Source: United States of America – Department of State (video statements)
President Trump has made it a priority to bring home Americans unjustly detained overseas. In his first 100 days, the 47th President has secured the release of 47 unjustly held Americans.
Source: United States of America – The White House (video statements)
“Our country is blessed to have a negotiator of such skill and experience who really selflessly steps up to the plate, puts himself forward all the time. Steve Witkoff is working tirelessly to end bloody and destructive conflicts.” –President Donald J. Trump
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mike Ezell (Mississippi 4th District)
Today, Sheriffs Mike Ezell (MS-04) and Troy Nehls (TX-22) announced the reintroduction of a House resolution formally recognizing the essential role that local law enforcement officers play in protecting communities, enforcing the law, and maintaining public safety across the United States. The resolution comes in advance of National Police Week, which begins May 12, 2025.
“As a former sheriff, I know firsthand the courage, professionalism, and selflessness that our law enforcement officers bring to the job every single day,” Ezell said. “These men and women are the backbone of public safety in our communities. They run toward danger, not away from it—and they do it to protect people they may never meet. As we approach Police Week, I am proud to stand alongside officers who put on the badge each morning, not knowing what the day may bring. They deserve our respect, our gratitude, and our unwavering support.”
“Every day, law enforcement officers put their lives on the line to protect and defend the communities they serve,” Nehls said. “As a former Texas Sheriff, I am proud to support my colleague, Congressman Ezell’s resolution, showing our unwavering support for the men and women in blue. Our nation’s law enforcement officers deserve our utmost respect and gratitude. I will always back the blue.”
The resolution expresses strong support for local law enforcement agencies and officers, emphasizing:
The bravery shown by officers in the face of danger;
The professionalism required to enforce the law with fairness and integrity;
And the personal sacrifice officers and their families make to keep others safe.
Ezell’s resolution also encourages Americans to take time during Police Week to reflect on the service and sacrifice of law enforcement personnel, including those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.
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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Jonathan Jackson – Illinois (1st District)
Today’s ruling by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals is more than a legal decision—it is a moral vindication for hundreds of thousands of our neighbors, friends, and fellow Americans in all but paperwork. I stand with the families protected under Temporary Protected Status (TPS), and I celebrate this moment with them.
For years, these communities—mothers, fathers, students, nurses, faith leaders—have lived under a cloud of fear and uncertainty, targeted not just by policy, but by deeply hurtful rhetoric. President Trump once called countries like Haiti and nations in Africa “shithole countries”—a phrase not only vile, but steeped in ignorance and racism. Too many in the right-wing media and political class have echoed and amplified those sentiments, portraying TPS recipients as burdens, criminals, or outsiders who don’t belong. That is a lie.
TPS holders are not faceless statistics. They are the home health aide caring for your aging parent. They are the teacher guiding your child through their first language. They are the worker harvesting your food, the technician repairing your streets, the entrepreneur revitalizing your local economy. Many have lived here for decades. They have children who are U.S. citizens. They pay taxes. They contribute. They believe in the American dream, even when America has not always believed in them.
To revoke their legal status would not only have been cruel—it would have been catastrophic for our economy and unjust by every moral measure. The conditions in Haiti are nothing short of catastrophic. Entire communities are trapped by gang violence, unable to access food, clean water, or medical care. Mothers are forced to choose which child eats. Hospitals have shut down or been overrun, and schools lie in ruins. Kidnappings, rape, and extortion are rampant. The streets are ruled not by law but by fear. For many, there is no shelter, no security, and no hope on the horizon. What’s happening in Haiti would spark global outrage if it were occurring in any Western nation—but here, the world turns its eyes away. The courts have rightly rejected an attempt to turn back the clock on compassion and legality.
But let us be clear: the damage of the past administration’s words and actions still lingers. No one who has lived in the shadow of deportation after building a life here forgets how fragile dignity can feel in the face of hate. This ruling is a step toward healing, but we must do more.
We need permanent protections. We need immigration reform that centers humanity, justice, and economic reality—not political scapegoating. And we must call out racist language and policies for what they are: attacks on the soul of our nation.
To the families affected by TPS: I see you. I stand with you. And I will fight with you until your place in this country is not just tolerated, but recognized and protected under the law.
Congressman Jonathan L. Jackson (D-IL 01)
Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee
Member of the Congressional Black Caucus
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Tracey Mann (Kansas, 1)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representatives Tracey Mann (KS-01) and Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) introduced the bipartisan Expanding Regional Airports Act. The bill aims to increase funding opportunities for regional airports to conduct critical upgrades of security systems, runway and hangar infrastructure, and passenger facilities.
“Rural communities like those in the Big First District depend on regional airports to connect them with the rest of the world,” said Rep. Mann. “The Expanding Regional Airports Act provides necessary updates to strengthen the reliability regional airports offer their communities, drive economic growth, and equip these airports to maintain the livelihoods of small communities and their surrounding areas. I look forward to working with my colleagues to advance our bill and give our regional airports the resources they deserve.”
“In a state as large as New Mexico, regional airports are a way to ensure our state is fully connected,” said Rep. Vasquez. “However, without dedicated funding, these airports can’t expand to serve the needs of our growing communities. That’s why I am introducing the Expanding Regional Airports bill to promote expanded tourism and business travel to Las Cruces and other similar communities, improving the entire economy.”
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For more information on Rep. Mann visit www.mann.house.gov
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Kat Cammack (R-FL-03)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Rep. Cammack introduced the App Store Freedom Act, which seeks to promote competition and protect consumers and developers in the mobile app marketplace by prohibiting certain anticompetitive practices by dominant app store operators.
The bill supports interoperability and consumer choice by requiring large app store operators (100M+ U.S. users) to allow users to set third-party apps or app stores as default; install apps or app stores outside of the dominant platform; and remove or hide pre-installed apps. Additionally, the bill directs companies provide developers equal access to interfaces, features, and development tools without cost or discrimination.
“We must continue to hold Big Tech accountable and promote competition that allows all players to enter the field. For too long, consumers and developers have borne the brunt of anti-competitive practices on major app store marketplaces,” said Rep. Cammack. “Dominant app stores have controlled customer data and forced consumers to use the marketplaces’ own merchant services, instead of the native, in-app offerings provided by the applications and developers themselves. The results are higher prices and limited selections for consumers and anti-competitive practices for developers that have stifled innovation.”
The bill additionally prohibits app stores from forcing developers to use the company’s in-app payment system, imposing pricing parity requirements, and punishing developers for distributing their apps elsewhere.
“At its core, this bill seeks to promote a competitive marketplace for consumers and developers, ensuring U.S. mobile users can choose the applications, payment methods and platforms that are best for them without unduly forcing developers to comply or the pay the price—both literally and figuratively—for straying from the dominant marketplaces’ preferences,” Rep. Cammack added.
“The App Store Freedom Act could be a game-changer for American consumers by giving them more choice and control over their devices than ever before. We applaud Representative Kat Cammack for introducing common-sense rules of the road to permanently open up the app economy, unlock new opportunities for businesses and creators, and encourage even stronger tech innovation in the United States,” said Dustee Jenkins, Spotify Chief Public Affairs Officer.
“CAF applauds Congresswoman Cammack for introducing the App Store Freedom Act, legislation that will establish a fair and competitive mobile app marketplace. This is a vital step towards empowering developers and consumers by ensuring a level playing field for all participants in the app ecosystem,” shared the Coalition for App Fairness (CAF).
Read the text of the bill here.
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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11)
(WASHINGTON, DC) – Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis along with Congressmen Rob Menendez (D-NJ) and Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), introduced H.R. 3196, the Improving Helicopter Safety Act, bipartisan legislation that would ban all non-essential helicopter flights within 20 miles of the Statue of Liberty. The bill is cosponsored by Congresswomen Grace Meng (D-NY), Nydia Velázquez (D-NY), and LaMonica McIver (D-NJ), and is supported by Stop the Chop NY/NJ.
This bipartisan effort comes in response to a recent tragic helicopter crash over the Hudson River that claimed six lives, following decades of helicopter-related incidents in and around New York City. Beyond safety concerns, tourist helicopters continue to disrupt residential communities, particularly throughout Staten Island, due to their frequent low-altitude flights over densely populated neighborhoods at all hours of the day.
“The tragic crash that claimed six lives in the Hudson River isn’t an isolated event, it’s the clearest sign yet of an industry that has operated without meaningful oversight for far too long and continues to pose an unacceptable public safety threat,” said Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis. “Congress must take action, which is why I’m joining my colleagues to introduce this bipartisan legislation to ban non-essential helicopter traffic within a 20-mile radius of the Statue of Liberty and finally rein in these helicopter tour companies.”
“While we have consistently worked to address the impact of non-essential helicopters on our communities, last month’s tragic crash should be a clarion call for every level of government to take action on helicopter safety,” said Congressman Rob Menendez. “Rising congestion of non-essential helicopters, coupled with concerning safety records of air tourism operators, are causing a direct threat to public safety. Along with my colleagues from New Jersey and New York, we’re doing what is necessary to prevent tragedies like this from happening again.”
“The tragic helicopter crash last month on the Hudson River was not an isolated incident; it was the latest in a long line of preventable tragedies in the New York metropolitan region’s increasingly crowded and poorly regulated airspace,” said Congressman Jerrold Nadler. “For far too long, non-essential helicopter flights have endangered public safety and shattered the peace of our neighborhoods. I am proud to introduce the bipartisan Improving Helicopter Safety Act with my colleagues Rob Menendez and Nicole Malliotakis to finally put an end to these dangerous flights in our region. We owe it to the victims, and to every resident living beneath these flight paths, to put safety first and prevent future disasters.”
“Stop the Chop NY/NJ commends Representatives Jerry Nadler, Rob Menendez, and Nicole Malliotakis for today’s introduction of the ‘Improving Helicopter Safety Act of 2025’ – common sense federal legislation that will, when passed, finally put an end to the dangerous helicopter conditions in the New York metropolitan area. For too long, tax-paying New Yorkers and Jerseyites have been subjected to excessive noise and air pollution, as well as the safety risks, of endless sightseeing and commuter helicopters flying, often at extremely low altitudes, over our homes, parks, and schools. We have sounded the alarm each time one of these nonessential helicopters has crashed while traversing our densely populated urban areas. However, the FAA has still not addressed the community’s concerns, harms, and pleas for relief. The multiple recent fatal crashes involving helicopters, coupled with the alarming shortage of air traffic controllers, demonstrate the need for immediate reform of the current Wild West-like conditions over NYC and surrounding communities. We also thank the additional Congressional co-sponsors: Representatives Grace Meng, Nydia Velázquez, and LaMonica McIver. This non-partisan issue negatively impacts all who live or work near the NYC and NJ heliports and/or along the helicopter flight paths. It is heartening to see our elected officials joining forces across state lines and party affiliations to end this public harm,” said Stop The Chop NY/NJ.
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At her April 24 press conference, Congresswoman Malliotakis shared that her office has been in contact with the FAA, having met with FAA Eastern Region Administrators last year, and with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to relay ongoing concerns from Staten Island residents regarding low-flying helicopter flights with some occurring every 10 to 15 minutes. Malliotakis previously called for tighter regulations, including a ban on non-essential helicopter flights over residential areas in cities with over 5 million people, stricter altitude requirements, enforceable no-fly zones, and a reduction in non-essential flights. |
VIEW THE BILL TEXT HERE
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Morgan McGarvey (Kentucky-03)
Today, Congressman Morgan McGarvey recognized Gwyneth McMahon of Atherton High School as the winner of the Congressional Art Competition. McMahon’s submission – Illuminous – is a composition of colored pencil and acrylic paint that depicts a girl practicing mindfulness as she concentrates on a flame. Illuminous will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol for the next year.
DOWNLOAD ILLUMINOUS HERE
“Congratulations to Gwyneth for sharing such a beautiful and deeply contemplative piece of art. Thousands of visitors to the U.S. Capitol will get the privilege of enjoying this piece for the next year as it hangs in the U.S. Capitol, seeing for themselves how creative and inspiring the next generation of Louisvillians are,” said Congressman McGarvey.
“We are pleased to partner with Congressman McGarvey and offer a substantial tuition scholarship in the amount of $10,000 to this year’s winning artists from our district,” said KyCAD President Moira Scott Payne. “We feel that this both recognizes the talent and skills of these awardees and is an investment in the artistic talent of Kentucky. The amount attained through the Kentucky College of Art + Design Congressional Art Award Scholarship can be applied to the first year of study at Kentucky College of Art + Design should the winners also meet the requirements for admission to KyCAD.”
Each spring, the U.S. House of Representatives and the Congressional Institute sponsor a nationwide high school visual art competition to recognize and encourage artistic talent in the nation and in each congressional district. More than 650,000 high school students have participated since the Artistic Discovery competition began in 1982.
Winners are recognized both in their district and at an annual awards ceremony in Washington, DC. The winning works are displayed for one year at the U.S. Capitol.
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Source: US Representative Gabe Vasquez’s (NM-02)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) called out the urgent need for housing improvements at Holloman Air Force Base and White Sands Missile Range during a House Armed Services Readiness Subcommittee hearing.
WATCH: Vasquez Advocates for Housing Improvements on Military Installations
Vasquez, whose district is home to both installations, highlighted the severe housing shortage at Holloman and the outdated, World War II-era housing still in use at White Sands.
“Housing is one of the biggest challenges that we face, especially in places like Alamogordo, and Las Cruces, New Mexico, and if folks don’t have a safe, affordable place to live, it impacts not only their well being, but their ability to do their jobs, and that affects our readiness as a nation,” said Vasquez.
Vasquez directed sharp questions at military leadership during the hearing on what steps the Air Force is taking in FY26 to meet housing needs at rural installations like Holloman and on why roughly $7 million in Army housing funds slated for White Sands and Fort Bliss last summer never materialized despite dire infrastructure needs.
He stressed that failing to invest in adequate housing threatens military readiness and the well-being of service members. He also highlighted the essential role New Mexico’s bases play in national defense, noting that infrastructure investments are key to sustaining success.
Vasquez concluded by reaffirming his commitment to securing federal resources that enhance both the operational strength of New Mexico’s military installations and the quality of life for service members and their families.
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Source: US Representative Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07)
Contact: Riley Pingree
(May 6, 2025) FLEMINGTON, NJ – Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07) has announced the winner of the 2025 Congressional Art Competition for New Jersey’s Seventh Congressional District. First place has been awarded to Parinita Chandrashekar of Bridgewater-Raritan High School for her drawing, “Cutting Through Reality.” Her artwork will be displayed for one year in the U.S. Capitol and she will be invited to Washington, D.C. for a national recognition ceremony in June.
Two runners-up were also recognized: Laurie Wu of Ridge High School for “Birth,” and Deeksha Chaganur of Somerset County Vocational and Technical High School for “Pines and Petals.” Their pieces will be exhibited in Congressman Kean’s offices in New Jersey and Washington, D.C. on a rotating basis throughout the year. All winners were selected by a panel of professional judges based on artistic skill, design, visual appeal, and originality.
Congressman Kean announced the winners during a Congressional Art Competition Recognition Event held in Flemington, New Jersey on Sunday, May 4, 2025.All participating student artists and their families were invited to attend. Each student was recognized for their creativity and dedication.
“Our district is home to many exceptionally talented young artists, and the incredible submissions we received this year were truly impressive,” said Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. “Congratulations to Parinita, whose remarkable artwork will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol, representing the creativity and spirit of our district. I also want to thank all 51 students who participated, along with their art teachers, judges, and families. Their dedication and support are what made this year’s competition such a success.”
In addition, seven students received Honorable Mentions at the event. Honorable Mention recipients included Annalena Bohach of Somerville High School, Amelia Ing of Kent Place School, Serena Lin of the Pingry School, Iris Su of Ridge High School, Jianing Xu of Ridge High School, Angela Zhou of Bridgewater-Raritan High School, and Allan Zhu of Watchung Hills Regional.
Among the judges who participated in this year’s competition was Catherine Bethon, who is a high school art educator specializing in Art History and Mixed Media. She serves as the Warren County Chair for the Art Educators of New Jersey (AENJ) and organizes the annual Warren County Youth Art Month (YAM) exhibition at Centenary University, highlighting student creativity from grades K-12 across the region. A practicing artist, Catherine creates portraits for children facing adversity around the world through projects like the Memory Project. She also partners with national tour groups to provide students with immersive cultural and artistic experiences beyond the classroom.
“It is an incredible honor to judge talented student artists of Congressman Tom Kean, Jr.’s district,” said Catherine Bethon. “Their creativity continues to raise the bar in our field. I wish all the students the very best in their artistic journeys and encourage them to keep creating and sharing their work with the world.”
View all the 2025 artwork submissions from NJ-07 HERE.
Congressman Kean with Parinita Chandrashekar of Bridgewater-Raritan High School, the NJ-07 winner of the 2025 Congressional Art Competition, for her drawing “Cutting Through Reality.”
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Source: US Congressman Chris Deluzio (PA)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Navy and Iraq War veteran Congressman Chris Deluzio (D-PA-17) joined dozens of veterans united in opposition to the Trump Administration’s efforts to gut the VA and disrupt its work delivering earned care and benefits to America’s veterans. Along with veteran leaders from the group Common Defense, Congressman Deluzio was joined at the event by fellow veterans and veteran supporters in Congress, Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), House Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA-39), Senator Mike Kelly (D-AZ), Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), and Rep. Pat Ryan (D-NY-18).
“It’s not complicated what Trump and DOGE are doing: they are trying to dismantle and weaken the VA so much that they have an excuse to sell it off to the highest bidder,” said Congressman Deluzio. “My fellow veterans who wore the uniform were willing to lay it on the line for our country. VA care and benefits are hard-earned, and we will not sit quietly by as Trump and Musk try to rip away our earned care and benefits. This is a fight we intend to win—and the American people are with us.”
The Trump Administration is planning to fire around 83,000 employees from the VA—about one out of every five staff who work for the Department of Veterans Affairs across the country. The Trump VA is also pausing VA medical research and some clinical trials—although the specific ones remain unannounced.
Congressman Deluzio is a leading voice in the fight against privatization of the VA. He has published several op-eds, gone on national television, and given speeches on the subject. Since the start of 2025, the Congressman has been communicating regularly with the Pittsburgh VA about the impacts that the Trump Administration’s cuts are having on veterans’ care and services in Western Pennsylvania. He sent multiple letters to VA Pittsburgh Director Koenig and met with him in March. He is also soliciting comments from VA employees and patients through an online form where people can share their experiences.
Photos of the press conference are available here. A full recording of the event is available here.
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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Mary Miller (IL-15)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Mary Miller (IL-15) called on Illinois sheriffs to defy Governor J.B. Pritzker’s state sanctuary laws, uphold President Trump’s federal immigration policies, and cooperate with ICE to deport illegal aliens.
Read the Fox News exclusive HERE.
“Governor JB Pritzker’s sanctuary state policies have transformed Illinois into a cesspool of crime and drugs brought by the illegals he is actively resettling,” said Congresswoman Mary Miller. “Our communities are being overwhelmed, innocent girls are being raped, and Americans are being ruthlessly murdered. These are the tragic consequences of his failed leadership. I call on every local sheriff in Illinois to defy these dangerous directives, cooperate with ICE, and support President Trump’s deportation efforts. We must act now before one more innocent American life is lost or harmed.”
Congresswoman Miller currently serves as Chair of the Congressional Family Caucus and sits on the House Committees on Agriculture, Education and Workforce, and House Administration.
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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Frank J. Mrvan (IN)
Washington, DC – Senator Jim Banks (R-Ind.) and Representative Frank Mrvan (IN-01) sent a bipartisan letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent urging the Department to consider national security when reviewing foreign takeovers of U.S. steel companies. They warned that foreign control puts our defense and supply chains at risk and stressed the need to keep American steel strong. They also backed President Trump’s push to rebuild the U.S. steel industry and stop unfair trade practices.
In part, the letter reads: “We share President Trump’s goal to revitalize the American steel industry so it can compete head-to-head with any country in the world by cracking down on illegal dumping and negotiating fair treatment for U.S. exports. We have confidence that you will conduct all foreign direct investment reviews with integrity, fairness, and in accordance with the law while protecting this critical supply chain, national security, and our workers’ interests.”
The full text of the letter is below and a pdf is available here.
We write to express our belief that a strong, domestically owned and operated American steel industry is vital to our national security. If American steel production does not remain robust in peacetime, we risk unreliable supplies of critical steel products to the military in wartime. We urge you to consider this as the Department of Treasury (Treasury) assesses the national security risks in any review of foreign direct investment.
We also encourage you to consider the interrelationship between defense supply chains and domestic industrial supply chains in any such review. A strong American defense industrial base is impossible without a strong U.S. manufacturing base, and considering the sectors in isolation is outmoded and myopic. We disagree with those who have suggested that the strength of the U.S. steel industry is unimportant to supplying the military’s needs, because the Defense Department only consumes a small fraction of national steel output and steel can be procured from abroad in a crisis.
Permitting foreign ownership or control of our steel industry risks ceding critical supply chains to foreign companies whose commercial interests may not always align with our national security interests. We should not entrust companies that have repeatedly circumvented our trade laws and have dumped large volumes of steel onto our shores with sustaining U.S. steel production capacity and rigorously defending U.S. trade remedy law.
Recent supply disruptions in other industries including electronics, automotive, medical, and semiconductors demonstrate how brittle elements of the U.S. industrial base have become. While the Treasury and the Department of Defense have extensive legal authorities to prioritize production for national defense, the experiences during the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami and the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrate the difficulties of requisitioning products that are unavailable and the protracted delays involved in starting up new production lines amid a crisis. In other words, once manufacturing capacity is gone, it is very hard to get back.
Temporary restrictions or mandates to place U.S. citizens on boards of directors on a term-limited basis are insufficient. Guarantees to maintain plants and production that contain exceptions do not assure the long-term sustainability of a critical domestic steel industry.
We share President Trump’s goal to revitalize the American steel industry so it can compete head-to-head with any country in the world by cracking down on illegal dumping and negotiating fair treatment for U.S. exports. We have confidence that you will conduct all foreign direct investment reviews with integrity, fairness, and in accordance with the law while protecting this critical supply chain, national security, and our workers’ interests.
Thank you for your attention to this important matter.
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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Young Kim (CA-39)
Washington, DC – Today, the House Committee on Veterans Affairs passed out of markup the Improving VA Training for Military Sexual Trauma (MST) Claims Act (H.R. 2201), a bipartisan bill led by U.S. Representatives Young Kim (CA-40), Nikki Budzinski (IL-13), Don Bacon (NE-02), and Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06).
According to VA officials, the department received 57,400 MST claims in fiscal year 2024, up 18% from the previous year, and approved more than 63% of them, up from roughly 40% more than a decade ago.
The Improving VA Training for Military Sexual Trauma Claims Act:
“As the VA receives more MST claims, staff must be prepared to process claims in a timely and caring manner,” said Congresswoman Kim. “The bipartisan Improving VA Training for Military Sexual Trauma Claims Act aims to provide much-needed updates to training for CDCEs conducting examinations and certainty for veterans filing MST claims that they are valued and will receive the care they deserve. I will always have the backs of our veterans who have had ours.”
“Veterans who come forward with Military Sexual Trauma claims have already endured profound pain — the process of seeking help should never add to that suffering. That’s why I’ve been proud to partner with Congresswoman Kim on this bipartisan legislation to ensure the VA’s claims process supports, rather than re-traumatizes, MST survivors. With the bill now passing out of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, we’re one step closer to delivering the respect and justice these veterans deserve,” said Congresswoman Budzinski.
“Sexual assault can leave behind a wake of trauma, anxiety and depression and we need to ensure our service members are safe. I established the best sexual assault prevention program in the Air Force while I was Wing Commander at Ramstein, because I recognized the importance of protecting our service members from such violence,” said Bacon. “The Improving VA Training for Military Sexual Trauma (MST) Claims Act supports service members who are sexually assaulted by easing the burden of navigating the complex processes involved in accessing essential care.”
“Ensuring that veterans who have experienced military sexual trauma receive the support and respect they deserve is not just important — it’s our duty. This bill strengthens training for VA staff, making the claims process more effective. No survivor should face unnecessary barriers or re-traumatization when seeking the benefits they need and have earned,” said Rep. Chrissy Houlahan.
“Filing and pursuing a VA claim is stressful enough. Survivors of military sexual trauma shouldn’t have to deal with their trauma again when going through the VA disability claims process due to ignorance from VA employees and contracted compensation and pension examiners,” said Chairman Bost. “I thank my friend, Rep. Kim, for her leadership on the Improving VA Training for Military Sexual Trauma Claims Act on behalf of survivors of MST and I am glad to see this important bill passed out of markup to improve services for veterans at VA.”
Watch Rep. Kim speak in support of the bill at a VA Committee legislative hearing HERE.
Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Darius von Guttner Sporzynski, Historian, Australian Catholic University
Catholicism did not begin as a “white” faith. Born on the eastern rim of the Mediterranean, it spread through the trading routes and legions of the Roman Empire into Africa, Asia and, only later, what we now call Europe.
Three early bishops of Rome: Victor I (c. 189–199), Miltiades (311–314) and Gelasius I (492–496), were Africans whose teaching shaped the church’s developing doctrine.
They are venerated as saints, a reminder the papal office has never been racially defined.
However, that history sits uneasily with the unbroken run of European popes that stretches from the early Middle Ages to the death of Francis last month. Francis, an Argentine, was the first pope from Latin America, but he was the son of an Italian immigrant family.
Why, in a global communion of 1.4 billion faithful, has the modern conclave not looked beyond Europeans for a new pope? And what would need to change for it to do so?
The explanation lies less in colour than in logistics and culture.
Europe was the political and demographic centre of Catholicism for centuries. Until the 19th century, travel to Rome from beyond Europe was protracted, dangerous and expensive. An elector who missed the start of a conclave was simply excluded.
Papal politics, therefore, became tightly entwined with Italian city factions and, after 1870, the diplomatic rivalries of European powers.
Even after steamships and railways made travel easier, longstanding practice and patronage ensured most future cardinals were trained at Roman universities, served in the Curia (the bureaucracy of the Vatican), and moved within a Euro-centric network of friendships. The College of Cardinals became overwhelmingly European in composition and culture.
The 20th-century popes began to chip away at this European dominance in internal church governance:
John Paul II and Benedict XVI continued this trend, while Francis made a point of elevating pastors from places as varied as Tonga, Lesotho and Myanmar.
While Europe still claims the single largest bloc of votes in the conclave, there has been a decline in its cardinal representation from almost 70% in 1963 to 39% in 2025. The representatives from Africa and Asia have steadily increased.
Of the 135 electors who are eligible to enter the Sistine Chapel to cast ballots for the new pope on May 7, 53 are European. Africa has 18 electors, Asia 23, Latin America 21, North America 16, and Oceania four. (Two, however, are sick and will not attend – one from Europe and one from Africa).
This representation is disproportionately European, reflecting the gradual nature of shifts in the church’s structures.
The demographics of the Catholic church, meanwhile, are changing rapidly.
Between 1980 and 2023, the Catholic population of Europe fell from 286 million to just under 250 million. Weekly mass attendance declined even more steeply.
Over the same period, the number of Catholics in Africa almost tripled to 255 million. Asia climbed to about 160 million. And Latin America, though no longer expanding, remains home to roughly 40% of all Catholics, at 425 million.
Vocations follow the same curve: seminaries in France and Germany are closing for lack of students, while Nigeria, India and the Philippines are sending their priests abroad to ease shortages in Europe.
Africa and Asia have also significantly increased their representation among Cardinals at the highest level of the Church, from less than 10% in 1963 to more than 30% in 2025.
Ultimately, these numbers will expand even further, catching up with baptismal registers in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
Observers often describe papal candidates as “progressive” or “conservative”, or speculate about a “Global South bloc” ready to storm the papal throne. Such language obscures what the electors actually consider when casting a ballot.
Five practical questions tend to be important:
1. Is the candidate known and trusted, and a man of faith and wisdom?
Personal acquaintance still matters. Cardinals who have worked in Rome are well-placed because most electors have met them repeatedly.
2. Can he govern the Curia?
Leading the world’s oldest bureaucracy demands stamina, political tact, leadership acumen, relational skills and fluency in Italian, the everyday language of Vatican administration.
There is also the ongoing issue of reform, particularly around the church’s sexual abuse crisis and financial matters.
3. Will he be heard beyond Rome?
A pope must travel, address parliaments and give press conferences. Because communication and symbolism are important, a command of English and comfort in front of the global media matter greatly.
4. Is he a pastor?
The ability to preach the Gospel compellingly, comfort the afflicted and speak credibly about the poor has been vital since John Paul II.
5. Does he know and inhabit the tradition of the church?
As part of this, a pope should also be able to represent and deepen the church’s teachings.
These criteria help explain why previous non-European hopefuls have fallen short.
In 1978, for instance, Cardinal Aloísio Lorscheider of Brazil was judged too youthful and untested.
In 2005, Cardinal Francis Arinze of Nigeria, though admired, was seen as a transition figure at the age of 72. He also lacked experience in the Curia.
In 2013, Cardinal Odilo Scherer of Brazil was persuasive on pastoral questions but hampered by his limited English and Italian, and by concerns the Vatican Bank needed a strong financial reformer.
Could it change this year? There are several non-European candidates in the current conclave:
Luis Antonio Tagle (Philippines): the former archbishop of Manila, he is a gifted communicator in Italian and English. Some voters may fear he is not administratively capable and too closely identified with Francis, yet others see that continuity as an advantage.
Fridolin Ambongo Besungu (Democratic Republic of the Congo): a leading African voice on ecology and conflict mediation, he is admired for his courage and leadership in strife-torn Congo. Sceptics point to his limited network outside Africa and France. He may also be too conservative for some cardinals.
Peter Turkson (Ghana): a long-time curial prefect and articulate champion of economic justice. Age counts against him (he is 76), yet he could emerge as a compromise if the conclave stalls, as he seen to be doctrinally solid, open and charismatic.
Any one of them would break the post-medieval pattern. None, however, would (or should) campaign as a flag-bearer for his continent.
The church neither keeps a scorecard by hemisphere nor anoints popes to gratify civil notions of representation.
The most important thing is whether a candidate can carry forward the mission of the church and speak in an effective way in an era marked by war, the climate crisis and rapid secularisation.
Symbolically, yes.
A Filipino or Congolese pope would signal that Catholicism’s demographic heart now beats in Manila and Kinshasa, rather than Milan and Cologne.
Practically, though, the change might be less dramatic.
Whoever is elected inherits the same threefold task:
Those challenges transcend region and skin tone.
If the next pope happens to be African, Asian or Latin American, history will have turned a page. The universal body will have recognised, in the face of its evolving demographics, the gifts of a shepherd able to speak to followers in Kinshasa, Manila, Sao Paulo and Munich with equal conviction.
The mystery of the conclave is that when the doors close, regional and political calculations fade. What remains is prayerful discernment about who can carry Saint Peter’s keys into an uncertain future.
The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
– ref. Popes have been European for hundreds of years. Is it time for one from Africa or Asia? – https://theconversation.com/popes-have-been-european-for-hundreds-of-years-is-it-time-for-one-from-africa-or-asia-255506
Source: US Marshals Service
San Juan, PR – The U.S. Marshals District of Puerto Rico Violent Offender Task Force arrested today a Puerto Rico man who became a federal fugitive in April after violating the conditions of his bail.
Roric H. Núñez-García, 25, who was one of several people arrested during a police raid in February at the Enudio Negrón Residential Complex in Villalba, was released on bail in April following an order from a federal magistrate and immediately cut off his electronic bracelet.
He is suspected of being involved in a shooting that occurred later that night in the municipality of Villalba.
Deputy U.S. Marshals, in coordination with agents from the Puerto Rico Police Bureau’s Strike Force, Arrest and Search Units, and with the assistance of Public Housing Administration security agents, arrested Núñez-García without incident at an apartment located in the Leonardo Santiago Public Housing Complex in the municipality of Juana Díaz.
During the operation, authorities seized a modified firearm capable of fully automatic fire, multiple magazines, and ammunition.
“Our citizens should know that the United States Marshals Service in Puerto Rico continues to pursue those who believe they can evade the law and escape accountability for their actions,” said Wilmer Ocasio-Ibarra, U.S. Marshal for the District of Puerto Rico.
“Núñez-García not only attempted to flee justice but is also suspected of involvement in multiple homicides in Juana Díaz, Villalba, Santa Isabel, and Ponce. He represents a serious threat to our communities. I want to express my sincere gratitude and recognize the outstanding efforts of the members of the Puerto Rico Violent Offender Task Force for swiftly capturing this dangerous fugitive and protecting our citizens from further harm. They may try to hide, but they should know that the U.S. Marshals Service will not rest until they are found and brought to justice.”
Source: Office of United States Attorneys
SAN DIEGO – Two complaints were filed in federal court today charging five people with participating in a human smuggling event that led to the deaths of at least three migrants, including a 14-year-old boy from India. His 10-year-old sister is still missing at sea and presumed dead; their father is in a coma and mother is also hospitalized.
According to court records, on May 5, 2025, witnesses observed an overturned panga boat at a beach in Del Mar, California. Bystanders and San Diego Lifeguards participated in rescue efforts. Law enforcement officials recovered three bodies, including the boy, identified in court records as P.P.B. Four others were rescued and hospitalized, including P.P.B.’s mother and father; nine others were initially unaccounted for, including P.B.B.’s 10-year-old sister.
Two men believed to be involved in the smuggling event – Mexican nationals Julio Cesar Zuniga Luna and Jesus Juan Rodriguez Leyva – were arrested Monday at the beach and charged today with Bringing in Aliens Resulting in Death and Bringing in Aliens for Financial Gain.
Later Monday night, Border Patrol agents were conducting operations in Chula Vista, California where they identified a vehicle that had been observed at the scene of the maritime smuggling incident earlier that day. The driver of the vehicle fled the scene. During the investigation, Border Patrol Agents identified two other vehicles that were involved in the smuggling event and were able to successfully stop and arrest the drivers of these load vehicles and locate eight of the nine migrants missing from the boat, with the exception of the 10-year-old sister of P.P.B.
Melissa Jenelle Cota, Gustavo Lara and Sergio Rojas-Fregosa – all Mexican nationals – were arrested and charged with Transportation of Illegal Aliens. Rojas-Fregoso, was identified as an alien who had previously been deported on December 19, 2023.
“The drowning deaths of these children are a heartbreaking reminder of how little human traffickers care about the costs of their deadly business,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon. “We are committed to seeking justice for these vulnerable victims, and to holding accountable any traffickers responsible for their deaths.”
“Human smuggling, regardless of the route, is not only illegal but extremely dangerous. Smugglers often treat people as disposable commodities, leading to tragic and sometimes deadly consequences, as we saw in this case,” said Shawn Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of HSI San Diego. “Yesterday’s heartbreaking events are a stark reminder of the urgent need to dismantle these criminal networks driven by greed. The HSI along with the U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Coast Guard, and other partners from the Marine Task Force, remains firmly committed to holding those responsible accountable for these senseless deaths.”
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sean Van Demark and Edward Chang.
DEFENDANTS
Case Number 25mj02403-JLB
Jesus Ivan Rodriguez-Leyva Age: 36 Mexico
Julio Cesar Zuniga-Luna Age: 30 Mexico
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Bringing in Aliens Resulting in Death – Title 8, U.S.C., Sections 1324(a)(1)(A)(i), (v)(II), and (a)(1)(B)(iv)
Maximum penalty: Death or Life in Prison and $250,000 fine
Bringing in Aliens for Financial Gain – Title 8, U.S.C., Section 1324(a)(2)(B)(ii)
Maximum penalty: Ten years in prison with a three-year mandatory minimum and $250,000 fine
Case Number 25mj2386-JLB
Melissa Jennelle Cota Age: 33 Mexico
Gustavo Lara Age: 32 Mexico
Sergio Rojas-Fregoso Age: 31 Mexico
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Transportation of Illegal Aliens – Title 8, U.S.C., Section 1324(a)(1)(A)(ii)
Maximum penalty: Ten years in prison and $500,000 fine
Deported Alien Found in the United States – Title 8, U.S.C., Section 1326
Maximum penalty: Two years in prison and $250,000 fine
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
Homeland Security Investigations – Marine Task Force
Homeland Security Investigations
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
United States Coast Guard
San Diego Lifeguard Service
San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office
*The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Source: Office of United States Attorneys
SAN DIEGO – U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers Farlis Almonte, Ricardo Rodriguez and Kairy Stephania Quiñonez are charged in an indictment with allowing vehicles with undocumented individuals to pass through their lanes into the U.S. without inspection while working at the San Ysidro Port of Entry.
The indictment alleges that Almonte, Rodriguez, and Quiñonez revealed their lane assignments and hours they were scheduled to work the primary inspection booths at the San Ysidro Port of Entry so that co-conspirators would know when it was safe to transport undocumented individuals across the border with impunity – sometimes using code words to gain admittance.
According to the indictment, the defendants falsely reported in the Transportation Enforcement Communications System – a database known as “TECS” that is used by CBP officers – the number of occupants in co-conspirators’ vehicles to conceal the fact that those vehicles contained undocumented individuals.
Almonte and Rodriguez are also charged with receipt of bribes by a public official. The indictment alleges that in exchange for money, they failed to enforce the immigration laws of the United States by allowing vehicles with undocumented immigrants to enter the United States.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Francisco Nagel and Bianca Calderon-Peñaloza.
DEFENDANTS Case Number 25-CR-1502
Farlis Almonte Age: 38 San Diego, California
Ricardo Rodriguez Age: 34 Tijuana, Mexico
Kairy Stephania Quiñonez Age: 31 Imperial Beach, California
SUMMARY OF CHARGE
Conspiracy to Bring in Aliens for Financial Gain – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 371 and Title 8, U.S.C. Section 1324(a)(2)(B)(ii)
Maximum Penalty: Five years in prison
Bringing in Aliens for Financial Gain, Aiding and Abetting – Title 8, U.S.C. Section 1324(a)(2)(B)(ii) and Title 18, U.S.C. Section 2
Maximum Penalty: Fifteen years in prison with a five-year mandatory minimum
Receipt of Bribes by Public Official – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 201(b)(2)(C)
Maximum Penalty: Fifteen years in prison
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
Department of Homeland Security – Office of Inspector General
Homeland Security Investigations
Drug Enforcement Administration
U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Field Operations
United States Border Patrol
*The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley
WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) joined Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee Chair Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and 80 Senate colleagues in a bipartisan resolution declaring the week of May 5th as “National Small Business Week.” The measure recognizes the entrepreneurs and innovators that promote growth and create jobs across America.
“We know that small businesses drive America’s innovations and economic strength. Here in Iowa, they make up 99.3 percent of all businesses, and nearly half of Iowa employees work for a small business. In marking this special week, our resolution recognizes the power of small businesses and honors the men and women who work hard to keep our communities vibrant,” Grassley said.
“Main Street is roaring back under President Trump’s pro-growth policies that are ushering in a Golden Age,” Ernst said. “This week, we celebrate the small businesses that mean so much more than the livelihoods they support and the jobs they create. These shops embody the American spirit and shape the culture of big cities and rural communities across America. I’m proud to recognize these entrepreneurs’ tremendous contributions and will continue to fight to ensure that they have a champion in Washington.”
Full text of the resolution can be found HERE.
Additional cosponsors include Sens. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Jon Husted (R-Ohio), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Angus King (I-Maine), John Kennedy (R-La.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Christopher Murphy (D-Conn.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), James Justice (R-W.Va.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Thomas Tillis (R-N.C.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Margaret Hassan (D-N.H.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), John Curtis (R-Utah), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Jim Banks (R-Ind.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), John Thune (R-S.D.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.).
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US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley
WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) joined Sens. Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) and Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) to introduce the More Opportunities for Moms to Succeed (MOMS) Act. The legislation would provide critical support to women during typically challenging phases of motherhood – including prenatal, postpartum and early childhood development – and bolster access to resources and assistance to help mothers and their children thrive.
“Parenthood is a blessing, and it’s critical that women have the support they need during this crucial time. Our legislation would expand access for moms looking for resources and services in their area. I’m proud to be pro-life, pro-mother and pro-family,” Grassley said.
Additional cosponsors include Sens. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Dave McCormick (R-Pa.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Jim Justice (R-W.Va.) and Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.).
Background:
In 2023, the number of U.S. births hit the lowest rate since 1979, and the total fertility rate in America hit an all-time low. Last year, fertility and birth rates remained near record-lows, reflecting a continued trend in the United States.
The MOMS Act would establish a website with resources for expecting and postpartum moms, as well as those with young children. The bill would also increase access to adoption agencies, pregnancy resource centers and other relevant resources available near the mother’s location. These include health and well-being services, material and legal support and financial assistance.
The bill would improve access to pre- and postnatal resources by establishing a grant program for nonprofit entities to support, encourage and assist women in carrying their pregnancies to term and in caring for their babies after birth.
It would also support moms in rural and medically underserved areas by helping organizations purchase necessary medical equipment and technology to support prenatal and postnatal telehealth appointments.
This legislation is endorsed by Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, Americans United for Life, March for Life Action, the National Right to Life Committee, Students for Life Action, Concerned Women of America, the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission and the Human Coalition.
The full text of the bill can be found HERE.
A section-by-section of the bill can be found HERE.
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US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley
WASHINGTON – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) is shining a light on the Polaris Project, which has received millions in taxpayer dollars from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to solely operate HHS’s National Human Trafficking Hotline for nearly 18 years.
In a letter to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Grassley cites legally protected whistleblower disclosures revealing the Polaris Project failed to report several instances of human trafficking – including child sex trafficking – to law enforcement. Grassley also highlights Polaris’ potential conflict of interest, noting Polaris’ co-founder currently oversees the HHS office responsible for awarding the National Human Trafficking Hotline contract.
“As you are aware, Polaris has received millions in taxpayer dollars to run this hotline, and if the grant is renewed, will receive an additional $9 million in funding. It’s imperative that HHS ensure the hotline is running efficiently and effectively to protect the countless victims of human trafficking,” Grassley wrote.
“These alleged failures by Polaris to report instances of human trafficking are deeply concerning and, if they are accurate, changes to the operation of the NHTH must be made,” Grassley concluded.
Forty-one Attorneys General raised additional concerns in an April letter to Kennedy regarding the Polaris Project’s operation of the National Human Trafficking Hotline.
Read Grassley’s full letter HERE and below.
May 5, 2025
VIA ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION
The Honorable Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Secretary Department of Health and Human Services
Dear Secretary Kennedy:
On February 27, 2023, 36 Attorneys General (AGs), wrote to Congress expressing their concerns with the Polaris Project, which has been the sole contractor operating the National Human Trafficking Hotline (NHTH) since 2007. This letter noted that Polaris, which is funded by taxpayer dollars, “is not reporting tips of adult trafficking to state law enforcement except under the limited circumstance where the victim self-reports and affirmatively consents to the Hotline making the report.” More recently, on April 15, 2025, 41 AGs sent you a letter regarding the notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) for the grant to operate the NHTH. This letter raised multiple concerns about Polaris’s operation of the hotline. Specifically, the AGs stated that Polaris was “no longer sharing tips from concerned citizens and distressed family members with local law enforcement.” These alleged failures by Polaris to report instances of human trafficking are deeply concerning and, if they are accurate, changes to the operation of the NHTH must be made.
Additionally, according to reports, Katherine Chon, the co-founder of Polaris, is a “senior adviser at [the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)] and its director of the Office on Trafficking in Persons [OTIP],” the office awarding the grant. Given the importance of the NHTH, you must not allow conflicts of interest to affect the contracting process.
Legally protected whistleblower disclosures provided to my office appear to confirm the allegations that Polaris is not reporting instances of potential human trafficking to law enforcement. For example, according to an internal Polaris case file, in March 2025, an anonymous “signaler” contacted the NHTH and reported a “possible [sex trafficking (ST)] situation.” Polaris staff marked “Yes” for the case referencing potential minors and deemed the “Level of Trafficking Indicators” as having “High Indicators.” The case file also noted that the estimated age range of potential victims were “15-17; 18-21; 22+,” and that the potential victim indicated to the signaler she wanted police involvement. The case file further indicates that, according to the signaler, the potential victim is afraid “[s]he’s going to be physically hurt by the pimp running this company. She’s being forced to escort for sex and money.” It also notes that there are no existing reports to law enforcement. The signaler also disclosed that the individual accused of trafficking the victim also forces other women, potentially minors, to engage in these types of acts. Unfortunately, according to the records obtained by my office, a member of Polaris’s staff reviewed and labeled the file “Work Not Required.” A whistleblower told my office that this means the case is closed and law enforcement has not been alerted.
Another legally protected whistleblower disclosure to my office shows similar concerning behavior by Polaris and its staff. According to records provided to my office, in February 2025, a potential victim contacted the NHTH to report a “situation of [sex trafficking] involving herself and her minor sister.” According to the records, the potential victim and her minor sister were being held by two potential traffickers. Additionally, the case file notes that both of the potential victims were United States citizens and that the “Level of Trafficking Indicators” was marked as having “High Indicators.” Further, according to the records, the potential victim “[w]ishe[d] to report, not anonymously.” However, the Polaris case file noted that the potential victim stopped communicating “due to safety concerns.” The case file status is described as “unclear situation as [potential victim (PV)] stopped responding” and “Work Not Required.” According to legally protected disclosures to my office, that means Polaris staff failed to report this potential trafficking to law enforcement and no other action was taken.
As you are aware, Polaris has received millions in taxpayer dollars to run this hotline, and if the grant is renewed, will receive an additional $9 million in funding. It’s imperative that HHS ensure the hotline is running efficiently and effectively to protect the countless victims of human trafficking. Additionally, for Congress to better understand HHS’s oversight of the hotline and the Polaris Project, please provide answers to the following by May 19, 2025:
Does “Work Not Required” mean that law enforcement was not informed of the information?
What steps has HHS taken to address the complaints raised by the Attorneys General letters from 2023 and 2025? Provide all records.
What specific steps has HHS taken to oversee Polaris and ensure its properly reporting tips the hotline receives? Provide all records.
What steps has HHS taken to ensure the apparent conflicts of interest between Polaris and Ms. Chon do not affect the contracting process? Has Ms. Chon been walled off from these matters? If not, why not? If so, provide all recusal records.
Source: United States Department of Justice 2
Since the inauguration of President Trump, the Department of Justice is playing a critical role in Operation Take back America, a nationwide initiative to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Last week, the U.S. Attorneys for Arizona, Central California, Southern California, New Mexico, Southern Texas, and Western Texas charged more than 1300 defendants with criminal violations of U.S. immigration laws.
The Southern District of Texas filed 256 cases in matters aimed at securing the southern border. As part of the cases, 83 face allegations of illegally reentering the country. The majority have prior felony convictions for narcotics, firearms, sexual or violent offenses, prior immigration crimes and more. A total of 160 people face charges of illegally entering the country, while 13 cases allege various instances of human smuggling with the remainder involving other immigration-related crimes.
The Western District of Texas filed 352 new immigration and immigration-related criminal cases. Among the new cases, David Ysturiz-Villalobos and Yilber Gabriel Caldera-Espinoza were arrested by the San Antonio Police Department during an April 22 traffic stop. Both were identified as Venezuelan nationals unlawfully present in the United States. Ysturiz-Villalobos was in possession of a .40 caliber pistol with a loaded magazine and one chambered round. Caldera-Espinoza admitted the pistol was his. Ysturiz-Villalobos and Caldera-Espinoza are each charged with one count of illegal alien in possession of a firearm and, if convicted, face up to 10 years in federal prison.
The District of Arizona brought immigration-related criminal charges against 287 defendants. Specifically, the United States filed 107 cases in which aliens illegally re-entered the United States, and the United States also charged 156 aliens for illegally entering the United States. In its ongoing effort to deter unlawful immigration, the United States filed 21 cases against 24 individuals responsible for smuggling illegal aliens into and within the District of Arizona.
The Southern District of California filed 124 border-related cases this week, including charges of assault on a federal officer, bringing in aliens for financial gain, reentering the U.S. after deportation, and importation of controlled substances. A sample of border-related arrests this week: On April 27, Emma Alejandra Medina, a U.S. citizen, was arrested and charged with Attempted Bringing in Aliens for Financial Gain. According to a complaint, Medina was captain of a boat that was transporting eight undocumented immigrants on San Diego Bay. On April 26, Jorge Alexandro Tellez, a U.S. citizen, was arrested and charged with attempting to cross the border in a vehicle with 286 pounds of methamphetamine concealed in all four doors, the seats, the spare tire, the tailgate, and in multiple tool bags located inside the vehicle.
The Central District of California this week criminally charged 45 defendants who allegedly illegally re-entered the United States following removal, bringing the total number of defendants charged with this crime since Jan. 20 of this year to 347, a year-over-year increase of 3,755%, the Justice Department announced today. The defendants charged were previously convicted of felonies before they were removed from the United States, offenses that include attempted burglary and forgery. Since the change in administration this year, federal prosecutors in the seven-county Central District, which includes Los Angeles, have aggressively pursued criminal illegal aliens. In comparison, federal prosecutors in 2024 charged a total of nine defendants with Title 8 United States Code § 1326 – illegal re-entry following removal. In 2023, the office charged eight such defendants.
The District of New Mexico announced its immigration enforcement statistics. These cases are prosecuted in partnership with the El Paso Sector of the U.S. Border Patrol, along with Homeland Security Investigations El Paso, and assistance from other federal, state, and county agencies. The United States Attorney’s Office brought the following criminal charges in New Mexico: 79 individuals were charged this week with Illegal Reentry After Deportation (8 U.S.C. 1326), 11 individuals were charged this week with Alien Smuggling (8 U.S.C. 1324), 12 individuals were charged this week with Illegal Entry (8 U.S.C. 1325), and 130 individuals were charged this week with Illegal Entry (8 U.S.C. 1325) and 50 U.S.C. 797, violation of a military security regulation, arising from the newly established National Defense Area in New Mexico.
We are grateful for the hard work of our border prosecutors in bringing these cases and helping to make our border safe again.
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
Since the inauguration of President Trump, the Department of Justice is playing a critical role in Operation Take back America, a nationwide initiative to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Last week, the U.S. Attorneys for Arizona, Central California, Southern California, New Mexico, Southern Texas, and Western Texas charged more than 1300 defendants with criminal violations of U.S. immigration laws.
The Southern District of Texas filed 256 cases in matters aimed at securing the southern border. As part of the cases, 83 face allegations of illegally reentering the country. The majority have prior felony convictions for narcotics, firearms, sexual or violent offenses, prior immigration crimes and more. A total of 160 people face charges of illegally entering the country, while 13 cases allege various instances of human smuggling with the remainder involving other immigration-related crimes.
The Western District of Texas filed 352 new immigration and immigration-related criminal cases. Among the new cases, David Ysturiz-Villalobos and Yilber Gabriel Caldera-Espinoza were arrested by the San Antonio Police Department during an April 22 traffic stop. Both were identified as Venezuelan nationals unlawfully present in the United States. Ysturiz-Villalobos was in possession of a .40 caliber pistol with a loaded magazine and one chambered round. Caldera-Espinoza admitted the pistol was his. Ysturiz-Villalobos and Caldera-Espinoza are each charged with one count of illegal alien in possession of a firearm and, if convicted, face up to 10 years in federal prison.
The District of Arizona brought immigration-related criminal charges against 287 defendants. Specifically, the United States filed 107 cases in which aliens illegally re-entered the United States, and the United States also charged 156 aliens for illegally entering the United States. In its ongoing effort to deter unlawful immigration, the United States filed 21 cases against 24 individuals responsible for smuggling illegal aliens into and within the District of Arizona.
The Southern District of California filed 124 border-related cases this week, including charges of assault on a federal officer, bringing in aliens for financial gain, reentering the U.S. after deportation, and importation of controlled substances. A sample of border-related arrests this week: On April 27, Emma Alejandra Medina, a U.S. citizen, was arrested and charged with Attempted Bringing in Aliens for Financial Gain. According to a complaint, Medina was captain of a boat that was transporting eight undocumented immigrants on San Diego Bay. On April 26, Jorge Alexandro Tellez, a U.S. citizen, was arrested and charged with attempting to cross the border in a vehicle with 286 pounds of methamphetamine concealed in all four doors, the seats, the spare tire, the tailgate, and in multiple tool bags located inside the vehicle.
The Central District of California this week criminally charged 45 defendants who allegedly illegally re-entered the United States following removal, bringing the total number of defendants charged with this crime since Jan. 20 of this year to 347, a year-over-year increase of 3,755%, the Justice Department announced today. The defendants charged were previously convicted of felonies before they were removed from the United States, offenses that include attempted burglary and forgery. Since the change in administration this year, federal prosecutors in the seven-county Central District, which includes Los Angeles, have aggressively pursued criminal illegal aliens. In comparison, federal prosecutors in 2024 charged a total of nine defendants with Title 8 United States Code § 1326 – illegal re-entry following removal. In 2023, the office charged eight such defendants.
The District of New Mexico announced its immigration enforcement statistics. These cases are prosecuted in partnership with the El Paso Sector of the U.S. Border Patrol, along with Homeland Security Investigations El Paso, and assistance from other federal, state, and county agencies. The United States Attorney’s Office brought the following criminal charges in New Mexico: 79 individuals were charged this week with Illegal Reentry After Deportation (8 U.S.C. 1326), 11 individuals were charged this week with Alien Smuggling (8 U.S.C. 1324), 12 individuals were charged this week with Illegal Entry (8 U.S.C. 1325), and 130 individuals were charged this week with Illegal Entry (8 U.S.C. 1325) and 50 U.S.C. 797, violation of a military security regulation, arising from the newly established National Defense Area in New Mexico.
We are grateful for the hard work of our border prosecutors in bringing these cases and helping to make our border safe again.
Source: United States of America – The White House (video statements)
“Welcome to the first meeting of the White House FIFA Task Force. Starting this June, the United States will host the 2025 Club World Cup. And next summer, we’ll host the official 2026 World Cup tournament.” –President Donald J. Trump
Source: United States of America – Federal Government Departments (video statements)
VA’s Million Veteran Program (MVP) is making health discoveries in areas that matter to Veterans—including mental health, PTSD, and more. Learn why Veterans like Cassandra B. are choosing to join MVP to help advance mental health research for everyone. Visit https://www.mvp.va.gov or call 866-441-6075 to learn more and join today.
Source: United States of America – Federal Government Departments (video statements)
VA’s Million Veteran Program (MVP) is making health discoveries in areas that matter to Veterans—including mental health, PTSD, and more. Learn why MVP’s research is important for helping to reduce stigma around seeking mental health care. Visit https://www.mvp.va.gov or call 866-441-6075 to learn more and join today.
Source: United States of America – Federal Government Departments (video statements)
Source: United States of America – Federal Government Departments (video statements)
VA’s Million Veteran Program (MVP) is making health discoveries in areas that matter to Veterans—including mental health, PTSD, and more. Learn how MVP’s research is helping to pave the way for a future of personalized mental health care for all Veterans. Visit https://www.mvp.va.gov or call 866-441-6075 to learn more and join today.
Source: United States of America – Federal Government Departments (video statements)
VA’s Million Veteran Program (MVP) is making health discoveries in areas that matter to Veterans—including mental health, PTSD, and more. Learn why MVP’s research is helping to change lives and the future of Veteran mental health care. Visit https://www.mvp.va.gov or call 866-441-6075 to learn more and join today.
Source: United States of America – Federal Government Departments (video statements)