took away with him a greater knowledge of the outstanding science across all of USGS.
Years later, Rip’s leadership skills, were put to the test when he took on the Acting Center Director roll at Northern Prairie Research Center. This detail led to the opportunity to apply for the Center Director position at Columbia Environmental Research Center (CERC). He was selected and served CERC as a strong advocate for the science conducted and opportunities for the staff. In late 2022, Rip joined the Ecosystems Mission Area as Environmental Health (EH) Program Coordinator. Within the EH Program, Rip has been leading from the front looking for all opportunities to support the science and the centers.
Rip has been a mentor and a source of inspiration for many within the USGS and beyond. His ability to unite teams, promote innovative research, and advocate for One Health has left a lasting legacy that will continue to shape our work long after his departure. He has always taken the time to support and empower his colleagues, fostering a collaborative and inclusive environment that encouraged professional growth.
In addition to his professional achievements, Rip has also contributed greatly to the spirit and culture of our organization. His enthusiasm for teaching others, his unwavering support for his team, and his knack for bringing humor and camaraderie to our work gatherings make his retirement announcement hard to hear.
As Rip embarks on this new chapter of his life, we hope he enjoys every moment of his well-deserved retirement. May it be filled with joy, adventure, family time, travel, and dogs. We know he will be missed both professionally and personally, but we look forward to hearing about the exciting new experiences he will pursue.
Rip, thank you for your years of dedicated service, guidance, and friendship. Congratulations on your retirement!
Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Note: The expiration time in the watch graphic is amended if the watch is replaced, cancelled or extended.Note: Click for Watch Status Reports. SEL6
URGENT – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED Severe Thunderstorm Watch Number 296 NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 345 PM CDT Mon May 19 2025
The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a
* Severe Thunderstorm Watch for portions of Southern Iowa Northern Missouri
* Effective this Monday afternoon and evening from 345 PM until 1000 PM CDT.
* Primary threats include… Scattered large hail and isolated very large hail events to 2 inches in diameter likely Scattered damaging wind gusts to 70 mph possible
SUMMARY…Strong to severe thunderstorms over northern Missouri will spread northward across the watch this afternoon and evening. The strongest storms will pose a risk of large hail.
The severe thunderstorm watch area is approximately along and 50 statute miles north and south of a line from 65 miles west northwest of Lamoni IA to 25 miles south of Ottumwa IA. For a complete depiction of the watch see the associated watch outline update (WOUS64 KWNS WOU6).
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
REMEMBER…A Severe Thunderstorm Watch means conditions are favorable for severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area. Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for threatening weather conditions and listen for later statements and possible warnings. Severe thunderstorms can and occasionally do produce tornadoes.
&&
OTHER WATCH INFORMATION…CONTINUE…WW 292…WW 293…WW 294…WW 295…
AVIATION…A few severe thunderstorms with hail surface and aloft to 2 inches. Extreme turbulence and surface wind gusts to 60 knots. A few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 500. Mean storm motion vector 22030.
…Hart
Note: The Aviation Watch (SAW) product is an approximation to the watch area. The actual watch is depicted by the shaded areas. SAW6 WW 296 SEVERE TSTM IA MO 192045Z – 200300Z AXIS..50 STATUTE MILES NORTH AND SOUTH OF LINE.. 65WNW LWD/LAMONI IA/ – 25S OTM/OTTUMWA IA/ ..AVIATION COORDS.. 45NM N/S /32ESE OVR – 36N IRK/ HAIL SURFACE AND ALOFT..2 INCHES. WIND GUSTS..60 KNOTS. MAX TOPS TO 500. MEAN STORM MOTION VECTOR 22030.
LAT…LON 41699508 41469245 40009245 40249508
THIS IS AN APPROXIMATION TO THE WATCH AREA. FOR A COMPLETE DEPICTION OF THE WATCH SEE WOUS64 KWNS FOR WOU6.
Watch 296 Status Report Message has not been issued yet.
Note: Click for Complete Product Text.Tornadoes
Probability of 2 or more tornadoes
Low (10%)
Probability of 1 or more strong (EF2-EF5) tornadoes
Low (5%)
Wind
Probability of 10 or more severe wind events
Mod (50%)
Probability of 1 or more wind events > 65 knots
Low (20%)
Hail
Probability of 10 or more severe hail events
Mod (60%)
Probability of 1 or more hailstones > 2 inches
Mod (60%)
Combined Severe Hail/Wind
Probability of 6 or more combined severe hail/wind events
High (90%)
For each watch, probabilities for particular events inside the watch (listed above in each table) are determined by the issuing forecaster. The “Low” category contains probability values ranging from less than 2% to 20% (EF2-EF5 tornadoes), less than 5% to 20% (all other probabilities), “Moderate” from 30% to 60%, and “High” from 70% to greater than 95%. High values are bolded and lighter in color to provide awareness of an increased threat for a particular event.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Kweisi Mfume (MD-07)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Kweisi Mfume (D-MD-07) and Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) are introducing the Henrietta Lacks Congressional Gold Medal Act, in the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate. This legislation would posthumously award a Congressional Gold Medal to Henrietta Lacks in recognition of her immortal “HeLa cells” which have made invaluable contributions to global health, scientific research, our quality of life, and patients’ rights. Since the American Revolution, Congress has commissioned gold medals as its highest expression of national appreciation for distinguished achievements and contributions.
The bill receives support from Members of the Maryland Congressional Delegation, including Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD) and Representatives Steny Hoyer (D-MD-05), Jamie Raskin (D-MD-08), Glenn Ivey (D-MD-04), April McClain Delaney (D-MD-06), Sarah Elfreth (D-MD-03), and Johnny Olszewski (D-MD-02). These lawmakers makeup 27 Members of the U.S. House who have signed on as original cosponsors. The legislation is also endorsed by HELA100: Henrietta Lacks Initiative and the Henrietta Lacks Legacy Group (HLLG).
“I am honored to introduce this legislation in the U.S. House to provide both the spirit of Mrs. Lacks and her descendants the gratitude and recognition this lineage deserves. Her ‘HeLa cells’ have altered the future of medical science, and the world continues to benefit from Mrs. Lacks’ contributions and sacrifice,” said Congressman Kweisi Mfume. “During a time in our country where the Trump administration shamefully seeks to erase Black history from the American story, the legacies of Black historymakers like Mrs. Lacks must be uplifted, and we must continue to deliver our message back to President Trump: you erase it, we will replace it,” he concluded.
“Without knowing it at the time of her cancer treatment, Henrietta Lacks would go on to change the course of modern medicine. Her cells unlocked a breakthrough in medical research, leading to treatments and cures that are bettering people’s lives to this day. But Mrs. Lacks never consented to the use of her cells – nor did she receive rightful credit for the monumental contributions she made. That’s why it’s all the more important that we recognize her with the Congressional Gold Medal, Congress’ highest expression of appreciation,” said Senator Chris Van Hollen.
“The Lacks Family is grateful to our friends Congressman Kweisi Mfume and Senator Chris Van Hollen for their leadership and continued commitment toward awarding a Congressional Gold Medal to my grandmother, Henrietta Lacks,” said Alfred Lacks Carter, Jr., grandson of Henrietta Lacks. “This Mother’s Day has even more meaning. I applaud the introduction of this Act in the spirit of my mother, Deborah Lacks, who worked tirelessly to ensure that her mother, Henrietta Lacks, was celebrated as the Mother of Modern Medicine,” he concluded.
“Awarding Henrietta Lacks a Congressional Gold Medal as the world celebrates her 105th birthday this year is truly a fitting honor. Our Hennie’s contributions to science, medicine, and research have saved lives and created cures – here in the U.S. and worldwide. As my grandfather, Lawrence Lacks, Sr., Henrietta Lacks’ eldest son, often said, ‘We are proud of all the good that she has done for the world.’ As the next generation, we are reclaiming her story to make certain the world recognizes her impact,” said Veronica Robinson, Senior Advisor, HELA100: Henrietta Lacks Initiative, great granddaughter of Henrietta Lacks.
“On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Henrietta Lacks Legacy Group (HLLG), it is our pleasure to write this letter of support for your bill that would award posthumously a Congressional Gold Medal to Henrietta Lacks in recognition of her immortal cells that have had a revolutionary effect on modern medicine and other scientific innovations,” wrote Dr. Adele Newson-Horst, Chair, HLLG Board of Directors and Servant Courtney Speed, Founder and President, HLLG.
In 1951, it was discovered that Mrs. Henrietta Lacks, of Baltimore, had a large, malignant tumor on her cervix. However, unbeknownst to Mrs. Lacks or her family, medical researchers took samples of her tumor during her treatment without her consent. Henrietta Lacks’ cells, now known as ‘‘HeLa cells,” doubled every 20 to 24 hours whereas other human cells died in the same time period.
Lacks’ prolific cells continue to replicate to this day and contribute to remarkable advances in medicine resulting in several Nobel Prize award-winning discoveries and groundbreaking advancements. These scientific discoveries include the development of the polio vaccine and drugs used to treat cancer, HIV/AIDS, hemophilia, leukemia, and Parkinson’s disease. Her cells were even sent into space to survey long-term effects on living cells and tissues.
The bill text for the Henrietta Lacks Congressional Gold Medal Act is available by clicking here.
The Life of Henrietta Lacks
Henrietta Lacks was born in Roanoke, Virginia in 1920 and later moved to Baltimore, Maryland with her husband and family of 5 children.
At the age of 31, she sought treatment from The Johns Hopkins Hospital for prolonged bleeding.
At the time, the hospital was one of a few that would treat African Americans. Shortly after her admission to the hospital, she was diagnosed with an aggressive cervical cancer that would lead to her untimely death only 8 months later.
This tragedy left Henrietta Lacks’ husband and 5 children to go on without her.
Despite Mrs. Lacks’ passing, her life continued under unique circumstances. Researchers took cells from Henrietta Lacks without her consent or the consent of her relatives and discovered that they were unlike any other known cells before.
Mrs. Lacks’ cells, now referred to as, “HeLa cells,” were remarkably durable and prolific, which allowed them to be used extensively in scientific research.
The cells had the unparalleled capacity to reproduce and were deemed immortal; meaning, where other human cells would die, “HeLa cells” doubled every 20 to 24 hours.
Henrietta Lacks’ immortal cells have been used by researchers, resulting in several Nobel Prize award-winning discoveries and groundbreaking advancements.
These scientific discoveries include the development of the polio vaccine and drugs used to treat cancer, HIV/AIDS, hemophilia, leukemia, and Parkinson’s disease. Her cells were even sent into space to survey long-term effects on living cells and tissues.
Henrietta Lacks’ story garnered the attention of the nation and was chronicled in a Primetime Emmy Award-nominated HBO film entitled, “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.”
In October of 2024, Johns Hopkins University and Johns Hopkins Medicine broke ground on the Henrietta Lacks Building.
The new 34,000-square-foot building will be located on the East Baltimore campus and support multiple programs of the Berman Institute, Johns Hopkins University and the School of Medicine, and will house flexible program and classroom space for educational, research, and community use purposes.
Washington, D.C.— U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said today he has written the Trump administration about the challenges Native communities will face under Trump’s “election integrity” executive order and the SAVE Act, including requirements documenting proof of citizenship and restricting mail-in voting.
The SAVE Act passed by the Republican-controlled House and Trump’s executive order would require Native Americans to use a government issued state ID to register to vote instead of their Tribal IDs which are currently accepted in nearly every state and have been for decades. The SAVE Act also has an in-person requirement for voter-registration that would force Tribal voters in rural areas to travel significant distances to prove their citizenship and register to vote.
“Enactment of new voter registration policies under the Executive Order and the SAVE Act would lead to mass disenfranchisement of eligible Native voters and further depress the Native vote,” Wyden and colleagues wrote Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum. “Tribal IDs generally lack place of birth information required by the legislation, and the vast majority of these IDs lack the specific U.S. citizenship documentation required by the Executive Order. And the SAVE Act’s in-person requirement would exacerbate existing barriers, such as requiring IDs that list residential mailing addresses, by forcing many Native voters to travel great distances, including costly flights or multi-hour drives, to reach their local elections office or polling place.”
Wyden and his colleagues also highlighted that the vote-by-mail restrictions would disproportionately hurt Native Americans who rely on mail-in voting because of their lack of transportation and rural locations. Trump’s executive order penalizes states that accept absentee or mail-in ballots received after Election Day, harming Native voters in Oregon, especially as the State processes ballots for days as long as they were postmarked by Election day.
“As Secretary of the Interior, you have a special moral and legal responsibility to uphold our nation’s trust and treaty obligations,” continued the senators. “If implemented, the sweeping federal mandates included in the Executive Order and the SAVE Act would disenfranchise eligible Native voters who are following state laws. We encourage your active engagement with the White House and the Department of Justice to ensure that Native communities are able to exercise the franchise fully and have their voices heard at the ballot box.”
In addition to Wyden, the letter was also led by U.S. Senators Alex Padilla, D-Calif., and Brian Schatz, D-Hawai’i, and signed by U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., Mazie Hirono, D-Hawai’i, Tim Kaine, D-Va., Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., Edward J. Markey, D-Mass., Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., Tina Smith, D-Minn., Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., and Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass.
Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Jeanne Shaheen
(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Josh Hawley (R-MO) last week introduced the No Handouts for Drug Advertisements Act—bipartisan legislation that would prohibit pharmaceutical companies from claiming tax deductions for expenses on drug advertisements to consumers. Under current law, pharmaceutical companies can deduct the costs of direct-to-consumer advertising, subsidizing their media campaigns at taxpayers’ expense. Shaheen’s and Hawley’s bipartisan legislation would end this practice that contributes to increased health care costs.
“It’s flat-out wrong that drug companies receive huge tax breaks for running ads directly to consumers, especially as taxpayers in my state pay more and more for life-saving drugs,” said Senator Shaheen. “It’s well past time for Congress to step in to end these tax breaks, lower costs for everyday Americans and hold pharmaceutical companies accountable. My bipartisan bill with Senator Hawley offers a practical solution to do just that.”
“For too long, Big Pharma has used our tax dollars to fund ads that push their products directly on patients. That needs to end,” Senator Hawley said. “HHS Secretary RFK, Jr. has made it clear that he wants to ban prescription drug commercials, and I’m proud to introduce legislation to do just that. Making America Healthy Again starts by ending handouts to these corporations and empowering consumers to make the health decision that is truly in their best interest.”
“This bipartisan bill seeks to eliminate a tax break that fuels the flood of prescription drug ads designed to boost profits and drive up prices for patients. The U.S. is one of just two countries that even allow direct-to-consumer drug advertising — there’s no reason taxpayers should be footing the bill for it. We’re proud to support Senators Shaheen and Hawley’s common-sense reform to put patients before pharma profits,” said Merith Basey, Executive Director of Patients for Affordable Drugs Now.
The No Handouts for Drug Advertisements Act would:
Amend the Internal Revenue Code to disallow tax deductions for expenses related to direct-to-consumer advertising of both prescription drugs and compounded medications.
Define “direct-to-consumer advertising” as advertisements primarily targeted to the general public through television, radio, direct mail, billboards, internet, social media, and other digital platforms.
Shaheen has spearheaded efforts to combat rising drug prices and make essential medications more affordable, including by supporting key provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act that provide Medicare the ability to directly negotiate the prices of certain high-cost drugs with pharmaceutical manufacturers. As co-chair of the bipartisan U.S. Senate Diabetes Caucus, Shaheen has consistently pressed to hold insulin manufacturers, insurers and pharmacy benefit managers accountable for the skyrocketing cost of life-saving insulin. Her bipartisan legislation with Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), the INSULIN Act, would comprehensively address the skyrocketing costs of insulin and remove barriers to care making it more accessible to millions of Americans.
Source: United States Senator for Commonwealth of Virginia Mark R Warner
WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) released the following statement ahead of a Senate procedural vote on a revised version of the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins (GENIUS) Act:
“The stablecoin market has reached nearly $250 billion and the U.S. can’t afford to keep standing on the sidelines. We need clear rules of the road to protect consumers, defend national security, and support responsible innovation. The GENIUS Act is a meaningful step forward. It sets high standards for issuers, limits big tech overreach, and creates a safer, more transparent framework for digital assets. It’s not perfect, but it’s far better than the status quo.
“Many senators, myself included, have very real concerns about the Trump family’s use of crypto technologies to evade oversight, hide shady financial dealings, and personally profit at the expense of everyday Americans. We have a duty to shine a light on these abuses and stop Donald Trump from exploiting emerging technologies to enrich himself, dodge accountability, and weaken the safeguards that protect American consumers and the rule of law.
“But we cannot allow that corruption to blind us to the broader reality: blockchain technology is here to stay. If American lawmakers don’t shape it, others will – and not in ways that serve our interests or democratic values. Innovation in this space is happening, with or without us. We have a responsibility to ensure it happens safely, transparently, and in a way that advances U.S. economic and national security interests. The GENIUS Act will help get us started.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Norma Torres (35th District of California)
May 19, 2025
Letter Calling for Robust Investment in Due Process for Immigrants and Asylum Seekers Facing Removal Proceedings
Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Norma Torres (CA-35), joined by 100 of her colleagues, led a letter to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Chair urging $400 million in funding for legal representation, to ensure the right to due process enshrined in the Constitution.
The lawmakers’ letter calls attention to the lack of guaranteed legal counsel in immigration proceedings, noting that more than 40 percent of individuals—and a staggering 70 percent of those in detention—face removal proceedings without a lawyer.
“Our immigration courts are overwhelmed and increasingly complex. Without legal representation, thousands of vulnerable individuals are left to face deportation alone, often in a language they do not speak,” said The Members. “Legal representation is not just a safeguard for the individual, but a necessary component of an efficient and fair immigration system. This funding is about justice, dignity, and ensuring everyone has their fair day in court.”
The $400 million request would build on the $50 million included in the House FY2022 Appropriations Bill (H.R. 4505) to expand access to legal services. In their letter, the Members cite clear data: individuals with legal counsel are five times more likely to obtain legal relief and are significantly more likely to appear in court, which increases court efficiency and reduces case backlogs.
The letter also denounces the misuse of outdated laws such as the Alien Enemies Act and certain provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which have been exploited to detain and deport legal residents for engaging in constitutionally protected activities. Judges have warned that without due process for immigrants, there is no due process for citizens either, because authorities could simply claim someone isn’t a citizen, denying them the opportunity to prove their citizenship.
“Weaponizing our legal system to punish lawful residents or silence dissent is un-American. This investment in legal representation is a direct step toward restoring due process and upholding our nation’s fundamental values,” the Members Continued.
Full letter
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Carta pide una inversión significativa en el proceso para los inmigrantes y solicitantes de asilo que se enfrentan a un proceso de expulsión
Washington, D.C. – Hoy, la Congresista Norma Torres (CA-35) unida a 100 de sus colegas, dirigió una carta al Presidente de la Subcomisión de Asignaciones para Comercio, Justicia, Ciencia y Agencias Relacionadas de la Cámara de Representantes, instando a destinar 400 millones de dólares a la financiación de la representación legal, para garantizar el derecho al debido proceso consagrado en la Constitución.
La carta de los legisladores llama la atención sobre la falta de garantía de asesoramiento jurídico en los procedimientos de inmigración, señalando que más del 40 por ciento de las personas – y un asombroso 70 por ciento de los detenidos – enfrentan procedimientos de deportación sin un abogado.
“Nuestros tribunales de inmigración están desbordados y son cada vez más complejos. Sin representación legal, miles de personas vulnerables se enfrentan solas a la deportación, a menudo en un idioma que no hablan,” dijeron los Miembros. “La representación legal no es sólo una salvaguarda para el individuo, sino un componente necesario de un sistema de inmigración eficiente y justo. Esta financiación tiene que ver con la justicia, la dignidad y la garantía de que todo el mundo tenga su día justo en los tribunales.”
La solicitud de 400 millones de dólares se basaría en los 50 millones incluidos en el proyecto de ley de asignaciones para el año fiscal 2022 de la Cámara de Representantes (H.R. 4505) para ampliar el acceso a los servicios jurídicos. En su carta, los diputados citan datos claros: las personas con asistencia letrada tienen cinco veces más probabilidades de obtener ayuda legal y es mucho más probable que comparezcan ante los tribunales, lo que aumenta la eficiencia de los tribunales y reduce la acumulación de casos.
La carta también denuncia el uso indebido de leyes obsoletas como la Ley de Enemigos Extranjeros y ciertas disposiciones de la Ley de Inmigración y Nacionalidad, que han sido explotadas para detener y deportar a residentes legales por participar en actividades constitucionalmente protegidas.
“Armar nuestro sistema legal para castigar a los residentes legales o silenciar la disidencia es antiestadounidense. Esta inversión en representación legal es un paso directo hacia la restauración del debido proceso y la defensa de los valores fundamentales de nuestra nación,” Continuaron los Miembros.
S. 842 would require the Administration to assess and report to the Congress whether jurisdictions in Latin America could be designated as terrorist sanctuaries, as defined under the Foreign Relations Authorization Act of Fiscal Year 1988 and 1989. To inform that determination, the bill specifically directs the Administration to consider whether such jurisdictions have allowed Hezbollah to operate freely within their borders. S. 842 also would authorize the Administration to restrict visas for any government officials from areas designated as terrorist sanctuaries unless those officials have taken significant action to prevent terrorist activity within their jurisdiction.
Under current law, the Administration can restrict visas for individuals who support terrorist activity. If the enactment of S. 842 leads the Administration to broaden those sanctions, more people would be denied visas by the Department of State, resulting in an insignificant decrease in revenues from fees. Although most visa fees are retained by the Department of State and spent, some collections are deposited into the Treasury as revenues. Denying foreign nationals entry into the United States also would reduce direct spending on federal benefits (emergency Medicaid or federal subsidies for health insurance, for example) for which those people might otherwise be eligible.
On the basis of data about similar visa restrictions, CBO estimates any additional visa restrictions imposed under the bill would affect a small number of people. Thus, enacting S. 842 would decrease revenues and direct spending by insignicant amounts, and would, on net, reduce deficits by insignificant amounts over the 2025-2035 period.
S. 842 would require the Administration to report to the Congress whenever it waives the imposition of sanctions authorized by the bill. Using information about the cost of reports similar to those required by the bill, CBO estimates that implementing S. 842 would cost less than $500,000 over the 2025-2030 period. Such related spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds.
The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Emma Uebelhor. The estimate was reviewed by Christina Hawley Anthony, Deputy Director of Budget Analysis.
HOUSTON, May 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — NCS Multistage Holdings, Inc. (“NCS” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ:NCSM) announced today that Ryan Hummer, Chief Executive Officer, is scheduled to present at the Emerging Growth Conference on Wednesday, May 21, 2025 at 1:55 p.m. Central Time (2:55 p.m. Eastern Time).
To attend the presentation, interested parties should register at the following link:
A recording of the presentation should be available on the Company’s website at www.ncsmultistage.com under the Investors section for approximately 90 days following the event.
NCS Multistage Holdings, Inc. is a leading provider of highly engineered products and support services that facilitate the optimization of oil and natural gas well construction, well completions and field development strategies. NCS provides products and services primarily to exploration and production companies for use in onshore and offshore wells, predominantly wells that have been drilled with horizontal laterals in both unconventional and conventional oil and natural gas formations. NCS’s products and services are utilized in oil and natural gas basins throughout North America and in selected international markets, including the North Sea, the Middle East, Argentina and China. NCS’s common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “NCSM.” Additional information is available on the website, www.ncsmultistage.com.
Contact: Mike Morrison Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer +1 281-453-2222 IR@ncsmultistage.com
Minister of Health Simeon Brown claimed earlier this year that health funding in New Zealand has never been higher and that suggestions of underfunding are “fake news”.
On the bare statistics, Brown isn’t wrong. The allocation to Vote Health has indeed increased from NZ$18.2 billion in 2018-19 to $29.6 billion in the 2024-25 budget.
Yet for many working in the publicly-funded health system things have never seemed so bad, with daily stories of under-staffing and increasing levels of stress.
So, how much should the government be spending on health? Any answer needs to factor in the broader context of the health system, and where we sit historically and comparatively.
The health system is subject to significant cost pressures, few of which are unique to New Zealand. People are generally living longer, but more of that longer life span is spent in ill health.
Technological advances, on balance, drive up health expenditure – more is possible, so more is expected. And compared with other parts of the economy, health services are labour-intensive.
Around two thirds of health expenditure is on staff, and health workforce shortages are a global problem (again, driven by demographic change). All these factors mean health costs rise faster than inflation.
Taking all of this into account, a recent health economics analysis calculated that to continue to deliver the same level of service in the United Kingdom (which has very similar health system characteristics to New Zealand), public spending on health would need to increase by 2.8% in real terms (above inflation) each year.
Then we need to factor in population growth, which has recently been between 1.5% and 2% per year in New Zealand. In this context, a 4-5% increase in Vote Health amounts to merely standing still.
People are living longer, but more of that longer life is spent in ill health. Getty Images
Long-term deterioration
We also need to put our current situation in historical and international context.
The most appropriate indicator for international comparison is “publicly mandated health expenditure” (PMHE) as a percentage of GDP, as this excludes private expenditure (private health insurance and “out of pocket” payments).
Total health spending typically constitutes 10-12% of GDP in high-income countries, and PMHE is typically around 8%. In the 2010s, however, New Zealand’s PMHE dropped from 7.8% (2012) to 7% of GDP (2017). Meanwhile, Australia, Canada and the UK all remained at or above 8% during that time.
This represents a significant long-term deterioration which heightened the stress on our health system before and after the COVID pandemic.
Even when our PMHE as a percentage of GDP is comparable to Australia and other countries, our per-capita health expenditure is significantly less because our GDP per-capita is lower.
The most significant budget boost in recent years was in 2022. But this was largely soaked up by pay rises for health professionals that resulted from underfunding during the 2010s.
The current government finds itself in a very tight spot. This is partly because of international economic conditions and demographic trends, but also due to self-imposed constraints.
Even in such a large budget, there’ll be little room for major initiatives in health unless savings are found from existing areas. That is rarely feasible in health. As is true in most years, there could be up to three big-ticket items. If so, what should they be?
What Budget 2025 should include
First, the government needs to boost capital expenditure in health. A recent analysis by the UK Institute for Government shows that public service productivity, including in the health sector, fell sharply during and after the COVID pandemic. The New Zealand treasury reported similar productivity declines.
The UK report concluded these declines were primarily due to physical capacity constraints – clinical staff can’t be more productive when there is not enough physical space and diagnostic equipment.
Earlier this month, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced a $400 million increase in the annual capital allowance across all of government. Let’s see how much of the total $4 billion capital allowance is channelled into health.
A second priority should be primary healthcare. Here, the health minister has already announced a range of initiatives, headlined by $285 million of additional performance-based funding over three years. This is a welcome commitment, and the most significant boost in primary care funding since the mid-2000s.
However, it’s unlikely this will redress erosion over the past 20 years of primary care “capitation” funding (the amount a GP practice receives per enrolled patient).
This funding formula also needs to be modernised to better reflect where needs are highest and account for rising acuity and complexity of conditions in primary healthcare. This would relieve some pressures on hospital emergency departments and medical wards.
Third, investment to retain and attract health workers across the whole sector is vital. Given the demographic and epidemiological changes, proactively preparing for a mid-21st-century health workforce will require funding to support emerging models of health services, particularly in primary and community settings, including programmes such as Access and Choice and comprehensive primary and community care teams.
These priorities, and any government commitment to them in Budget 2025, must be understood against the backdrop of sustained historical underfunding.
The government is likely to claim health is a big winner in Budget 2025. Unless increases are significantly greater than 5%, such a claim will bring little respite to the health sector.
In any case, the race that counts is a marathon, not a sprint. New Zealand is well back in the field, struggling not to lose further ground.
Tim Tenbensel receives funding from the New Zealand Health Research Council.
Source: Republic of South Africa (video statements-2)
President Cyril Ramaphosa has this afternoon, Monday 19 May 2025 arrived in Washington DC for his working visit.
The purpose of the visit is to reset and revitalise bilateral relations between South Africa and the United States (US). In this regard, the visit will focus specifically on reframing bilateral, economic and commercial relations.
On Wednesday, 21 May 2025, President Ramaphosa will meet with President Donald Trump at the White House.
President Ramaphosa will be accompanied by the following Ministers: Mr Lamola, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ms Ntshavheni, Minister in the Presidency, Mr Tau, Minister of Trade, Industry Competition, Mr Steenhuisen, Minister of Agriculture and Mr Jonas, Special Envoy to the United States of America.
Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Tammy Baldwin
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) led a group of their colleagues in challenging President Donald Trump to end a tax loophole, the carried interest loophole, that benefits wealthy money managers on Wall Street. Senator Baldwin leads legislation to close this loophole and, in February, she pushed for a vote on her amendment to end the tax break during the Senate’s budget resolution debate. While he failed to enact it in his first term, President Trump has been supportive of closing this loophole and has advocated for closing it as recently as this year.
“During your first campaign, you claimed that the carried interest loophole was ‘ridiculous’ and ‘unfair to American workers’ and that the individuals reaping the benefits from the loophole were ‘getting away with murder.’ We agree,” wrote Baldwin and the lawmakers in a letter to President Trump. “We write to ask that you follow through on your promise to eliminate the carried interest loophole and demand that Congressional Republicans eliminate it in any tax bill they send to your desk.”
When private equity managers oversee an investment fund, they receive a 20% share of the profits earned from the funds’ investments, called “carried interest.” This interest is not subject to the ordinary income tax rate of 37%, and is instead taxed at the 20% capital gains rate as long as the investments are held for at least three years. As a result, private equity fund managers who routinely make hundreds of millions of dollars are subject to a tax rate lower than that of an average blue-collar worker.
“Despite the extraordinary profits that private equity funds are raking in each year, the carried interest loophole allows private equity managers to avoid paying their fair share of taxes, often paying tax rates that are lower than middle-class workers,” continued Baldwin and the lawmakers.
The massive loophole costs the federal government tens of billions of dollars in tax revenue, and the private equity industry regularly donates significant sums to politicians sympathetic to their cause in order to make sure the loophole remains open for their profit. The industry has donated almost $600 million to political campaigns over the last decade to maintain a loophole worth upwards of $63 billion over the next 10 years.
In addition to Senators Baldwin and Warren, this letter is co-signed by Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Jack Reed (D-RI), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Bernie Sanders (I-VT).
The full letter is available here and below.
Dear Mr. President:
We write to ask that you follow through on your promise to eliminate the carried interest loophole and demand that Congressional Republicans eliminate it in any tax bill they send to your desk.
During your first campaign, you claimed that the carried interest loophole was “ridiculous” and “unfair to American workers” and that the individuals reaping the benefits from the loophole were “getting away with murder.” We agree. Despite the extraordinary profits that private equity funds are raking in each year, the carried interest loophole allows private equity managers to avoid paying their fair share of taxes, often paying tax rates that are lower than middle-class workers.
When private equity managers oversee an investment fund, they receive a 20% share of the profits earned from the funds’ investments. This portion of future profits is known as “carried interest.” Although carried interest is essentially salary for private equity managers, it is not subject to the ordinary income tax rate of 37% and instead is taxed at the 20% capital gains rate as long as the investments are held for at least three years. The result? Private equity fund managers who routinely make hundreds of millions of dollars are subject to a tax rate lower than that of an average blue-collar worker making $85,000 a year.
Though this massive loophole costs the federal government billions of dollars in revenue, efforts to constrain it have consistently fallen short. In a desperate attempt to retain Wall Street’s favorite loophole, the private equity industry doles out eye-popping amounts of campaign cash to curry favor with politicians sympathetic to their cause. And it works. In fact, economists have credited the hedge-fund-led lobbying blitz to the survival of the loophole. Overall, the industry doled out almost $600 million to political campaigns over the last decade, a cheap price tag for a loophole worth upwards of $63 billion over the next ten years.
It is clear that the private equity industry has fought hard to retain these extraordinary tax giveaways. What is less clear is whether you will allow your party to deviate from your commitments, bow to industry demands, and fail to close the loophole for a second time. You were an avid supporter of closing the carried interest loophole throughout your first campaign and during the first few months of your first administration. Your chief economic adviser even publicly confirmed in September 2017 that you “remain[ed] committed to ending the carried interest deduction.” Yet, only a few months later, your signature legislative package, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, did virtually nothing to change the loophole.
Now, you have another opportunity to get the job done. You have once again confirmed your desire to end the loophole, and we understand that last week you asked Speaker Johnson to close the carried interest loophole. Notably, the House Ways and Means Committee defied your wishes and chose to advance legislation that does not eliminate the carried interest loophole.
Source: United States Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock – Georgia
New AJC Op-Ed: 42,000 New Jobs in Georgia Could Vanish if GOP Tax Bill Passes Warns Warnock
Read the op-ed HERE
Senator Reverend Warnock penned an op-ed in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC) outlining how Georgia risks losing up to 42,000 good-paying jobs if Washington Republicans repeal the Inflation Reduction Act’s (IRA) Clean Energy Tax Credits
These endangered clean energy tax credits support 51 clean energy projects worth over $28 billion, largely outside metro Atlanta
Senator Reverend Warnock in the AJC: “If the President and Congressional Republicans were serious about bringing American manufacturing back to the United States, as I am, they would protect these tax credits”
Senator Reverend Warnock in the AJC: “Politics has a way of trying to make easy stuff, complicated. I’ll tell you what’s not complicated – 51 new projects worth $28 billion all across our state and up to 42,000 new jobs”
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) penned an op-ed in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC) warning that 42,000 good-paying Georgia jobs could be at risk if Congress passes the GOP tax bill, which repeals the Inflation Reduction Act’s (IRA) Clean Energy Tax Credits. The Senator called on his House GOP colleagues to protect good-paying Georgia jobs.
“If Washington Republicans move forward with a GOP tax bill that repeals these clean energy tax credits, it’s their districts that will lose jobs and private investments: three out of four clean energy projects that were announced or boosted following the passage of these tax credits have gone to House districts held by Republicans. This is especially true in Georgia: 80% of the projects, 94% of the total investments, and 75% of the proposed new jobs and investments are in Congressional districts represented by Republicans,” warned Senator Reverend Warnock. “By repealing clean energy tax credits to give a tax cut to the wealthy and well-connected, Washington Republicans could cause Georgia to lose up to 42,000 jobs in communities desperate for new jobs and investments. If the President and Congressional Republicans were serious about bringing American manufacturing back to the United States, as I am, they would protect these tax credits.”
The op-ed follows the release of the Senator’s comprehensive report that found Georgia risks losing up to 42,000 good-paying jobs if Washington Republicans repeal the clean energy tax credits. Since the tax credit’s passage, clean energy jobs and investments exploded across the country, but nowhere was that growth more potent than in Georgia. In less than three years, 51 new projects in Georgia worth over $28 billion have been announced or boosted by the clean energy tax credits. According to the Senator’s report, in Georgia, nearly all the new investments and new jobs are in counties outside of the Atlanta region. Over 70 percent of the new investments and 83 percent of new jobs are in counties with median family incomes below the national median. More than 95 percent of the new jobs and investments are in counties where the percentage of people with a bachelor’s degree is below the national average.
The full op-ed is availableHEREand below.
This week, Washington politicians are voting on partisan legislation to cut taxes for billionaires by repealingclean energy tax credits that are creating tens of thousands of manufacturing jobs and are bringing billions of investments to communities across Georgia. It’s up to us to speak out and keep these good-paying, advanced manufacturing jobs coming to communities that are too often overlooked.
The sad truth is cynical politicians want to repeal these tax credits because they were passed by a Democratic Congress and signed into law by a Democratic president. They’re so focused on the politics that they’re willing to take good-paying jobs, which often don’t require a college degree, away from their constituents. If we set politics aside and center what’s best for ordinary people, there’s no doubt everyone would come together to protect these tax credits and thousands of Georgia jobs.
During my first term in the Senate, I was proud to champion these clean energy tax credits, which were passed as part of landmark climate legislation in August 2022. Since then, clean energy investment has exploded across Georgia. In less than three years, businesses have announced or advanced 51 new projects worth over $28 billion in our state. In fact, Georgia has benefited from these clean industry tax credits more than any other state. New projects are expected to add nearly 42,000 jobs across all corners of Georgia. More than 95% of these new jobs are outside metro Atlanta, and these projects overwhelmingly benefit places where folks are less likely to have a college degree and don’t earn as much as the average American.
This month, I laid out the benefits of these tax credits in a report that outlines Georgia’s Clean Energy Boom. In an era defined by gridlock, Democrats and Republicans across the state agree: these clean energy manufacturing jobs are good for Georgians and their families.
Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene said solar panel manufacturer Qcells, which will invest over $2.5 billion in projects across Georgia, partially thanks to these tax credits, is “fantastic” and claims her constituents are “excited to have jobs”. Congressman Barry Loudermilk, whose congressional district is home to a future Qcells facility, praised the company’s solar panel production as a “win for our state” and a “great source of jobs”.
Congressman Buddy Carter has noted that “countless American companies” have used the tax credits to make “major investments” in clean energy. His constituents alone stand to benefit from 11 new clean energy projects representing nearly $7.9 billion in investments and 7,400 new jobs announced after these tax credits were signed into law. The congressman has supported preserving these private sector investments, which he said, “increase domestic manufacturing, promote energy innovation, and keep utility costs down.”
If Washington Republicans move forward with a GOP tax bill that repeals these clean energy tax credits, it’s their districts that will lose jobs and private investments: three out of four clean energy projects that were announced or boosted following the passage of these tax credits have gone to House districts held by Republicans. This is especially true in Georgia: 80% of the projects, 94% of the total investments, and 75% of the proposed new jobs and investments are in Congressional districts represented by Republicans.
By repealing clean energy tax credits to give a tax cut to the wealthy and well-connected, Washington Republicans could cause Georgia to lose up to 42,000 jobs in communities desperate for new jobs and investments. If the President and Congressional Republicans were serious about bringing American manufacturing back to the United States, as I am, they would protect these tax credits.
Politics has a way of trying to make easy stuff, complicated. I’ll tell you what’s not complicated – 51 new projects worth $28 billion all across our state and up to 42,000 new jobs. Georgians are smart enough to know who is actually looking out for them. Now, it’s up to Georgians to ask their Congressional representatives: when the GOP tax bill comes up for a vote, are you going to protect good-paying Georgia jobs?
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Don Beyer (D-VA)
Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA) today issued the following statement welcoming a decision by Judge Beryl A. Howell protecting the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) from executive overreach. Judge Howell’s decision found that the Trump Administration and the “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE) acted unlawfully in removing USIP Board members, thereby nullifying subsequent actions, including the Board members’ replacement by officials affiliated with DOGE, the mass firing of USIP staff, and the transfer of USIP property to the General Services Administration (GSA):
“The Court rightly concluded the Trump Administration and DOGE’s hostile takeover of the Institute was executed without legal authority and in direct violation of congressional statute. This ruling is a decisive victory for the United States Institute of Peace, its dedicated staff, and the rule of law.
“Congress established the Institute of Peace with the support of Ronald Reagan to advance a safer, more peaceful world. In doing so, it defined the Institute as an independent, 501(c)(3)non-profit and placed clear restrictions on presidential authority to remove Board members. Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s brazen attempts to disregard these legal protections and dismantle this organization inflicted unnecessary trauma on the Institute’s committed leadership and employees, threatened the independence of more than 232,000 other 501(c)(3) non-profits across the country, and undermined American diplomacy.
“This decision restores the rule of law and protects the Institute’s ability to fulfill its mission of resolving conflict, training peacemakers, and advancing America’s interests through global stability. I will continue to support the United States Institute of Peace and the dedicated professionals who carry out this essential work.”
Beyer served as a U.S. Ambassador during the Obama Administration. He went to the United States Institute of Peace to conduct congressional oversight amid DOGE’s illegal power grab. He has been an outspoken defender of the United States Institute of Peace, and critic of illegal attempts by the Trump Administration and “DOGE” to dismantle it.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23)
“Venezuelan TPS holders fled the Maduro regime and built lives in America. They sought refuge in America from his oppression and tyranny. This atrocious decision allows Trump to deport non-criminals back to this murderous dictator. This fight is not over. We must pass my Venezuela TPS Act to keep our community safe.”
Washington D.C.– Today, U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25), co-chair of the Venezuela Democracy Caucus, denounced a U.S. Supreme Court order that would allow the Trump Administration to return hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans right back into the hands of a murderous dictator that they had sought refuge from in coming to America.
“Venezuelan TPS holders fled the Maduro regime and built lives in America. They sought refuge in America from his oppression and tyranny. This atrocious decision allows Trump to deport non-criminals back to this murderous dictator,” Wasserman Schultz said about the court order. “This fight is not over. We must pass my Venezuela TPS Act to keep our community safe.”
Wasserman Schultz had led 48 Democratic Members of Congress this month in filing anamicus briefto the Supreme Court in this case, opposing Trump’s attempt to cancel TPS. Lower courts had agreed to temporarily block Trump’s attempt to rescind those TPS protections. But earlier today, the Supreme Court released an unsigned court order that basically allows the Trump Administration to lift those TPS restrictions and begin the mass deportations of Venezuelans who had lawful status just hours ago.
The Trump Administration seeks to deport as many as 350,000 Venezuelans, despite President Joe Biden redesignating Temporary Protected Status, or TPS, to them last year. Despite being characterized as “criminal illegals” and “dirtbags” by senior Trump Administration officials, TPS recipients must pass continuous background checks and anyone with a criminal record is not eligible for protections.
Wasserman Schultzhas also sponsoredbipartisan legislationto restore and redesignate TPS for Venezuelans, led calls toSecretary NoemandSecretary Rubioto demand answers on their TPS betrayal, given worsening political repression and economic conditions in in Venezuela. And the Congresswoman from Weston, Florida, also re-introduced theVenezuelan Adjustment Actto create a pathway to lawful permanent residence for Venezuelan nationals in the United States.
Scientists expect the new area of interest on the lower slope of Jezero Crater’s rim to offer up some of the oldest rocks on the Red Planet. NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover is exploring a new region of interest the team is calling “Krokodillen” that may contain some of the oldest rocks on Mars. The area has been on the Perseverance science team’s wish list because it marks an important boundary between the oldest rocks of Jezero Crater’s rim and those of the plains beyond the crater. “The last five months have been a geologic whirlwind,” said Ken Farley, deputy project scientist for Perseverance from Caltech in Pasadena. “As successful as our exploration of “Witch Hazel Hill” has been, our investigation of Krokodillen promises to be just as compelling.” Named by Perseverance mission scientists after a mountain ridge on the island of Prins Karls Forland, Norway, Krokodillen (which means “the crocodile” in Norwegian) is a 73-acre (about 30-hectare) plateau of rocky outcrops located downslope to the west and south of Witch Hazel Hill. A quick earlier investigation into the region revealed the presence of clays in this ancient bedrock. Because clays require liquid water to form, they provide important clues about the environment and habitability of early Mars. The detection of clays elsewhere within the Krokodillen region would reinforce the idea that abundant liquid water was present sometime in the distant past, likely before Jezero Crater was formed by the impact of an asteroid. Clay minerals are also known on Earth for preserving organic compounds, the building blocks of life. “If we find a potential biosignature here, it would most likely be from an entirely different and much earlier epoch of Mars evolution than the one we found last year in the crater with ‘Cheyava Falls,’” said Farley, referring to a rock sampled in July 2024 with chemical signatures and structures that could have been formed by life long ago. “The Krokodillen rocks formed before Jezero Crater was created, during Mars’ earliest geologic period, the Noachian, and are among the oldest rocks on Mars Data collected from NASA’s Mars orbiters suggest that the outer edges of Krokodillen may also have areas rich in olivine and carbonate. While olivine forms from magma, carbonate minerals on Earth typically form during a reaction in liquid water between rock and dissolved carbon dioxide. Carbonate minerals on Earth are known to be excellent preservers of fossilized ancient microbial life and recorders of ancient climate. The rover, which celebrated its 1,500th day of surface operations on May 9, is currently analyzing a rocky outcrop in Krokodillen called “Copper Cove” that may contain Noachian rocks. Ranking Mars Rocks The rover’s arrival at Krokodillen comes with a new sampling strategy for the nuclear-powered rover that allows for leaving some cored samples unsealed in case the mission finds a more scientifically compelling geologic feature down the road. To date, Perseverance has collected and sealed two regolith (crushed rock and dust) samples, three witness tubes, and one atmospheric sample. It has also collected 26 rock cores and sealed 25 of them. The rover’s one unsealed sample is its most recent, a rock core taken on April 28 that the team named “Bell Island,” which contains small round stones called spherules. If at some point the science team decides a new sample should take its place, the rover could be commanded to remove the tube from its bin in storage and dump the previous sample. “We have been exploring Mars for over four years, and every single filled sample tube we have on board has its own unique and compelling story to tell,” said Perseverance acting project scientist Katie Stack Morgan of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. “There are seven empty sample tubes remaining and a lot of open road in front of us, so we’re going to keep a few tubes — including the one containing the Bell Island core — unsealed for now. This strategy allows us maximum flexibility as we continue our collection of diverse and compelling rock samples.” Before the mission adopted its new strategy, the engineering sample team assessed whether leaving a tube unsealed could diminish the quality of a sample. The answer was no. “The environment inside the rover met very strict standards for cleanliness when the rover was built. The tube is also oriented in such a way within its individual storage bin that the likelihood of extraneous material entering the tube during future activities, including sampling and drives, is very low,” said Stack Morgan. In addition, the team assessed whether remnants of a sample that was dumped could “contaminate” a later sample. “Although there is a chance that any material remaining in the tube from the previous sample could come in contact with the outside of a new sample,” said Stack Morgan, “it is a very minor concern — and a worthwhile exchange for the opportunity to collect the best and most compelling samples when we find them.” News Media Contact DC AgleJet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.818-393-9011agle@jpl.nasa.gov Karen Fox / Molly WasserNASA Headquarters, Washington202-358-1600karen.c.fox@nasa.gov / molly.l.wasser@nasa.gov 2025-071