Source: US Whitehouse
Today, surrounded by families who have lost loved ones to the scourge of fentanyl, President Donald J. Trump officially signed the HALT Fentanyl Act into law — permanently classifying fentanyl-related substances as a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act.
As President Trump said, the legislation is “delivering another defeat for the savage drug smugglers and criminals and the cartels” — and is just one of the many historic actions the Trump Administration has taken to end the carnage wrought by foreign drug cartels in our communities.
President Trump was joined by a few of the millions of Americans whose lives have been permanently changed by the fentanyl epidemic:
Greg Swan, who lost his son to fentanyl: “I would just like to say, thank you, Mr. President, for stopping the border crossings — full stop, mic drop … It was amazing what you did. We were being gaslit — and you came and lit a fire to that story, and we’re a lot safer for of it.” Watch
Anne Fundner, who lost her son to fentanyl: “In the last four years, fentanyl became the number one killer to Americans ages 15 to 48 … President Trump, for four years we felt ignored, but you’ve changed that … It is a lifeline for families across America in keeping our families safe … Thank you for keeping America safe for our children. This is what we voted for.” Watch
Jackie Siegel, who lost her daughter and sister to drug overdoses: “Mr. President, it’s an honor to be here today on behalf of our family … for this important signing.” Watch
Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Shelley Moore Capito
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor-HHS), led a group of her colleagues in sending a letter to Russell Vought, Director of the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB), advocating to release anticipated education formula funding—an issue she has heard about directly from impacted individuals.
Specifically, the letter requests that the administration implement the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Full-Year Continuing Resolution Act, which President Trump signed into law earlier this year. This legislation contains critical funding that states rely on to help students, families, and local economies.
In addition to Senator Capito, the following senators signed the letter: John Boozman (R-Ark.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Jim Justice (R-W.Va.), Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.).
Full text of the letter can be found hereor below.
Dear Director Vought,
We write to ask you to faithfully implement the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Full-Year Continuing Resolution Act, which President Trump signed into law earlier this year, including the education formula funds that states anticipated receiving on July 1, 2025.
The Continuing Resolution contained funding for Supporting Effective Instruction State Grants; 21st Century Community Learning Centers; Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grants; English Language Acquisition; Migrant Education; Adult Basic and Literacy Education State Grants (including Integrated English Literacy and Civics Education State Grants). Withholding these funds will harm students, families, and local economies.
The decision to withhold this funding is contrary to President Trump’s goal of returning K-12 education to the states. This funding goes directly to states and local school districts, where local leaders decide how this funding is spent, because as we know, local communities know how to best serve students and families. Withholding this funding denies states and communities the opportunity to pursue localized initiatives to support students and their families.
We share your concern about taxpayer money going to fund radical left-wing programs. However, we do not believe that is happening with these funds. These funds go to support programs that enjoy longstanding, bipartisan support like after-school and summer programs that provide learning and enrichment opportunities for school aged children which also enables their parents to work and contribute to local economies.
These funds also go to support adult learners. These students are often adults seeking second chances for a myriad of reasons, for example, caregiving responsibilities or financial challenges. These are adult learners working to gain employment skills, earn workforce certifications, or transition into postsecondary education. We should be making educational opportunities easier for these students, not harder.
We welcome the opportunity to work with you and Secretary McMahon to ensure that all federal education funding goes towards programs that help states and school districts provide students an excellent education. We want to see students in our states and across the country thrive, whether they are adult learners, students who speak English as a second language, or students who need after-school care so that their parents can work. We believe you share the same goal.
We encourage you to reverse your decision and release this Congressionally-approved funding to states.
Thank you for your attention to this request, and we look forward to your prompt reply.
Source: United States Senator for Texas John Cornyn
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Ted Cruz (R-TX) released the following statements on their provision to consider moving the Space Shuttle Discovery from Virginia to its rightful home near the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston getting signed into law by President Trump in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act:
“Houston has long been the cornerstone of our nation’s human space exploration program, and it’s overdue for Space City to receive the recognition it deserves by bringing the Space Shuttle Discovery home,” said Sen. Cornyn. “I am glad to see this provision become law as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill and look forward to welcoming Discovery to Houston and righting this egregious wrong.”
“Houston has long stood at the heart of America’s human spaceflight program, and this legislation rightly honors that legacy,” said Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, & Transportation Chairman Cruz. “It ensures that any future transfer of a flown, crewed space vehicle will prioritize locations that have played a direct and vital role in our nation’s manned space program, making Houston, Texas, a leading candidate. Bringing such a historic space vehicle to the region would underscore the city’s indispensable contributions to our space missions, highlight the strength of America’s commercial space partnerships, and inspire future generations of engineers, scientists, and pioneers who will carry our legacy of American leadership in space.”
Background:
The Senators’ provision will result in consideration of the Space Shuttle Discovery moving from Virginia to its rightful home near NASA’s JSC in Houston.
Mission Control at NASA’s Johnson Space Center led all of the space shuttle flights throughout the program’s history, and the astronauts who flew aboard the shuttles lived and trained in the area Houston. Four space shuttles were retired from NASA in 2010, and one of them was expected to go on display in the Space City. Congress stated in the NASA Authorization Act of 2010 that the four space shuttles were to be given to states with a “historical relationship with either the launch, flight operations, or processing of the Space Shuttle orbiters or the retrieval of NASA-manned space vehicles, or significant contributions to human space flight.” Unfortunately, this directive was unlawfully ignored by the Obama administration, who played politics to keep Houston from getting one of the shuttles. Notably, the administration gave one of the four shuttles to New York City, which has not made any major contributions to the nation’s history of space exploration and is not home to a NASA center—unlike Houston. The Space Shuttle Discovery should be transferred to Houston. This legislation would authorize the movement of the Space Shuttle Discovery from the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Virginia to an entity near the JSC in Houston.
Additional space-related provisions led by Sen. Cornyn, including the Mission to Modernize Astronautic Resources (MARS) for SpaceAct, nearly $10 billion in NASA funding for programs at JSC, funding for National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Artemis program, and resources to support the International Space Station (ISS), were also signed into law as part of this legislation on July 4, 2025.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11)
SAN ANGELO, TX — Today, Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11), alongside local leaders, applauded the decision to add more counties across Texas’s 11th Congressional District to President Trump’s Major Disaster Declaration to receive varying levels of support from FEMA. Within the 11th District, the list currently includes Kimble, Llano, Mason, McCulloch, and Menard Counties for Public Assistance, and San Saba and Tom Green Counties for Public and Individual Assistance.
“Texas has experienced unimaginable tragedy over the past week from the devastating floods that swept through Central and West Texas on July 4th,”said Rep. Pfluger.“Several counties in my district were hit especially hard. Thanks to Governor Abbott’s advocacy and the President’s Major Disaster Declaration, Kimble, Llano, Mason, McCulloch, Menard, San Saba, and Tom Green counties are all eligible for vital FEMA assistance. My team and I have worked closely with local leaders and officials to ensure accurate damage assessments, and we will continue working to secure the resources these counties, and others, need.”
“I would like to express my thanks to everyone, including Federal, State, and in particular our county emergency management and response teams, who assisted in the disaster response from the recent flood incidents and related damages in Kimble County. I am thankful that our county has been added to President Trump’s Disaster Declaration to ensure we receive the support necessary to rebuild and provide the necessary resources to the county and individuals in a timely manner. I have been blown away by, and very thankful for, how the community has come together in such difficult times, and I remain hopeful that we will recover from this disaster as quickly as is practical,”said Kimble County Judge Hal Rose.
“Llano County is grateful for Congressman August Pfluger’s leadership and dedicated assistance in response to the catastrophic flooding in the Texas Hill Country that occurred during the July 4th holiday. In the face of an unprecedented natural disaster, Congressman Pfluger demonstrated a steadfast commitment to the well-being of our residents. His prompt coordination with state and federal agencies, advocacy for emergency resources, and visible presence in affected areas were instrumental in accelerating critical response efforts and facilitating the deployment of relief measures. Through his actions, Congressman Pfluger and his staff exemplified the highest standards of public service, ensuring that Llano County’s needs were heard and addressed during a time of urgent crisis. We are immensely grateful for his partnership and resolute service to our community during this time of adversity,”said Llano County Judge Ron Cunningham.
“Mason County is grateful for the concern and support provided at the state and federal levels in response to the July 4th flooding event. To be added to the major Disaster Declaration is huge, as destruction of this magnitude challenges a small county budget and resources. Having the commitment of our state and federal leaders is crucial to the long-term recovery of destroyed infrastructure. Mason County is blessed to be in the 11th District of Texas under the leadership of Congressman Pfluger,”said Mason County Judge Sheree Hardin.
“McCulloch County has been truly humbled by the response from our Local, State, and Federal entities as we deal with the July 4th flood-related damages. A traumatic event such as this is overwhelming, and the outpouring of support from President Trump and Congressman August Pfluger eases our citizens’ burdens and allows our local governments the ability to make necessary repairs and plan for future improvements to emergency responses,”said McCulloch County Judge Frank Trull.
“I’d like to thank everyone who has helped submit the damage caused by the July 4th flood that enabled our inclusion in the disaster declaration for Public Assistance. Without this support, Menard County would have been set back years as we try to repair the damaged roads and public buildings. We are especially grateful to our regional partners with the Texas Division of Emergency Management, the local leaders of the Menard Mission Team and the Beautification of Menard, and the volunteers and neighbors who have lent a helping hand or encouraging word through this trying time. We sincerely appreciate the support of Congressman Pfluger and his staff as we work to document the damage inflicted on the citizens of Menard County, and are optimistic that our efforts will highlight the need for our community to be escalated into the proclamation for Individual Assistance as well,”said Menard County Judge Brandon Corbin.
ICYMI: Last week, Congressman Pfluger announced the addition of San Saba and Tom Green counties to the Major Disaster Declaration alongside local leaders. You can read the announcement and their statements HERE.
If you have been impacted by the floods, please visit the FEMA website to request support: www.DisasterAssistance.gov
Source: United States Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) delivered remarks on the Senate floor detailing the need for the U.S. Senate to pass the $9 billion rescissions package to eliminate wasteful government spending.
Click here to download Senator Blackburn’s remarks on the Senate floor.
REMARKS AS PREPARED
America’s Current Fiscal Path Is Unsustainable, and President Trump Has a Mandate to Rein in Wasteful Spending
Mister President, when I talk to Tennesseans, one of the biggest concerns they have for our nation’s future is our national debt.
After four years of reckless, far-left spending under the Biden administration, it now sits at $37 trillion.
That’s $108,000 for every American citizen.
Today, we are spending more on interest payments on the debt than what we spend to fund our entire military.
Tennesseans and the American people know that this path is unsustainable.
That’s why they returned President Trump to the Oval Office with a mandate to rein in wasteful spending.
And that’s exactly what he has done.
Congress Must Permanently Eliminate Wasteful Spending
Since Inauguration Day, this administration has identified more than $190 billion in potential savings across the federal government—on everything from unused office space to far-left DEI programming.
This is a victory for the American people.
But while President Trump can stop these funds from going out the door, it is Congress’s responsibility to claw them back and make these savings permanent.
Otherwise, a future Democrat President could open the floodgates of wasteful spending once again.
That’s why Republicans are moving forward with a rescissions package this week that will save American taxpayers $9 billion.
With our national debt at unsustainable levels, we must be careful stewards of taxpayer dollars. That means eliminating obvious waste that serves no benefit for the American people.
Rescissions Package Will Eliminate Reckless Spending on Biased Public Media
That’s exactly what this bill accomplishes, and this is only the beginning of the Trump administration’s efforts to eliminate reckless spending.
It eliminates $1.1 billion for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
This is the organization that funds NPR and PBS—which have pushed left-wing ideology on the taxpayers’ dime for years.
NPR’s CEO, Katherine Maher, has called President Trump a “fascist” and “deranged racist.”
Ahead of the 2020 election, her outlet refused to cover the revelations about Hunter Biden’s laptop and overseas business deals—which turned out to be entirely true.
As NPR’s leadership put it at the time: “We don’t want to waste the listeners’ and readers’ time on stories that are just pure distractions.”
Rescissions Package Will Cut Billions in Foreign Spending That Undermines American Values
The rescissions package also cuts billions in foreign spending that does absolutely nothing to promote American values and interests abroad:
$4 million for “sedentary migrants” in Colombia;
$3 million for an Iraqi version of Sesame Street;
$1 million for voter ID efforts in Haiti;
$500,000 for electric buses in Rwanda;
$6 million for “Net Zero Cities” in Mexico;
$2.1 million for “climate resilience” in Asia, Latin America, and Africa.
And on and on.
At the same time, the package eliminates $1 billion in funding for international organizations that work against American interests, including:
$135 million for the corrupt World Health Organization, which covered for Communist China throughout the COVID pandemic;
And $8 million for the UN Human Rights Council, which supports dictators and repressive regimes while demonizing our ally, Israel.
Americans Support Fiscal Responsibility
All in all, these savings are just common sense.
The American people support these cuts. They want fiscal responsibility. They want a future where their children and grandchildren do not have to bear the burden of crippling debt. And this rescissions package is an incredible first step in taking on this problem.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09)
Lawmakers emphasize importance of emergency broadcasting funding to keep Americans safe amid natural disasters and emergencies
Washington, DC — On Wednesday, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), joined Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN-04) in leading a letter alongside 45 bicameral Congressional colleagues to President Trump urging him to reconsider his decision to defund the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). The CPB supports America’s children with educational programming and ensures that emergency broadcasting keeps Americans safe amid natural disasters and emergencies. The proposed rescission to the CPB will force small stations around the country to close, leaving significant gaps in coverage for Americans who rely on these vital services for noncommercial, high-quality, localized content and telecommunications.
The letter comes amid Congressional Republicans’ attempt to pass President Trump’s proposal to rescind $10 Billion in federal funding that Congress approved four months ago on a bipartisan basis. Despite bipartisan opposition to the bill, the US Senate voted to move forward to debating and amending the legislation on Wednesday by the slimmest possible margin following a tie-breaking vote cast by Vice President JD Vance.
“We write to express our deep concern regarding the $1.1 Billion claw back of funds to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) included in the proposed recissions you sent to Congress on May 28, 2025,” said the lawmakers in their letter to the White House. “The package was passed through the House of Representatives on June 12, over the objections of all Democratic and four Republican Members. The cuts to CPB in the recission package undermine the public media that Americans rely on for unfettered access to information, educational programming for kids, cultural programming, and nationwide emergency alerting.
“Public media has received bipartisan support for the past 50 years because Congress has continuously recognized that access to public media is in the public’s best interest. The Public Radio Satellite System (PRSS) is the backbone of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Amber Alerts and plays a critical role in keeping Americans informed and safe during emergencies. As key local news providers, public radio stations leverage their reporting resources to offer live news and information on disasters and other emergencies, providing real-time information on where local audiences can access resources and safe locations.
“As our nation experiences increased instances of severe weather and climate shocks, this service is more important than ever. In Minnesota, Minnesota Public Radio (MPR) delivers programming and services across the state, and in some areas is the only local source for news and updates during an emergency. When the power goes out, and cell networks or the internet go down, MPR is the most reliable form of communication in an emergency and provides essential backstopping for all other emergency alerting services and activities across the public media system. This is true across all 50 states, and losing this important service in the middle of hurricane, flood, and tornado season will prove devastating nationwide.
“Of the $1.1 Billion included in the rescission proposal, 70% of these funds will be pulled out of local stations that are independently owned and operated in our communities. For many smaller stations in rural communities across the country, these cuts will prove utterly devastating, because they provide local, state, and regional news that is no longer provided through other outlets. These small stations will not survive, resulting in news deserts for these communities and putting thousands of American lives at risk.
“We ask your administration to withdraw this rescission proposal and protect the vital services that CPB provides. If the rescissions go ahead as planned, we will be requesting a report to Congress as to how your administration plans to fill the void left behind, particularly in the areas of emergency alerting and local news reporting.”
The letter is co-signed by Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) and 44 Democratic Representatives: Representatives Joyce Beatty (OH-03), Ami Bera (CA-06), Sanford Bishop (GA-02), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Brendan Boyle (PA-02), Julia Brownley (CA-26), Shontel Brown (OH-11), André Carson (IN-07), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), Steve Cohen (TN-09), Danny Davis (IL-07), Diana DeGette (CO-01), Dwight Evans (PA-03), Laura Friedman (CA-30), John Garamendi (CA-08), Jared Huffman (CA-02), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), William Keating (MA-09), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), Stephen Lynch (MA-08), Seth Magaziner (RI-02), James McGovern (MA-02), Robert Menendez (NJ-08), Dave Min (CA-47), Kelly Morrison (MN-03), Kevin Mullin (CA-15), Richard Neal (MA-01), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Brittany Pettersen (CO-07), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), Emily Randall (WA-06), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), Adam Smith (WA-09), Greg Stanton (AZ-04), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Mike Thompson (CA-04), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Paul Tonko (NY-20), Marc Veasey (TX-33), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), and Nikema Williams (GA-05).
FBI Most Wanted Suspect for attack on ICE agents arrested after joint investigation with ICE and law enforcement partners
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) today released the following statement as the week-long manhunt for Benjamin Hanil Song--a fugitive wanted in connection with the July 4 ambush on federal officers at the Prairieland Detention Center–ended Monday with his arrest by FBI agents in Dallas, Texas. Song had been on the FBI’s Most Wanted list since a Blue Alert was issued following his alleged role in the organized, armed attack.
Song, a former U.S. Marine Corps reservist, joined a violent group of at least 10 individuals in opening fire on officers at the federal facility just after 10:30 p.m. on Independence Day. He is charged with three counts of attempted murder of federal agents and three counts of discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. His capture brings the total number of arrests in the attack to 14.
“On Independence Day, as Americans were celebrating our freedoms, a group of violent extremists attempted to assassinate federal officers protecting us from violent criminals,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “Song’s arrest sends a clear message: under President Trump and Secretary Noem, if you lay a hand on an ICE agent, you will NOT walk free. We will not forget, and we will not rest until every attacker is in custody.”
The Prairieland Detention Center, which housed more than 1,000 illegal aliens on the night of the attack, includes detainees with convictions for rape, child molestation, murder, kidnapping, arson, human trafficking, and terrorism. Nearly 50 known members of MS-13, Tren de Aragua, and other transnational gangs were among the detainees, in addition to 13 Known or Suspected Terrorists (KSTs).
This is just the latest in a disturbing pattern of politically motivated violence targeting DHS personnel. Last week, ICE officers conducting enforcement operations in San Francisco were assaulted by violent protestors. In June, rioters stormed an ICE field office in Portland. ICE agents are now facing an 830% increase in assaults against them.
DHS and its law enforcement partners continue working around the clock to identify, arrest, and prosecute anyone involved in the July 4 ambush or other coordinated attacks against federal officers.
U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., announced that he voted against the 2026 Intelligence Authorization Act, which removed essential oversight of government intelligence and surveillance programs and passed the Senate Intelligence Committee Tuesday evening.
“It’s legislative malpractice to reduce the Senate’s oversight of the federal intelligence agencies while Donald Trump and his cronies are ignoring both laws and constitutional protections for Americans rights on a daily basis,” Wyden said. “Eliminating the requirement that the general counsels of the Office of Director of National Intelligence and CIA be Senate confirmed means the people who make secret law will no longer be vetted or held accountable. The bill also excludes congressional oversight of Intelligence Community firings that was in last year’s bill, despite the Trump administration’s politicized purges. These represent a serious setback for oversight. I also have serious concerns about classified matters that are either in the classified annex, or that the annex fails to address.”
Wyden did secure several important provisions in the bill, including whistleblower protections, a reporting requirement on the collection of commercial data, the declassification of any information on foreign governments’ actions to help their nationals flee justice in the United States, a prohibition on intelligence agencies contracting with companies that collect or sell location data associated with intelligence facilities and annual reporting on FBI national security investigations.
Source: United States Senator for Alaska Lisa Murkowski
07.16.25
Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) joined her colleagues in a letter to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Russell Vought, asking him to faithfully implement the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Full-Year Continuing Resolution Act, and release the funds.
The legislation included funding for Supporting Effective Instruction State Grants; 21st Century Learning Centers; Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grants; English Language Acquisition; Migrant Education; Adult Basic and Literary Education State Grants (including Integrated English Language and Civics Education State Grants).
“The decision to withhold this funding is directly contrary to President Trump’s goal of returning K-12 education to the states,” the Senators wrote. “This funding goes directly to states and local school districts, where local leaders decide how this funding is spent, because as we know, local communities know how to best serve students and families. Withholding this funding denies states and communities the opportunity to pursue localized initiatives to support students and their families.”
The letter was also signed by Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Susan Collins (R-ME), John Boozman (R-AR), Katie Boyd Britt (R-AL), Deb Fischer (R-NE), John Hoeven (R-ND), Jim Justice (R-WV), Mitch McConnell (R-KY), and M. Michael Rounds (R-SD).
The full text of the letter can be found here, or below.
Dear Director Vought,
We write to ask you to faithfully implement the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Full-Year Continuing Resolution Act, which President Trump signed into law earlier this year, including the education formula funds that states anticipated receiving on July I, 2025.
The Continuing Resolution contained funding for Supporting Effective Instruction State Grants; 21st Century Community Learning Centers; Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grants; English Language Acquisition; Migrant Education; Adult Basic and Literacy Education State Grants (including Integrated English Literacy and Civics Education State Grants). Withholding these funds will harm students, families, and local economies.
The decision to withhold this funding is contrary to President Trump’s goal of returning K-12 education to the states. This funding goes directly to states and local school districts, where local leaders decide how this funding is spent, because as we know, local communities know how to best serve students and families. Withholding this funding denies states and communities the opportunity to pursue localized initiatives to support students and their families.
We share your concern about taxpayer money going to fund radical left-wing programs.
However, we do not believe that is happening with these funds. These funds go to support programs that enjoy longstanding, bipartisan support like after-school and summer programs that provide learning and enrichment opportunities for school aged children which also enables their parents to work and contribute to local economies.
These funds also go to support adult learners. These students are often adults seeking second chances for a myriad of reasons, for example, caregiving responsibilities or financial challenges.
These are adult learners working to gain employment skills, earn workforce certifications, or transition into postsecondary education. We should be making educational opportunities easier for these students, not harder.
We welcome the opportunity to work with you and Secretary McMahon to ensure that all federal education funding goes towards programs that help states and school districts provide students an excellent education. We want to see students in our states and across the country thrive, whether they are adult learners, students who speak English as a second language, or students who need after-school care so that their parents can work. We believe you share the same goal.
We encourage you to reverse your decision and release this Congressionally-approved funding to states.
Thank you for your attention to this request, and we look forward to your prompt reply.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (7th District of Washington)
WASHINGTON – U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) and Grace Meng (NY-06) led lawmakers today in introducing the Housing is a Human Right Act, transformative legislation to authorize more than $300 billion for housing infrastructure to reduce homelessness across America. This urgent proposal would invest more than $200 billion in necessary affordable housing and support services and provide $27 billion a year for homelessness services, $100 million a year for community-driven alternatives to criminalization of those experiencing homelessness, and make targeted investments in communities at disproportionate risk of homelessness.
“Homelessness is not a personal failure, it’s a policy failure,” said Jayapal. “At a moment when Trump and Republicans just enacted the largest transfer of wealth from poor and working people to billionaires, while slashing food assistance and health care for millions of Americans, it is more urgent than ever to pass this legislation to invest in our most vulnerable communities. As rents skyrocket across the country and homeownership is out of reach for millions of Americans, we can and must invest in proven solutions to build more affordable housing. Housing is a human right – and every person deserves to have a safe place to call home.”
“Housing is a human right, and no one should be without a safe, stable place to call home,” said Meng. “That’s why I’m proud to reintroduce this landmark legislation, which dedicates billions of dollars toward ending homelessness nationwide. Homelessness is a complex issue with many causes, and simply providing a roof is not always enough. This bill tackles the root causes by funding affordable housing, expanding supportive services, and investing in communities that face the greatest risk. Together, we can build a future where everyone has a place to belong.”
According to the Department of Housing and Urban Development, across the United States, over 750,000 people experienced homelessness in 2024, an increase of 18 percent from 2023. Additionally, as costs have skyrocketed and the minimum wage has stagnated, there are no longer any American cities where a minimum-wage earner can afford the cost to rent a one-bedroom apartment.
This is particularly true in Washington state, which had the third-highest homeless population in the country in 2024. In 2024, on any given night in King County, there were an estimated 16,868 individuals experiencing homelessness, which is a whopping 26 percent higher than the 2022 estimate.
A lack of housing often leads to penalization, both civil and criminal, depending on local laws. It also makes it difficult to seek or hold a job, obtain assistance with accessing resources, find safe housing, and receive regular care for health needs. In fact, the harsh conditions of unsheltered homelessness lead to a mortality rate that is at least four times higher than that of the general public.
Vulnerable groups already targeted by this administration are also disproportionately likely to experience homelessness — including communities of color, LGBTQIA+ people, people with disabilities, seniors, veterans, former foster youth, and formerly incarcerated people. While Black communities make up 13 percent of the general population, they comprise 40 percent of people experiencing homelessness and half of all homeless families. And up to 40 percent of the 4.2 million youth experiencing homelessness identify as LGBTQIA+, while only making up 9.5 percent of the general population.
The Housing is a Human Right Act will address this crisis by:
Investing up to $100 billion for McKinney-Vento Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) and $100 billion for Continuum of Care (COC) grants.
Creating a new grant program to invest in humane infrastructure; providing municipalities with $6 billion a year through a flexible program that will allow them to address their most urgent housing needs to keep people in stable housing and support those experiencing homelessness.
Incentivizing local investments in humane, evidence-based models to support people experiencing homelessness, including alternatives to criminalization and penalization.
Providing $10 billion for FEMA emergency food and shelter grants while improving grants to better represent high rates of homelessness and income inequality.
Authorizing $100 million in grants to public libraries to provide assistance and tailored supports to persons experiencing homelessness.
The Housing is a Human Right Act is sponsored by Representatives Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03), André Carson (IN-07), Greg Casar (TX-35), Judy Chu (CA-28), Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09), Dwight Evans (PA-03), Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04), Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), Henry C. “Hank” Johnson, Jr. (GA-04), Summer Lee (PA-12), Ted Lieu (CA-36), James P. McGovern (MA-02), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-00), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Melanie Stansbury (NM-01), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Ritchie Torres (NY-15), and Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12).
The Housing is a Human Right Act is endorsed by A Way Home America; Bellwether Housing; Downtown Emergency Service Center; Homestead Community Land Trust; Lavender Rights Project; Low Income Housing Institute; Minority Veterans of America; National Alliance to End Homelessness; National Coalition for the Homeless; National Health Care for the Homeless Council; National Homelessness Law Center; National Housing Law Project; National Low Income Housing Coalition; RESULTS; Seattle/King County Coalition on Homelessness; The Southern Poverty Law Center; and Washington Low Income Housing Alliance.
BUFFALO, N.Y. –U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Gerald T. Przybylski, 78, of Hamburg, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with transmitting in interstate and foreign commerce, specifically using the internet, communications that contained threats to injure a member of Congress, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles M. Kruly, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, on June 13, 2025, Przybylski sent a threatening email to the office email account of a member of the United States House of Representatives (Victim). Among other things, the email stated, “You are obviously unaware of the movement to execute Trump and all his Republican sycophants, not assassination but legal execution under the Constitution of the United States, which you, Donald Trump, and all your Republican colleagues have refused to honor, you have betrayed your oath of office and are a TRAITOR!!!” The email also “You should be afraid for your life!!!” When interviewed by law enforcement, Przybylski stated, “I was probably trying to scare him.”
Przybylski made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer and was released on conditions.
The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Erie County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff John Garcia, the United States Secret Service, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Charles Perras, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Mark Grimm, and the United States Capitol Police, under the direction of Chief Michael Sullivan.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Dina Titus (1st District of Nevada)
Congresswoman Dina Titus (NV-01) today led Nevada’s Congressional Democratic Delegation in urging U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to administer FEMA’s Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) grants which have been delayed under the Trump Administration.
“We are writing to urge the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to immediately publish a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) grant program, as required under current law,” Rep. Titus and the Delegation said in a letter.
Through the UASI program, FEMA provides communities critical assistance to help them prevent, respond to, and recover from acts of terrorism and other disasters. In Southern Nevada, UASI grants were used to purchase equipment deployed by fire and EMS personnel during the Harvest Festival mass shooting in Las Vegas on October 1, 2017.
“Given the track record of these grants keeping our constituents safe, we are deeply concerned that the Department of Homeland Security has missed the statutory deadline to publish a NOFO for UASI, the first step in administering these grants,” the letter reads. “The safety and security of our communities are on the line.”
Rep. Titus added “With all the high volume of events in my district, like the F1 Race, the Super Bowl, and various concerts, UASI funds can help our first responders be ready to meet any threats to these gatherings of people.”
Background
Section 303 of Division C of Public Law 118-47 requires FEMA to make applications for Federal Assistance grants, including UASI, available to eligible applicants no later than 60 days after the enactment of the law. According to that timeline, the grants should have been made available by May 16, 2025. Nevertheless, FEMA has yet to issue a notice of funding opportunity to make these grants available to the communities who rely on them.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks’ (IA-02)
Washington, D.C. – President Donald Trump has officiallysignedthe HALT Fentanyl Act into law, delivering a major win in the fight to stop fentanyl from devastating American communities. Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-01), an original cosponsor of the bill in the House, praised the president’s action.
“President Trump just signed the HALT Fentanyl Act into law, and it could not come at a more critical time,”said Miller-Meeks. “This deadly drug has taken far too many lives in Iowa and across the country. Iowans have buried their sons and daughters because of fentanyl, and families are pleading for action. As an original cosponsor, I was proud to help lead the charge on this legislation. This bill gives law enforcement the power to act, shuts down the loopholes traffickers exploit, and saves lives. We are sending a clear message: we will not let fentanyl destroy another family or another community.”
Background:
The HALT Fentanyl Act permanently classifies fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I under the Controlled Substances Act, closing loopholes that previously allowed traffickers to alter chemical compounds and avoid prosecution. It also provides a streamlined path for researchers to study fentanyl analogues for potential treatment and overdose prevention options.
Fentanyl remains the leading cause of overdose death in the United States, claiming more lives than any other drug. In 2024 alone, more than 80,000 Americansdiedfrom synthetic opioid overdoses, with fentanyl and its analogues driving the epidemic.
The HALT Fentanyl Act:
Permanently designates fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I
Prevents traffickers from evading prosecution by modifying chemical structures
Supports law enforcement and prosecutors with clear, consistent enforcement authority
Enables scientific research on fentanyl compounds to support treatment and prevention
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Austin Scott (GA-08)
WASHINGTON, D.C.– U.S. Representative Austin Scott (GA-08), a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee (HASC), released the below statement upon the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) passing out of committee last night by a vote of 55-2. The NDAA sets Department of Defense (DoD) policies and authorizes funding levels for defense programs.
“Georgia’s military installations play a key role in implementing President Donald Trump’s strategy of Peace Through Strength,”Rep. Scott said. “The FY26 NDAA strengthens the U.S. military and enhances the quality of life for our warfighters and their families. I am proud to have several amendments included that support our military in their mission of defending the United States.”
“Congressman Austin Scott has been a steadfast voice for our servicemembers and their families as a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee. In the FY26 NDAA, his leadership ensures our warfighters—especially those serving at Robins and Moody Air Force Bases and the more than 20,000 reservists and guardsmen across Georgia—have the resources and support they need to defend our nation. Congressman Scott is always fighting to take care of the men and women who wear the uniform, said Chairman Mike Rogers (AL-03).
Rep. Scott had 18 amendments adopted during the HASC markup of the FY26 NDAA and another 10 were included in the base text of the bill. Some of the bill language provisions authored by Rep. Scott include:
PROVIDING FOR CURRENT AND FUTURE NEEDS AT ROBINS:
The Chairman’s mark of the FY 26 NDAA contained two provisions that were championed by Rep. Scott throughout the drafting of this bill.
First, Section 1102 of the bill would allow for retired members of the Armed Forces to be appointed to competitive or excepted service positions in the Department of Defense without a waiver. This will allow more retired military personnel to continue to serve our country as civilians at Robins Air Force Base.
Furthermore, included in the bill was an extension of the authority for depot working capital funds, like Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex (WR-ALC), to be used for unspecified minor military construction from September 30, 2025 to September 30, 2027. This will enable WR-ALC to continue to modernize their facilities.
“Once again Congressman Scott delivers for Robins AFB! These two provisions are critical to ensure access to talent and to shore up aging infrastructure for the missions at Robins,”said Retired Brig Gen John Kubinec, President and CEO of the 21st Century Partnership.
SUPPORTING MISSIONS AT MOODY:
Rep. Scott authored an amendment to delay the full retirement of the A-10C “Warthog” aircraft, several dozen of which are based at Moody Air Force Base in Valdosta, GA. The Scott amendment requires the Air Force to maintain a minimum of 96 A-10 aircraft in FY 26. The A-10C provides close air support and combat search-and-rescue capabilities unmatched by any other aircraft in the Air Force’s inventory.
“Prematurely retiring the A-10 would create a combat readiness gap in the timeline for replacement of A-10s with the F-35s. This premature retirement also impacts operational continuity of all the AIRMEN who will be involved in transitioning to the F-35. Congressman Austin Scott’s amendment minimizes operational risk and ensures a safe, timely and effective transition from the A-10 to the F-35 for AIRMEN and our Air Force,”Dr. Lucy R. Greene, PhD., Community Supporter and Emeritus Member of the Air Combat Command Commanders Group.
Also included was an amendment sponsored by Rep. Scott that would extend the intergovernmental support agreements (IGSA) pilot program until September 30, 2030.Moody AFB has benefitted greatly from partnership tools, particularly the IGSA. The agreements provide additional flexibility in some areas for the base and keeps funds local. Moreover, Moody enjoys tremendous support from the Lowndes County community and government to include three IGSAs signed between Moody and Lowndes County.
This important piece of legislation marked up by the House Armed Services Committee also included the following provisions by Rep. Scott:
Established a pilot program to provide service personnel with a voluntary option to enroll in a low-premium supplemental insurance plan to help protect against uncovered out-of-pocket expenses resulting from a cancer diagnosis in the family.
Renamed Fort Gordon in Augusta, GA as Fort Shughart Gordon. MSG Gary Gordon and SFC Randy Shughart were two Delta snipers that fought and died in the October 1993 Battle of Mogadishu. They were both posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor and their names deserved to be linked forever in history.
Strengthened deterrence against Russia in the Baltics by requiring the Secretary of Defense to identify and mitigate obstacles to the deployment of HIMARS platforms and munitions among Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania in crisis scenarios.
Modified and extended annual reporting on military and security developments involving the Russian Federation to include Russia’s strategic goals, force posture, and military spending.
Expanded training of partner and allied forces to include space domain awareness.
Enhanced congressional oversight of the U.S. Africa Command.
Other provisions inserted by Rep. Scott included establishing minimum facility requirements for military working dogs, authorizing the Secretary of Defense to evacuate family pets of American citizens during emergency evacuations on a space available basis, and enhancing the preservation and commemoration of our nation’s naval heritage.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green Ohio)
Latta’s Bipartisan HALT Fentanyl Act Now Law of the Land
Washington, July 16, 2025
Today, Congressman Bob Latta (OH-5) announced that President Donald Trump signed into law his bipartisan Halt All Lethal Trafficking (HALT) of Fentanyl Act. Co-led by Congressman Latta and Congressman Morgan Griffith (VA-9), this new law permanently classifies fentanyl-related substances (FRS) as a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act. A schedule I controlled substance is a drug, substance, or chemical that has a high potential for abuse; has no currently accepted medical value; and is subject to regulatory controls and administrative, civil, and criminal penalties. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over the past five years, more than 324,000 fentanyl-related deaths have been recorded in the United States.
“Today marks a crucial day in the fight against the opioid epidemic as my bipartisan HALT Fentanyl legislation is now the law of the land to help protect American communities by cracking down on deadly fentanyl-related substances and saving lives,”said Latta.“With this law, we’re permanently classifying fentanyl-related substances as a Schedule I drug so that the penalties can be put in place to dissuade more hardworking Americans from falling victim to the poison and make our neighborhoods safer. I thank President Trump for signing this vital legislation into law to add another tool in our fight to keep dangerous drugs off our streets and out of the hands of our communities across Ohio and the country.”
Congressman Latta has consistently championed legislation to fight against the opioid epidemic. Last Congress, he led the HALT Fentanyl Act through the Energy and Commerce Committee and the House, demonstrating his leadership and commitment to combating the spread against deadly fentanyl-related substances.
In 2018, Congressman Latta along with the Energy and Commerce Committee passed the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients and Communities (SUPPORT) Act, a comprehensive legislative package to tackle the opioid crisis. Included in this legislation was Congressman Latta’s Indexing Narcotics, Fentanyl, and Opioids (INFO) Act, a bill aimed to improve data collection and transparency regarding opioid treatment programs. This year, Congressman Latta played a crucial role in reauthorizing the SUPPORT Act with the same goal of continuing to support those battling substance abuse.
He has also penned multiple op-eds in support of this legislation including in the Washington Examiner and Washington Times, helping to raise national awareness and save lives.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA)
U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) attended a White House bill signing ceremony for S. 331, the Halt All Lethal Trafficking of (HALT) Fentanyl Act today. The bill is the companion bill to Rep. Griffith’s and Rep. Latta’s HALT Fentanyl bill, H.R. 27, which passed the House earlier this year. The HALT Fentanyl Act now becomes the law of the land.
Coverage of the ceremony can be viewed here.
On the legislation becoming law, Congressman Griffith issued the following statement:
“As a leading proponent of the HALT Fentanyl Act since Day One, I am glad to see this important bill become law!
“I appreciate my Congressional colleagues and President Trump for their relentless support of the HALT Fentanyl Act and their determination to combat the deadly fentanyl crisis. Today is an important step in taking action against lethal fentanyl-related substances and saving lives.
“I look forward to supporting future actions that strengthen our fight against the fentanyl crisis.”
BACKGROUND
The U.S. House of Representatives passed Rep. Griffith’s and Rep. Latta’s H.R. 27on February 6, 2025. Their statement is available here.
In February, the Trump Administration issued a statement of Administration policy signaling their support of the HALT Fentanyl Act.
The Senate version, S. 331, passed the Senate on March 14, 2025, and the House on June 12, 2025.
While under consideration, Congressman Griffith managed floor debate on the HALT Fentanyl Act. His remarks can be seen here.
The HALT Fentanyl Act permanently classifies lethal fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I substances, closing a dangerous loophole traffickers are exploiting. The temporary Schedule I designation was set to expire in September 2025.
The bill also enables a streamlined registration process for medical research into fentanyl-related substances.
The recently-passed reconciliation bill will help the Trump Administration in its efforts to combat the fentanyl crisis. The bill boosts funding for border and immigration enforcement agencies and activities related to combatting trafficking of drugs, including deadly fentanyl-related substances.
This July, Congressman Griffith was named Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health.
SANTA FE – Today, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham issued the following statement following passage of the Republican budget bill by the U.S. Senate.
With their vote to approve President Trump’s reckless budget proposal, Republicans in the U.S. Senate betrayed the American people. This bill is a disastrous, deficit-exploding gift to the ultra-wealthy made possible by gutting health care and food programs that millions of Americans rely on. I urge New Mexicans to call Republican members of the U.S. House immediately and demand that they vote against this awful bill.
SANTA FE — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham issued the following statement after final passage of the Republican budget bill in Congress:
The Republican budget bill is an abomination that abandons working families and threatens the health and well-being of New Mexicans. Their vote to slash funding for health care and child nutrition to pay for tax cuts for the ultra-rich isn’t just bad policy—it’s an outright betrayal.
Make no mistake: this Republican budget will hit New Mexico hard. From cuts to Medicaid funding that keeps our rural hospitals open, to reductions in food assistance for children, to threats against education programs that ensure our kids have a brighter future, this budget puts politics over people. It also amounts to an egregious tax hike on Americans who will pay higher prices for health care, electricity, and other services.
As governor, I will do everything in my power to mitigate harm from this budget, which President Trump and Congressional Republicans foisted on the American people without adequate hearings, debate and transparency. I’m prepared to call a special session if necessary to protect New Mexicans from their fiscal assault.
My administration is going through this budget with a fine-tooth comb, identifying every threat to our state, and we’re going to fight like hell to protect what matters most.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09)
Lawmakers emphasize importance of emergency broadcasting funding to keep Americans safe amid natural disasters and emergencies
Washington, DC — On Wednesday, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), joined Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN-04) in leading a letter alongside 45 bicameral Congressional colleagues to President Trump urging him to reconsider his decision to defund the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). The CPB supports America’s children with educational programming and ensures that emergency broadcasting keeps Americans safe amid natural disasters and emergencies. The proposed rescission to the CPB will force small stations around the country to close, leaving significant gaps in coverage for Americans who rely on these vital services for noncommercial, high-quality, localized content and telecommunications.
The letter comes amid Congressional Republicans’ attempt to pass President Trump’s proposal to rescind $10 Billion in federal funding that Congress approved four months ago on a bipartisan basis. Despite bipartisan opposition to the bill, the US Senate voted to move forward to debating and amending the legislation on Wednesday by the slimmest possible margin following a tie-breaking vote cast by Vice President JD Vance.
“We write to express our deep concern regarding the $1.1 Billion claw back of funds to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) included in the proposed recissions you sent to Congress on May 28, 2025,” said the lawmakers in their letter to the White House. “The package was passed through the House of Representatives on June 12, over the objections of all Democratic and four Republican Members. The cuts to CPB in the recission package undermine the public media that Americans rely on for unfettered access to information, educational programming for kids, cultural programming, and nationwide emergency alerting.
“Public media has received bipartisan support for the past 50 years because Congress has continuously recognized that access to public media is in the public’s best interest. The Public Radio Satellite System (PRSS) is the backbone of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Amber Alerts and plays a critical role in keeping Americans informed and safe during emergencies. As key local news providers, public radio stations leverage their reporting resources to offer live news and information on disasters and other emergencies, providing real-time information on where local audiences can access resources and safe locations.
“As our nation experiences increased instances of severe weather and climate shocks, this service is more important than ever. In Minnesota, Minnesota Public Radio (MPR) delivers programming and services across the state, and in some areas is the only local source for news and updates during an emergency. When the power goes out, and cell networks or the internet go down, MPR is the most reliable form of communication in an emergency and provides essential backstopping for all other emergency alerting services and activities across the public media system. This is true across all 50 states, and losing this important service in the middle of hurricane, flood, and tornado season will prove devastating nationwide.
“Of the $1.1 Billion included in the rescission proposal, 70% of these funds will be pulled out of local stations that are independently owned and operated in our communities. For many smaller stations in rural communities across the country, these cuts will prove utterly devastating, because they provide local, state, and regional news that is no longer provided through other outlets. These small stations will not survive, resulting in news deserts for these communities and putting thousands of American lives at risk.
“We ask your administration to withdraw this rescission proposal and protect the vital services that CPB provides. If the rescissions go ahead as planned, we will be requesting a report to Congress as to how your administration plans to fill the void left behind, particularly in the areas of emergency alerting and local news reporting.”
The letter is co-signed by Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) and 44 Democratic Representatives: Representatives Joyce Beatty (OH-03), Ami Bera (CA-06), Sanford Bishop (GA-02), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Brendan Boyle (PA-02), Julia Brownley (CA-26), Shontel Brown (OH-11), André Carson (IN-07), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), Steve Cohen (TN-09), Danny Davis (IL-07), Diana DeGette (CO-01), Dwight Evans (PA-03), Laura Friedman (CA-30), John Garamendi (CA-08), Jared Huffman (CA-02), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), William Keating (MA-09), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), Stephen Lynch (MA-08), Seth Magaziner (RI-02), James McGovern (MA-02), Robert Menendez (NJ-08), Dave Min (CA-47), Kelly Morrison (MN-03), Kevin Mullin (CA-15), Richard Neal (MA-01), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Brittany Pettersen (CO-07), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), Emily Randall (WA-06), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), Adam Smith (WA-09), Greg Stanton (AZ-04), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Mike Thompson (CA-04), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Paul Tonko (NY-20), Marc Veasey (TX-33), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), and Nikema Williams (GA-05).
Washington, DC – U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) joined Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) in a letter to the U.S. Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon demanding answers over the Trump administration’s decision to withhold nearly $7 billion in federal funding for K-12 public schools, including more than $60 million for schools in Nevada. The Senators urged the Department to restore the funding and provide clarity for schools and educators. On July 1, schools across the country reported they were unable to access their federal funding after the Department of Education abruptly froze nearly $7 billion in grants, even though the funds were appropriated by Congress and already factored into school budgets. In Nevada, affected programs include after-school programs, English-learner services, professional development, and migrant education. At least fourteen percent of Nevada students are English-Language Learners.
“These funds, which represent longstanding investments in K–12 education, support a wide range of priorities such as teacher recruitment, after-school programs, English learner instruction, school-based mental health services, and academic enrichment,” the Senators wrote. “Withholding funds for these important programs will disrupt essential services and undermine the support structures that students, families, and educators rely on every day.”
Read the full letter HERE.
Senator Rosen has been forcefully pushing back on Donald Trump’s attempt to dismantle public education. She spoke out against President Trump’s plan to dismantle the Department of Education, calling it “an illegal, irresponsible attack on students and families.” She also recently joined an amicus brief against the unconstitutional dismantling of the Department, warning of its harmful impact on Nevada schools. In April, Senator Rosen condemned the Trump Administration’s proposal to eliminate Head Start funding, calling the cuts “outrageous and cruel” and pledging to defend early childhood education programs that help Nevada families thrive.
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) helped introduce legislation that would prohibit ICE officers and other federal immigration agents from concealing their identity during routine immigration enforcement operations. The VISIBLE Act requires these officers to clearly identify themselves with their names, badge number, or agency name, except in covert operations. This is a direct response to the Trump Administration’s widespread use of masked, plainclothes agents in immigration raids — often without badges or agency markings — who are targeting law-abiding people without accountability.
“The Trump Administration is using immigration officers wearing masks to target law-abiding immigrants, Green Card holders, and even American citizens,” said Senator Rosen. “As with any other law enforcement official, ICE officers have a responsibility to the public to act with transparency and accountability. I’m helping introduce this commonsense bill to ensure immigration officers properly identify themselves.”
Senator Rosen has consistently opposed the Trump Administration’s aggressive and unlawful mass deportation enforcement tactics while championing transparency and fairness in the immigration system. Earlier this year, she helped introduce legislation to protect sensitive locations—such as schools, hospitals, churches, and courthouses—from immigration raids, ensuring families can access essential services without fear. She also urged Senate leadership to pursue real, bipartisan immigration reform that balances strong border security with protections for Dreamers and immigrant families. Additionally, Senator Rosen has called on the Trump Administration to guarantee legal representation for unaccompanied children in immigration custody, defending the basic rights of the most vulnerable.
Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Cory Booker
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, sent a letter to Emil Bove requesting information relating to his involvement in the Department of Justice’s review of and decision making relating to public disclosures of the Epstein Files. Emil Bove is currently a nominee for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.
“You have held a key decision-making role at DOJ since the beginning of this Administration, first as Acting Deputy Attorney General through March 2025 and then in your current position as Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General, serving as a close adviser to Attorney General Pam Bondi. In light of the significant public interest in the Epstein files and the Trump DOJ and FBI’s shifting positions on transparency and public disclosure, records and information relating to your participation in this matter are relevant to the Senate Judiciary Committee’s ongoing review of your nomination to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit,” wrote Senator Booker.
“Your involvement in the DOJ’s review of the Epstein files is a matter of significant public importance given the contradictory statements by Attorney General Bondi concerning the existence of an Epstein “client list” and DOJ’s stated commitment to transparency. Furthermore, it warrants scrutiny whether the DOJ intentionally withheld evidence related to the trafficking and sexual abuse of minors to protect certain individuals,” Senator Booker continued.
“As Acting Deputy Attorney General, you “advise[d] and assist[ed] the Attorney General in formulating and implementing Departmental policies and programs and [provided] overall supervision and direction to all organizational units of the Department” and were “authorized to exercise all the power and authority of the Attorney General.” By all accounts, you have continued to fulfill many of these responsibilities as Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General, closely advising Attorney General Pam Bondi,” SenatorBooker wrote.
“It is imperative that the Senate Judiciary Committee ascertain the scope and extent of your involvement in the handling of the Epstein files before voting on your nomination,” Senator Booker concluded.
Senator Booker demanded answers to the following questions no later than 9:00 AM on July 17, 2025:
Did you ever advise AG Bondi regarding the Epstein files?
Did you participate in the review of any documents, video, or other evidence contained in the Epstein files?
Did you participate in drafting or reviewing the letter Pam Bondi sent to Kash Patel on February 27, 2025 directing the FBI to produce “all records, documents, audio and video recordings, and materials related to Jeffrey Epstein and his clients”?
Did you ever participate in discussions about what evidence from the Epstein files the DOJ should release?
Did you participate in any discussions about whether to release video evidence from the Epstein files involving child sexual abuse material (CSAM)?
Did you ever discuss the release of any evidence from the Epstein files with Pam Bondi?
Did you ever discuss the release of any evidence from the Epstein files with Kash Patel?
Did you ever discuss the release of any evidence from the Epstein files with Dan Bongino?
Did you participate in a discussion about the release of any evidence from the Epstein files with Pam Bondi, Kash Patel, and Dan Bongino?
Did you ever participate in a discussion in which Dan Bongino suggested releasing all the evidence in the Epstein files, including video, prior to July 7, 2025?
Did you ever express concerns to Kash Patel or Dan Bongino about releasing video evidence from the Epstein files because it could include CSAM prior to July 7, 2025?
Did you participate in any discussion in which Attorney General Bondi expressed concerns to Kash Patel or Dan Bongino about releasing video evidence from the Epstein files due to the presence of CSAM prior to July 7, 2025?
Did you participate in drafting or reviewing the undated and unsigned DOJ and FBI memo issued on July 7, 2025?
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (7th District of Washington)
WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Representatives Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), and Jamie Raskin (MD-08) led over 40 Representatives in the introduction of a new resolution to protect the fundamental rights of the nation’s children to a safe, habitable environment in the face of climate chaos’ increasingly destructive and deadly impacts.
“Every single one of us — no matter our age, our background, our race, our income — has the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. But those rights are in jeopardy, because the future of our planet is in jeopardy. I applaud the young people who are taking their futures into their own hands and standing up to the Trump administration’s efforts to sell out our clean air and water to the highest fossil fuel bidder. Inaction is not an option and we all must stand up for climate justice and a future where we can all thrive,” said Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal.
“There is no room for debate: climate change is real, and as this crisis grows, our increasingly paying the price. The movement to protect our planet is more important than ever before because we have a president who continues to ignore the science and cozy up to the fossil fuel industry,” said Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky. “I am introducing the Children’s Fundamental Rights to Life and a Stable Climate System Resolution to emphasize that we as leaders have a duty to ensure that all people, especially our young people, are protected from the existential threat of climate change. Our children and grandchildren should not be forced to suffer the consequences of our lack of action. Together we can save our planet.”
“Children have a right to live and therefore a right to a livable planet,” said Congressman Jamie Raskin. “But the Trump Administration wants to carve out more giveaways to the Carbon Kings rather than protect the climate for children and future generations of Americans. Our Resolution with Representatives Jayapal and Schakowsky and Senator Merkley is about uplifting the voices of those who will be most affected by this climate irresponsibility and corruption—young people and children—and sounding the alarm on America’s accelerating climate disaster. The time to act for public accountability is right now. I salute everyone involved in this important campaign.”
The resolution — led in the U.S. Senate by Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) — responds to the Trump Administration’s ‘Polluters over People’ agenda that has enriched Big Oil, fueled climate chaos, and increased energy costs for working families. The resolution calls for leadership to put the United States on a trajectory to avoid the worst impacts of climate chaos.
“Every child in America deserves a healthy and prosperous future, but the Trump Administration is selling out our health, safety, planet, and future to make billionaire corporate polluters even richer,” said Senator Jeff Merkley. “We stand with these courageous young activists in Oregon and across the country who are taking matters into their own hands with immediate and decisive steps to fight for themselves and future generations, address climate chaos, and tackle environmental injustice.”
The resolution highlights the principles underpinning Lighthiser v. Trump, a youth-led lawsuit that was filed by 22 young plaintiffs from five states, challenging the Trump Administration’s Executive Orders that “unleash fossil fuels” and endanger the lives of children and future generations.
In addition to Reps. Schakowsky, Jayapal, and Raskin, cosponsors of the resolution include Reps. Rashida Tlaib, Summer L. Lee, Shri Thanedar, Delia C. Ramirez, Yassamin Ansari, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Andre Carson, Nydia M. Velázquez, Nanette Barragán, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Dina Titus, Maxwell Frost, Bonnie Watson Coleman, Steve Cohen, Mary Gay Scanlon, Lateefah Simon, Jerrold Nadler, Kathy Castor, Kevin Mullin, Danny Davis, Julia Brownley, Dave Min, Sara Jacobs, Judy Chu, Maxine Dexter, David Scott, Mark Takano, Gabe Amo, Jared Huffman, Sydney Kamlager-Dove, Valerie Foushee, Becca Balint, Henry C. “Hank” Johnson, Jr., Ro Khanna, Alma S. Adams, Ritchie Torres, James P. McGovern, Jill Tokuda, Darren Soto, Stephen F. Lynch, LaMonica McIver, Val Hoyle, and Jahana Hayes.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11)
Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11), former Navy helicopter pilot and member of the House Armed Services Committee, secured over $20 million in additional funds for Picatinny Arsenal programs and the New Jersey innovation economy in a mark-up of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
The NDAA is critical legislation that Congress authors each year to establish defense priorities, make organizational shifts to military posture, and provide direction on how military funding can be spent.
“One of my chief responsibilities is to craft national defense legislation that strengthens our fighting forces across the globe, bolsters the New Jersey economy by investing in Picatinny Arsenal, and expands protections for our service members and their families. With Pete Hegseth, the most incompetent Secretary of Defense in history, leading our armed forces, it’s more important than ever that we pass commonsense legislation that invests in our fighting forces and the men and women who have stepped up to serve our country.
“I ensured that Picatinny Arsenal continues to have the resources it needs to keep our soldiers safe across the world, bolster our New Jersey economy, and support the Ukrainian fight against Russian oppression. I continued my fight to ensure that our servicewomen and military families have access to abortion care, no matter where they are stationed; I stood up to protect women in combat roles across our armed forces; and I advocated to expand year-long contraception prescriptions for all active duty service members and families. I fought to strengthen guardrails to provide additional congressional oversight if the President or the Secretary of Defense tries to unilaterally relocate troops and protect the National Guard from being politicized. And I successfully included an amendment in the bill to reverse the Trump Administration’s attempt to legalize racial segregation in our armed forces.
“Our service members and their families make incredible sacrifices to protect the rights, freedoms, and democracy we hold dear. There is far too much at stake right now to allow political fights and partisan gamesmanship to endanger our national security and weaken our fighting forces,” said Mikie Sherrill.
Rep. Sherrill championed a pilot program for remote blood pressure monitoring for pregnant and postpartum women, successfully included an amendment that would expand access to apprenticeship training for service members transitioning to civilian life, and improve training and resources for firefighters serving on military installations.
She spoke up against Republican attempts to strip women from combat roles, highlighted Pete Hegseth’s dangerous use of Signal, and defended U.S. funding for our ally, Ukraine.
The NDAA also includes provisions that will strengthen Picatinny Arsenal, one of the largest employers in NJ-11, and support the critical work conducted there. Rep. Sherrill championed additional funding for Picatinny programs, including:
Scalable Counter Small Unmanned Aerial Systems (CsUAS) Munition delivered Air Defense payloads
Tier 1 Blast Over Pressure Reduction Technologies
Low Cost Armaments-based Counter Drone / Counter Small Unmanned Aerial Systems (CsUAS) Protection
Critical Energetic Materials and Manufacturing Industrial Base Supply Chain Technology
Rep. Sherrill offered and successfully secured inclusion of 12 amendments to the NDAA, including:
Requiring TRICARE to cover up to twelve-month supplies of contraception for service members and their families;
This amendment expands on Rep. Sherrill’s effort to require private insurance to allow patients to receive a full year’s supply of birth control instead of the typical three month supply.
Requiring DoD contractors to certify that they do not have segregated facilities
This amendment comes in response to the Trump Administration reversing a policy that required Department of Defense contractors to have nonsegregated facilities.
Establishing a pilot program to utilize remote monitoring of blood pressure for at-risk pregnant and postpartum military women;
Expanding bereavement leave to include service members and the spouse of the service member who experience the loss of a pregnancy or stillbirth;
Increasing the participation of women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) positions in the Armed Forces;
Increasing access to registered apprenticeships in the Skillbridge program for service members transitioning to civilian careers;
Requiring the Department of Defense to conduct a study on the training and equipment of Firefighter Rapid Intervention Teams on military facilities.
Prohibiting the Trump administration from eliminating US military bases in Europe to protect our NATO allies.
Rep. Sherrill is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and served in the Navy for almost 10 years as a helicopter pilot and Russian policy officer. As a Russian policy officer, she worked on the implementation of our nuclear treaty obligations and oversaw the relationship between the U.S. Navy and Russian Federation Navy. She serves on the House Armed Services Committee and sits on the Tactical Air and Land Forces (TAL) and Cyber, Innovative Technologies, and Information Systems (CITI) Subcommittees.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11)
WASHINGTON, DC— During the House Armed Services Committee’s markup of the FY2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) spoke in strong support of an amendment that would hold the Pentagon accountable for reviewing and certifying secure protocols for transmitting classified information.
The amendment comes in direct response to multiple reports that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth shared classified operational details — including the timing and aircraft involved in U.S. airstrikes — over unsecured Signal chats with personal contacts, including his wife, brother, personal attorney, and a reporter.
Click here to watch Rep. Sherrill’s full remarks.
Full remarks, as delivered: “You know, I think it’s very concerning to hear from the other side of the aisle that there isn’t a focus on accountability, that there shouldn’t be any accountability. And I will tell you, especially when it comes to national security, that can never be the case. I learned early how to properly handle classified information when I was a teenager at the Naval Academy.
I used that knowledge again as I was a Russian policy officer in the Navy. So I’ll start with the obvious. If Secretary Hegseth believed a word he said about turning our military into a meritocracy, he would have sent in his resignation weeks ago. His decision to send strike plans in multiple unsecured Signal chats to his wife, to his brother, to his personal attorney and to a reporter could have killed American service members. And he did so while at least one Signal chat member was in the Kremlin.
Accountability matters, but I’m not surprised by his complete disregard for national security and for the safety of our men and women in uniform, because from his views on women in combat to his willingness to bend the knee to Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, we knew exactly who Trump was picking.
That’s why I strongly opposed his nomination from the very beginning. But I will say that I am surprised by some of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle in this room, because every single individual in this room knows that the information shared on Signal was classified. Any member of the House Armed Services Committee knows without a doubt that the timing, schedule, and composition of operations are absolutely classified.
Every individual in this room knows that Hegseth’s use of Signal could have gotten American service members killed. So even if you haven’t served in uniform, you know how to handle classified information by virtue of sitting on this very committee. We host any hearing with classified information into secure rooms without our phones and without messaging apps like Signal, which is why I think it’s a dereliction of duty that the majority on this committee has refused to hold any sort of investigative hearing into Hegseth’s behavior.
Nearly every Republican in this room has sat back and watched, or even worse, defended Pete Hegseth’s behavior. So I encourage us to rectify that now, as we hold the Department of Defense accountable for protecting our national security and our service members’ lives, which is why I urge you to support this amendment and I yield back.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11)
WASHINGTON, DC— Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) is pushing back against the Trump administration’s latest plan to gut the Department of Defense’s civilian workforce, warning that proposed civil service cuts would undermine national security and devastate North Jersey’s economy surrounding Picatinny Arsenal.
At today’s House Armed Services Committee markup of the FY2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), Sherrill spoke in defense of the engineers, scientists, and support staff at Picatinny — calling them critical to U.S. military readiness and innovation. Sherrill underscored the national security risks of outsourcing their work to private contractors and weakening the institutional knowledge that makes facilities like Picatinny a cornerstone of American defense.
Click hereto watch Rep. Sherrill’s full remarks.
Full remarks, as delivered:
“Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I speak today in strong support for my colleagues’ amendment that enshrines certain protections for our DoD civilians into law which I think is completely necessary given the work of this committee to try to manage and mitigate the complete incompetence coming from the Secretary of Defense and this administration when it comes to DoD related matters.
The Trump administration’s slash to the civil service is not just an attack on government workers – it’s a direct threat to our national security and to the economic stability of communities like mine in New Jersey.
At Picatinny Arsenal we have engineers, scientists, and support staff who are building the future of our national defense; developing the weapon systems our service members rely on to stay safe and to succeed.
Picatinny is a vital hub for U.S. military innovation, especially in advanced munitions and armaments that keep our troops safe and mission ready. Cutting civil service roles here directly weakens our military’s ability to develop, test, and deliver cutting edge weaponry.
Many of our civil servants have had years of specialized training in metallurgy, physics, and chemistry, some of it at the post-grad level at the Picatinny Armaments School that I’m working to get accredited and which has graduated 41 Masters Degree recipients and two PHDs. So in delivering these cuts we will harm and weaken our military’s ability to develop, test, and deliver cutting edge weaponry not just today but for years to come.
Slashing civil service positions risk shifting critical expertise to private contractors, driving up costs and reducing institutional knowledge within the government. Maintaining a robust civil service at Picatinny ensures that the U.S. retains strategic control over weapons development and innovation.
Cutting civil service jobs at Picatinny Arsenal is not just an attack on New Jersey workers, it’s an attack on our national security. And as someone who has served our country, I know we need to strengthen not weaken our defense capabilities. I will fight to protect every job and every innovation effort at Picatinny, because America’s security depends on it.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11)
WASHINGTON, DC— As Secretary Hegseth’s reckless mismanagement of the Pentagon continues to endanger American allies and undermine global stability, Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) is standing in the breach. During the House Armed Services Committee’s markup of the FY2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), Sherrill argued in support of an amendment that would prohibit the Department of Defense from halting aid to Ukraine without explicit approval from the President.
The amendment comes in response to two known incidents in which Secretary Hegseth froze critical military assistance to Ukraine — without any directive from President Trump or coordination with national security officials. These freezes, both later reversed by the White House, caused serious delays in weapons and support bound for Ukrainian forces defending against Russian aggression.
Click hereto watch Sherrill’s full remarks.
Full remarks, as delivered:
“Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I want to express my strong support for Rep. Moulton’s amendment today.
The Pentagon has frozen the delivery of aid to Ukraine three times since President Trump’s inauguration. Two of those times, Secretary Hegseth froze the aid without even gaining the approval of President Trump.
According to news reports, the first time Secretary Hegseth froze the aid was less than two weeks into the Trump administration when he apparently misunderstood President Trump’s directions in a National Security Council meeting and believed that DoD was supposed to halt all delivery of aid to Ukraine.
While this decision was reversed by the White House only a few days later, Secretary Hegseth’s poor decision cost millions of taxpayer dollars and delayed the delivery of vital aid.
Last month, I asked Secretary Hegseth about this early freeze in aid to Ukraine when he testified before this committee. Secretary Hegseth unsurprisingly refused to provide an actual response to my questions about why he ordered that first freeze to aid.
Then just a few weeks ago, we learned again that he ordered the freeze of vital military assistance to Ukraine. Again he apparently didn’t coordinate with the White House or State Department before making his order. And once again Secretary Hegseth’s decision was overruled by President Trump.
His poor judgement and mismanagement of the Pentagon has twice now led to the freeze of military assistance to Ukraine. This committee needs to make sure that these deadly pauses don’t happen again.
President Trump himself has apparently come around to the idea and announced that he would once again be sending significant defense equipment to Ukraine. After serving at CINCUSNAVEUR and as a Russian policy officer in the Navy, I know first hand how dangerous a threat Vladimir Putin is to Ukraine, Europe and the US. Ukrainian soldiers fighting and dying on the front lines against Russia don’t have time to wait for the delivery of artillery and munitions. They need that aid today.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Jonathan Jackson – Illinois (1st District)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
“As a father, a son, and as someone who has seen hunger’s impact up close, I am appalled and heartbroken by the Trump administration’s decision to destroy nearly 500 metric tons of life-saving emergency food rather than deliver it to starving children and families across the globe.
This food, worth more than $800,000, had the power to nourish 1.5 million children for a week. Instead, it will be incinerated at a further cost of $130,000 to U.S. taxpayers. Only bureaucratic delays and callous indifference stood between these meals and the children for whom they were intended.
While over 66,000 tons of emergency food sits unused in warehouses worldwide, children are dying from hunger that humanitarian programs could alleviate. Just recently, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, six children lost their lives after vital nutrition programs were shuttered due to a freeze in U.S. aid. We cannot accept this senseless waste when the United States has long been a beacon of hope and compassion for the world’s most vulnerable.
The destruction of this food is not just a loss of resources; it is a tragic failure of moral leadership. I call on my colleagues in Congress, and all Americans, to join me in demanding greater accountability and urgent action so that American aid feeds the hungry, not the flames of waste. People’s lives depend on it, our humanity demands it.”
Contact: Congressman Jonathan L. Jackson 1641 Longworth House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 (202) 225-4372
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor and the U.S. Small Business Administration today signed a Memorandum of Understanding to support American manufacturing. The agreement, which will enhance collaboration and data-sharing across key programs, is designed to cultivate a pipeline of skilled workers to support domestic producers – 98 percent of whom are small businesses. The agreement aligns directly with President Trump’s ongoing efforts to restore American industry and jobs.
“Under President Trump’s leadership, this Administration is working tirelessly to restore America as the world’s manufacturing superpower – securing trillions in investments and bringing hundreds of thousands of jobs back home. I am thrilled to partner with Administrator Loeffler to usher in a new Golden Age of American manufacturing,” said Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer. “Through this agreement, the Department of Labor will collaborate with the Small Business Administration to help ensure America’s workforce is ready to seize these opportunities by expanding Registered Apprenticeships and other hands-on training programs that will benefit both small and large manufacturers.”
“Thanks to President Trump’s commitment to restoring American industrial dominance, this Administration is already bringing back jobs, economic independence, and national security,” said SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler. “The vast majority of U.S. manufacturers are small businesses, and I’ve heard firsthand walking factory floors with business leaders that they are spring-loaded for growth with the America First agenda. I’m excited to work alongside Secretary Chavez-DeRemer to cultivate a pipeline of skilled workers and capital to support their growth in a powerful new era of Made in America.”
Under the agreement, the agencies will expand data-sharing and coordination on programs such as the department’sRegistered Apprenticeship Programand theVeterans’ Employment and Training Service. The Small Business Administration will likewise offer cross-agency training on loan programs to support manufacturing, including the 7a and 504 loan programs. This collaboration will streamline interagency cooperation and awareness while maximizing resource delivery to domestic manufacturers and workers.
Read Memorandum of Understanding between the Department of Labor and Small Business Administration.
Source: United States Senator Tommy Tuberville (Alabama)
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) introduced Dr. Brian Christine during his nomination hearing before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee (HELP). President Trump nominated Dr. Christine of Mountain Brook, Alabama to be Assistant Secretary for Health at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). During their exchange, Sen. Tuberville and Dr. Christine discussed the importance of the Make America Health Again movement, along with Dr. Christine’s goals for improving rural healthcare.
Read excerpts from their exchange below or on YouTube or Rumble.
TUBERVILLE: “Thank you very much. It’s an honor to introduce my friend and constituent, Dr. Brian Christine. Also thrilled to welcome today his wife, Helena, and sister, Kathleen. Thank you for being here.
Dr. Christine is a board-certified urologic surgeon with nearly 30 years of clinical experience serving patients in Birmingham, Alabama. A recognized medical expert, Dr. Christine is known for teaching and demonstrating advanced surgical techniques, both nationally and internationally. Born in West Germany to a decorated U.S. Army combat veteran and the grandson of Italian immigrants, he will bring a lifelong dedication to service, resilience, and American values to this role. Dr. Christine attended college in Georgia, what’s going on here? And earned his medical degree from Emory University. He later moved to Birmingham for his residency and has since dedicated his career to caring for the men and women of Alabama. Beyond the operating room, he has supported local law enforcement by volunteering as a trauma surgeon with tactical police units. If confirmed, Dr. Christine will oversee critical public health programs, regional health offices and U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps where he has pledged to accept a commission and lead with a Main Street medicine approach.
His top priorities include addressing chronic disease such as diabetes, hypertension, pediatric obesity, mental health, and the nation’s physician shortage crisis. He is particularly focused on expanding access to primary care and improving health in rural and underserved communities.
With deep medical expertise, leadership experience, and a clear vision for reform, he is well equipped to serve as Assistant Secretary for Health, and I hope my federal colleagues will support his nomination – Dr. Christine.”
DR. CHRISTINE: “Senator Tuberville, thank you so much for your kind words. Thank you also for the service that you’ve rendered to our nation here in the U.S. Senate and the service you have and will render to our home state of Alabama.”
TUBERVILLE: “Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Dr. Christine, in my lifetime, I’ve never seen the deterioration of an institution like we have in the trust of the American people after COVID. How are you gonna try to put that back together? Because we desperately need some help in getting a positive attitude towards our hospitals and our doctors back to the American people.”
DR. CHRISTINE: “Yes, Senator Tuberville, number one, thank you so much for being here. Again, thank you for your introduction. Thank you for meeting with me before today’s hearing. I’m truly appreciative. The loss of trust that we have seen in our healthcare institutions and the healthcare policies emanating from this city are the worst that I’ve seen in over three decades of practice. People feel that during the pandemic particularly they were led astray, some people feel they were lied to. We have to work to restore that trust. Secretary Kennedy is 100% committed to doing that, as is President Trump.
In my career as a surgeon, I’ve had to earn the trust of my patients, allowing me to operate on them, literally take their life within my hands. I believe I have the ability to communicate to patients and now hopefully to the American public at large and approach them and give them a sense that what I’m saying, what I’m telling is truly for the good of the country [and] comes from a position of honesty and transparency. I’ve had to do that for over 30 years as a surgeon and as a physician. I truly believe I can bring that skillset to the office of the Assistant Secretary for Health.”
TUBERVILLE: “Yeah. The American people are tired of being lied to about their food, the ingredients, things that we’re now finding out that are detrimental to our health. And up here, you know, we seem to overlook all that, but we need to start looking out for the American people. How do you plan to help the Secretary with that?”
DR. CHRISTINE: “Well, we know that Secretary Kennedy is absolutely committed to the Make America Healthy Again agenda to remove toxins from our foods, to make sure that all have access to clean water, that we focus on not just treating chronic disease, but finding out what causes chronic disease, diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and work to not only cure those diseases, but really prevent and eliminate those diseases. Secretary Kennedy is always wanting to approach things from the foundation of science. He truly believes in that. I agree with the Secretary on all of those things. I intend to support him. I intend to work diligently if I have the privilege of being confirmed. To support him in that quest to make Americans healthier than they’ve ever been.” […]
TUBERVILLE: “Dr. Christine, rural America. We got problems getting healthcare. Our state is 60% rural in Alabama. Most of the south is rural. How do we handle that problem?”
DR. CHRISTINE: “Yes, Senator. [I think] one of the things you’re speaking about are healthcare deserts – those areas where men, women and their children don’t have ready access to primary care services such as pediatrics or gynecologic services or family practice. We have to find ways to bridge those gaps. I think that absolutely telehealth can help provide a bridge to these individuals. We’ll see what AI brings in the future. But again, technology can help bridge this gap. We absolutely must encourage and must increase the number of primary care physicians, family practitioners, pediatricians, gynecologists and opticians and primary care nurses […] to help bridge this gap as well. Now that takes a while to spin that up. But in the interim, we have to find ways to bridge the gaps. We do have to use technology. I believe that I, as Assistant Secretary for Health, one of the things that I intend to do, if I’m privileged to be in that position, will be to be a true evangelist to really go out and encourage young men and women who are in medical school and nursing school to serve in these areas. Young men and women getting into healthcare, they want a mission. Wanna help them understand that that mission to serve our brothers and sisters in rural America and healthcare deserts is truly noble and is worthwhile.”
TUBERVILLE: “And one thing we need to sell to in rural hospitals is loyalty to the people in these communities to go to these rural hospitals so we can save them. It’s not just that they’re not being served. It’s just we have to have loyalty in those areas. Thank you.”
Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP and Aging Committees.