Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Doug LaMalfa 1st District of California
Washington, D.C.—Today, Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) released the following statement after the Federal Aviation Administration awarded $24,393,884 to rehabilitate the runway at Redding Regional Airport.
“Redding Regional Airport is an important rural hub for commercial travel, aerial firefighting, and general aviation in the North State,” said Rep. Doug LaMalfa. “This funding will renew the runway and improve overall safety, helping ensure that Redding remains a reliable option for commercial service. I’ve worked closely with local officials to make sure small, rural airports like this one aren’t overlooked when it comes to federal support.”
“The City of Redding and Redding Regional Airport greatly appreciate the years of collaboration with our federal partners that made securing this Federal Aviation Administration grant possible. This funding is vital to advancing the essential improvements to our airfield infrastructure,” said City of Redding Airports Manager Andrew Solsvig. “The airport runway is decades old and approaching the end of its useful life. This project is essential to ensure long-term safety and reliability of aircraft operations, while also bringing the airfield into compliance with federal regulations. Planned improvements include resurfacing the runway and blast pads, upgrading runway lighting to energy-efficient LEDs, and replacing all airfield signage.”
“The city is immensely grateful for the work Congressman Doug LaMalfa and his team have done to make this grant happen,” said Council Member Tenessa Audette. “Redding and North State will be served in fire season, family season and every season in between with a new and improved runway.”
Congressman Doug LaMalfa is Chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus and a lifelong farmer representing California’s First Congressional District, including Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Shasta, Siskiyou, Sutter, Tehama and Yuba Counties.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Doug LaMalfa 1st District of California
Washington, D.C.— Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) joined President Trump at the White House for the signing of a new Executive Order aimed at restoring commonsense to wildfire prevention and response. The order, titledEmpowering Commonsense Wildfire Prevention and Response, takes direct steps to improve coordination across agencies, cut unnecessary regulations, and strengthen the tools and partnerships needed to prevent catastrophic wildfires.
“As peak wildfire season continues, President Trump is continuing to take decisive action to increase preparedness to combat these preventable disasters,” said Rep. LaMalfa. “By consolidating Federal wildland fire programs between agencies and increasing Federal and local partnerships, every firefighter will be part of a stronger and better coordinated response. The President’s action also modernizes the tools available to predict and detect wildfires, which will not only hasten reaction times but also enhance preparation and prevention efforts. Strengthening State and local response, and land management practices will decrease future out of control fires. I look forward to seeing implementation of this Executive Order.”
Background:
Directs the Department of the Interior and Department of Agriculture to consolidate federal wildland fire programs for better coordination.
Modernizes detection and prediction efforts by deploying tools like AI, data-sharing platforms, satellite imagery, and advanced weather forecasting.
Removes outdated regulations that delay prescribed fire use, fire-retardant deployment, and other proactive fuel reduction efforts.
Promotes the use of woody biomass and other forest byproducts to lower wildfire risk.
Prioritizes sale of surplus Department of Defense aircraft and parts to support wildfire response.
Declassifies historical satellite data to improve fire modeling and prediction.
Strengthens federal partnerships with state and local governments to streamline and improve wildfire mitigation efforts.
Congressman Doug LaMalfa is Chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus and a lifelong farmer representing California’s First Congressional District, including Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Shasta, Siskiyou, Sutter, Tehama and Yuba Counties.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sharice Davids (KS-3)
Today, Representatives Sharice Davids (D-KS-03) and Frank Lucas (R-OK-03) introduced theFood Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) Act of 2025, a bipartisan billaimed at improving access to healthy food for tribal communities across the country.
“For many Native families, accessing healthy, affordable food isn’t as simple as driving to the nearest grocery store,” said Davids. “Tribal communities face unique barriers, including long distances to grocery stores and supply chain disruptions that delay or cancel food deliveries. This bipartisan bill helps break down those barriers by ensuring tribal governments can better serve their communities and ensure families don’t go hungry.”
Davids’ bipartisan bill would give tribal governments permanent control over running the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), which provides food to eligible families living on reservations and in nearby approved areas, including parts of Oklahoma. It serves as a critical alternative to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for many tribal households that face challenges accessing grocery stores.
The FDPIR pilot program was originally authorized for five years by the 2018 Farm Bill. Participating tribes have indicated that while the pilot program has been successful, the five-year authorization limit makes it difficult for small and mid-sized tribal producers to scale their operations confidently. Permanent authorization would provide the stability needed for long-term planning and strengthen tribal food sovereignty.
“I am very pleased to join my colleague from Kansas to introduce legislation that will ensure we honor our trust and treaty obligations,” said Representative Frank Lucas (R-OK-03). “Tribes should be able to self-contract to administer quality, domestically produced food. Through the USDA’s FDPIR Demonstration Project, the tribes have proven that they are willing and able to successfully administer this program – now it is time to expand access to all tribes.”
Recent challengeswith FDPIR have included delays, canceled shipments, and shortages in food deliveries, partly due to supply chain disruptions and contract management issues. By permanently authorizing the program, this legislation addresses these issues by empowering tribes to manage their food procurement directly, enhancing program reliability and responsiveness.
In 2024, nearly650,000 tribal members relied on FDPIR to gain access to healthy food. USDA purchases and ships USDA Foods to administering agencies, which then store and distribute the foods, determine applicant eligibility, and provide nutrition education to recipients. USDA also provides administering agencies with funds for program administrative costs.
Protein foods, including beef, chicken, fish, pork, eggs, bison products, dried or canned beans, soups, peanuts, and peanut butter.
Grains, including pastas, cereals, rice, cornmeal, and flour.
Dairy, including cheese and milk.
Cooking essentials, including vegetable oil, extra virgin olive oil, and butter.
Seasonal foods, including pumpkin, cranberry sauce, and sweet potatoes.
Additional tribal-related quotes:
“The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma strongly supports the bill to authorize self-determination and self-governance authored by Reps. Davids and Lucas,” said Chief Gary Batton, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. “The Choctaw Nation and other Tribes have demonstrated experience successfully administering the food distribution program. Permanently authorizing self-determination contracts and self-governance agreements will provide greater flexibility and autonomy and expanded sourcing of local foods. Most importantly, it would help us allocate resources where they are most needed to build strong economies and improve the overall health of people in our communities.”
“Red Lake has long been committed to achieving food sovereignty and diversifying our agricultural operations,” said Chairman Darrel G. Seki Sr., Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians. “Through our commercial fishery, cultivation of wild rice over more than 1,000 acres of our Reservation, eight-acre farm known as Gitigaan Acres, and 300-acre buffalo ranch, Red Lake provides our members access to local, traditional, and healthy foods. We appreciate Rep. Davids and Rep. Lucas for introducing this bill so that we can incorporate these foods into our Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations food packages for our members who need access to affordable food the most.”
“Oneida Nation is proud to be part of the FDPIR Self-Determination demonstration project, and we have received overwhelmingly positive feedback from our clients and vendors,” said Chairman Tehassi Hill, Oneida Nation. “Through this demonstration project, Oneida Nation and Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin partnered together to replace USDA products in our food packages with local, high-quality products from our own tribal communities. This project allows local, indigenous vendors to build capacity while providing healthy foods to our community. Tribal producers have historically faced barriers to accessing markets given their small size, remote locations and lack of infrastructure. Having reliable orders allows producers like Oneida Nation Farms to plan ahead and invest in equipment, staff, and infrastructure to expand capacity. This project demonstrates how federal nutrition funding can be channeled to support local and regional producers, expanding economic opportunity in tribal communities. The current demonstration project is limited in scope and only gives tribes the authority to procure a few specific products in pre-determined quantities. Currently, making any changes to the products we order requires budget modifications and burdensome, time-consuming approvals from the USDA. Expanding to full Self-Governance authority will provide tribes the flexibility we need to quickly adapt and respond to disruptions in food supply, unpredictable growing seasons, and the unique and changing needs of our clients. Through permanent expansion of the demonstration project with full Self-Governance authority, Congress can recognize tribal sovereignty, reduce federal bureaucracy, support tribal economies, increase local control, and help tribes maintain food security in our communities.”
“Tribes are not truly sovereign until they are food sovereign. This is why we, as co-chairs of the Native Farm Bill Coalition, support the expansion of self-determination contracting and self-governance compacting authorities to the U.S. Department of Agriculture,” said Chairman Cole Miller, Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, and Kari Jo Lawrence, CEO of the Intertribal Agriculture Council, co-chairs of the Native Farm Bill Coalition. “When Tribes have the authority to decide what food they purchase and where they purchase the food from for the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), Tribes are empowered to prioritize purchasing locally produced, fresh foods that promote the well-being of their members. This authority also opens new Tribal economic development and capacity-building opportunities to Tribes that choose to procure FDPIR products from Tribal farmers and ranchers located in and near Indian Country by supporting new markets and strengthening regional food systems. Tribes have shown time and time again that tribally administered programs are more efficient and effective, and this bipartisan bill is an important step towards food sovereignty.”
“The National Congress of American Indians supports the efforts of Rep. Davids and Rep. Lucas to further expand self-determination contracting and self-governance compacting to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR),” said Larry Wright Jr., Executive Director, National Congress of American Indians Executive Director. “To-date, 16 Tribal Nations have utilized the 638 FDPIR pilot program authorized by the 2018 Farm Bill with great success. Not only have Tribal Nations built regional food economies that support Tribal producers, but they have provided access to healthy, traditional foods that promote the health and well-being of Tribal members throughout the country.”
“This legislation is a vital step forward in honoring Tribal sovereignty and expanding the proven success of Self-Governance,” said W. Ron Allen, Tribal Chairman/CEO, Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe, and President, Board of Directors, Self-Governance Communication and Education Tribal Consortium. “By authorizing both Self-Determination and Self-Governance authority for the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), this bill affirms the right of Tribal Nations to design and deliver food assistance in ways that reflect our values, traditions, and community needs. The expansion beyond procurement to the full administration of the program is long overdue and will empower more Tribes to feed their people with dignity and self-determination. I strongly support this effort and urge Congress to act without delay.”
“Cherokee Nation strongly supports the expansion of self-determination and self-governance policies throughout the Federal government and applauds Reps. Davids and Lucas for introducing this important bill,” said Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr., Cherokee Nation. “The Trump Administration and members of Congress on both sides of the aisle wholeheartedly back the growth and enhancement of tribal self-governance, and we see no reason why the upcoming Farm Bill should not include provisions to strengthen tribal sovereignty within the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations. Cherokee Nation joins tribes across the country in calling for permanence and expanded tribal authority over this successful program and will continue to advocate for its inclusion in the next Farm Bill.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Angie Craig (MN-02)
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Representative Angie Craig introduced legislation to address the affordable housing crisis by enabling the federal government to better track and study housing loss across the country.
Rep. Craig’sFederal Inquiry into the Nature and Documentation (FIND) of Housing Loss Actwould create a joint taskforce between the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Director of the Census Bureau, the Federal Housing Finance Agency, the Department of Commerce and the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection to conduct the National Housing Loss Report.
The taskforce would identify the types of and reasoning behind housing losses that have occurred in the U.S. since January 1, 2022. The report, which would be submitted to Congress within six months of the taskforce’s creation, would include statistical data to help lawmakers craft federal housing policy.
The bill is cosponsored by Representatives Johnny Olszewski (MD-02), Sarah Elfreth (MD-03), Cleo Fields (LA-06), Sarah McBride (DE-AL), LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), Kevin Mullin (CA-15), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Brittany Petersen (CO-07), Shri Thanedar (MI-13) and Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08).
“In every corner of Minnesota, I hear from folks struggling to afford a home,” said Rep. Craig. “We’ve got to tackle the housing crisis head on and that starts with getting to the root of the problem. I’m proud to be introducing this common-sense bill alongside my colleagues that will force government agencies to take this crisis seriously and help us devise real solutions at the federal level to make housing more accessible for everyday Minnesotans.”
The bill is endorsed by housing advocates, as well as The National Association of REALTORS®.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Angie Craig (MN-02)
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Representatives Angie Craig (D-MN) and Jefferson Van Drew (R-NJ) reintroduced bipartisan legislation to strengthen domestic medication supply chains and reduce American reliance on China for critical medications.
The bipartisanRolling Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient and Drug Reserve (RAPID Reserve) Actwould encourage the domestic production of critical medications and incentivize American-based manufacturers to increase their reserves of these medications to prepare for future public health threats and supply chain challenges.
Currently, nearly 80% of the manufacturing facilities that produce critical pharmaceutical ingredients are located outside the United States.
“Manufacturing critical medications here in America will strengthen our domestic supply chains, create good-paying jobs and most importantly, get life-saving medications into the hands of Minnesotans,” said Rep. Craig. “I’m proud to be reintroducing this common-sense, bipartisan legislation with Rep. Van Drew – because manufacturing pharmaceuticals here at home instead of in China is a no-brainer.”
“I am proud to be a part of this bill because it just makes sense,” said Rep. Van Drew. “TheRAPID Reserve Actis about making sure we are not relying on China for the medicine we need. We should be making these critical drugs here in America, creating jobs, and keeping our country safe. It is common sense, and it is long overdue.”
U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Ted Budd (R-MO) have introduced companion legislation in the Senate.
The bill is endorsed by the Association for Clinical Oncology, the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, the Healthcare Distribution Alliance and Phlow Corp.
You can read the text of theRAPID Reserve Acthere.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Angie Craig (MN-02)
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Representative Angie Craig released the following statement on her vote against the Republicans’ disastrous recissions package that will terminate $9.4 billion in Congressionally-approved appropriated funds – including $1.1 billion for public broadcasting and $400 million for the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).
“While the American people continue to struggle with rising costs, House Republicans have done nothing to address the affordability crisis in this country. Instead, they passed a catastrophic budget bill that takes food and health care from hundreds of thousands of hard-working Minnesotans. And today, they voted to roll back billions of dollars in Congressionally-approved funding, including federal dollars for public broadcasting, like Minnesota Public Radio and Twin Cities PBS, and PEPFAR – one of the world’s most effective public health initiatives. I voted against this dangerous package because limiting the flow of information and increasing the spread of disease will not make life easier, safer or more affordable for middle-class Minnesotans.”
The Republicans’ recissions package passed the House with 214 Republican votes.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Angie Craig (MN-02)
EAGAN, MN – Today, U.S. Representative Angie Craig released the following statement on the Environmental Protection Agency’s announcement on proposed volumes for the 2026 and 2027 Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs).
“Today’s RVO proposal from EPA is a step in the right direction as we continue working to invest in homegrown biofuels, lower prices at the pump and expand markets for Minnesota producers. As always, there is more work to be done, and I look forward to carefully reviewing any future proposals – including pending decisions on small refinery exemptions – to ensure that these frameworks work for the Minnesota producers and refiners who fuel the world.”
In Congress, Rep. Craig has led the charge to promote domestic biofuels and expand markets for Minnesota producers and refiners.
Last month, Rep. Craig, alongside Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-IA), led 26 of her bipartisan colleagues incalling on the Administrationto expand annual Renewable Volumes Obligations for biomass-based diesel in their upcoming rulemaking for 2026. In a letter to President Donald Trump, Rep. Craig urged the Administration to support a strong Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) by adopting timely, robust blending requirements in the upcoming “Set 2” rule establishing Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs) for 2026 and beyond.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Ilhan Omar (DFL-MN)
The Protecting Children Act is the most robust proposal yet and renews our commitment to confronting child labor violations.
WASHINGTON – Today, on World Day against Child Labor, Education and Workforce Committee Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) and Workforce Protections (WP) Subcommittee Ranking Member Ilhan Omar (MN-05) announced their plans to introduce new legislation—theProtecting Children Act—to finally end child labor in America. The bill provides federal worker protections agencies with the tools and resources they need to deter violations and prevent harm to children from intensive work in dangerous jobs.
Recent, high-profile news reports have underscored that children are continuing to be illegally employed in hazardous jobs and working conditions. According to theWage and Hour Division, the number of children employed in violation of child labor laws has nearly quadrupled between 2015 and 2024.
“In 2025, oppressive child labor practices should be a lesson taught in history classes—not an ongoing crisis across America. Regrettably, recent reporting has demonstrated that children continue to lose their lives and suffer devastating injuries because they work in hazardous jobs,”said Ranking Member Scott.“Children should be learning and growing in schools, not risking their safety and lives in dangerous workplaces. The Protecting Children Act takes long-overdue steps to strengthen child labor laws and implement serious consequences for endangering children on the job. This is the bold solution we need to help finally put an end to abusive child labor in America.”
“The rise in illegal child labor is a national disgrace. Corporations are exploiting vulnerable children, many of them immigrants, in the most dangerous jobs imaginable. These are the predictable results of lax enforcement and a system that values profit over children’s lives. The Protecting Children Act is about changing that. It gives us the tools to hold bad actors accountable and finally put an end to the systems that profit from harming children. Our kids deserve protection and the chance to dream, not punch a clock,”said WP Subcommittee Ranking Member Omar.
TheProtecting Children Actrenews our commitment to ending oppressive child labor by:
· Increasing civil and criminal penalties for child labor violations, unsafe workplaces, and workplace injuries and deaths experienced by young workers;
· Strengthening WHD’s ability to prevent the sale and movement of goods produced in violation of child labor rules;
· Expanding capacity for enforcement, research, and data;
· Improving the process for updating child labor rules and prohibiting any future weakening of those rules; and
· Launching public information initiatives to keep policymakers and public informed about child labor enforcement and training young workers on their rights.
To read the bill text of theProtecting Children Act,clickhere.
To read the fact sheet for theProtecting Children Act,clickhere.
To read the section-by-section summary of theProtecting Children Act,clickhere.
Source: US Congressman Gabe Amo (Rhode Island 1st District)
Since the start of 2025, the U.S. has experienced the deadliest domestic plane crash in a generation and several near misses.
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Gabe Amo (D-RI) and Congressman Stephen Lynch (D-MA) are calling on the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) to study relocating the Air Traffic Safety Oversight Service (AOV). To improve the safety of our national airspace system, this review would explore if AOV realignment could strengthen the independence and effectiveness of safety oversight of the air traffic control system.
Excerpts from Congressmen Amo and Lynch’s letter to GAO:
“The AOV plays a vital role in ensuring the safety of our national airspace system. Specifically, the AOV establishes safety standards and provides independent oversight of the Air Traffic Organization (ATO). The AOV’s core functions include validating ATO safety processes, approving new and modified separation standards and waivers, evaluating hazard mitigation controls, and overseeing the ATO’s Safety Management System. AOV also participates in operational reviews, develops regulatory guidance, and contributes to international standards. The AOV conducts oversight through audits, inspections, investigations, surveillance, and coordination with other FAA safety divisions. Its work is fundamental to maintaining public trust and upholding the FAA’s core mission of safety.”
“Ensuring AOV’s independence is critical as modernization initiatives, such as NextGen and the integration of unmanned aerial systems, add new complexities to air traffic operations. Recent events, such as the January 2025 fatal midair collision near Washington National Airport (DCA), underscore the importance of strong, independent oversight. That incident, involving American Airlines Flight 5342 and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter, tragically claimed 67 lives and brought to light potential safety oversight gaps. In its aftermath, the National Transportation Safety Board issued a recommendation urging the FAA to permanently restrict certain helicopter operations near DCA when specific runways are active, citing an “intolerable risk to aviation safety.” Further concern has been raised by the FAA’s recent decision to halt an independent air traffic oversight panel, highlighting the need to reevaluate the FAA’s internal oversight structures.
“Amid ongoing modernization, the increasing complexity of air traffic operations, and the recent fatal midair collision near DCA, it is timely to reassess whether moving AOV outside the FAA but within the federal government could enhance the independence, accountability, and effectiveness of aviation safety oversight.”
Read the Full LetterHere.
BACKGROUND
On January 29, 2025, American Airlines Flight 5342 collided with a U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk Helicopter as the passenger jet approached DCA.
Additionally, there have been several additional near misses of commercial aircraft at airports around the U.S. and notable air traffic control outages at several major airports.
In the January 29, crash 3 servicemembers operating the helicopter, and all 64 passengers and crew on the American Airlines flight were killed in the collision,including Rhode Island residents Christine and Spencer Lane. The mother and son were traveling with the Boston Skating Club returning from the 2025 U.S. Figure Skating Championships where Spencer had competed.
On June 12, 2025, Congressman Amo and Congressman Ron Estes sent a letter to the Department of Transportation Inspector General calling for an audit of airspace around DCA.
On May 23, 2025, Congressman Amo, Congressman Suhas Subramanyam, and Congressman Don Beyer led 16 of their colleagues inrequesting that the Department of Transportation facilitate an independent review of Washington, DC airspace as part of the Appropriations Committee’s Fiscal Year 2026 transportation funding bill.
On March 3, 2025, Congressman Amo supported the House passage of a resolution to commemorate the victims of the DCA crash.
Source: US Congressman Gabe Amo (Rhode Island 1st District)
With increased storms due to climate change, more and more communities are hit by storms causing more than $1 billion in damage.
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Ranking Members Gabe Amo (D-RI) and Emilia Sykes (D-OH) led 64 Democratic colleagues in calling on the Acting National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Administrator Laura Grimm to reinstate the Billion Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters Report to ensure America has a record of the increasing number of storms that cause catastrophic financial damage to communities.
READ THE FULL LETTERHERE.
Excerpts of the letter:
“It is clear this cancellation is just another attack in the Trump administration’s crusade against climate science and NOAA. From proposing massive budget cuts to firing climate scientists to retiring multiple critical datasets and products, the Trump administration is trying to hide the true cost and impact of climate change from the American people. Preventing scientists from studying climate change and educating the public will not lessen the damage caused by more frequent extreme weather events. It will simply make us less prepared to respond to them, increasing climate change’s human and economic cost.”
“We cannot respond to a problem if we do not understand it. Without the Billion Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters report, it will be significantly more difficult for scientists and policymakers to understand and respond to the economic effects of climate change. Since its inception, hundreds of peer-reviewed studies have cited or used data from the report for analysis on climate impacts, economic losses, and policy recommendations. In addition to painting a picture of climate change’s economic impact, the report details disaster frequency and duration trends and maps risk and vulnerability levels by county and census tract. Americans rely on this data to understand climate risks and potential insurance rates before purchasing a home.”
The Members urge Acting Administrator Grimm to reinstate the Billion Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters product.
Background
Climate change has caused an increase in the frequency and severity of natural disasters, with more and more communities facing fatalities and billions of dollars in damages caused by extreme weather.
Since 1980, 403 weather and climate disasters havecausedmore than $1 billion in damage each for a cumulative total of $2.195 trillion in damage. Thanks to the Billion Dollar Weather and Climate Disastersreport, we know that the extreme flooding that rocked Rhode Island in December 2023 was part of a forceful East Coast storm that caused $1.3 billion in damage from Florida to Maine and took 5 lives.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II (5th District Missouri)
(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) released the following statement on the escalating conflict in the Middle East.
“I am closely monitoring the situation in the Middle East following Israel’s decision to strike Iran’s military leadership and nuclear capabilities.
“My highest priority remains the safety of American citizens and servicemembers in the region. While the president’s decision in his first term to withdraw from the JCPOA has led to this extraordinarily alarming moment and made diplomacy substantially more difficult, it is imperative that the Trump administration focus on de-escalation before U.S. armed forces are dragged into another lengthy and lethal quagmire.
“I continue to support Israel’s right to exist and their right to defend themselves. I urge the leadership of both nations to de-escalate and come to the negotiating table to end this conflict before it spirals out of control.”
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Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee’s Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Greenwood, Blue Springs, North Kansas City, Gladstone, and Claycomo. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee and Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Michael McCaul (10th District of Texas)
WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Congressman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) — chairman emeritus of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs — released the following statement after Israel preemptively struck Iran’s nuclear program and military leadership.
“President Trump gave Iran every chance to negotiate in good faith and to dismantle their nuclear program.
“Prime Minister Netanyahu was also clear: The alternative to diplomacy would be strikes on Iran — a message he reiterated to me when I met with him this month. Unfortunately, the regime chose not to take the path of peace — to prioritize their own interests over their people’s. They brought this calamity on themselves.
“One thing is certain: Iran will not acquire a nuclear weapon, and our world is safer for it. They would be wise to come to the table and make an agreement with President Trump while the offer still stands. If they instead choose to harm U.S. troops in the region, they will once again regret it.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Michael McCaul (10th District of Texas)
WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Congressman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) — chairman of the Task Force on Enhancing Security for Special Events in the United States — conducted a site visit to Audi Field, a location for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
“As our nation prepares to host millions of international visitors for major events, we must create safe experiences that showcase the United States’ leadership and commitment to excellence,”said Task Force Chairman McCaul. “Ahead of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, I met with FIFA staff and White House officials today at Audi Field, where we held a robust discussion on ways to enhance public safety at this summer’s events — from facilitating swift information sharing and detecting unauthorized drone use to preventing lone wolf attacks. With terrorist incidents on the rise across our nation, I’m proud this task force — which includes colleagues who served in our military and as first responders — is laying the groundwork to secure our mass-spectator events by ensuring all levels of government, law enforcement, and private-sector partners are well-equipped to detect and mitigate threats.”
Following the site visit, the Committee on Homeland Security announced the list of committee members on the task force, which is chaired by McCaul, who also serves as the chairman emeritus and current vice chair of the full committee. Below is a list of the members appointed to the bipartisan Task Force on Enhancing Security for Special Events in the United States:
Chairman Michael McCaul (R-Texas)
Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-Fla.)
Rep. Dale Strong (R-Ala.)
Rep. Eli Crane (R-Ariz.)
Ranking Member Nellie Pou (D-N.J.)
Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.)
Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-N.J.)
Representatives Gimenez and Pou joined Chairman McCaul at Audi Field.
“The Task Force on Enhancing Security for Special Events sends a clear message: we’re leaving nothing to chance,”said Rep. Gimenez. “As the Mayor of Miami-Dade County, I led efforts to secure global events that drew millions of visitors from around the world. With the U.S. set to host large-scale events, like FIFA 2026, the 2028 Olympics, and America’s 250th birthday, we must act now. Ensuring a safe and successful execution will require strong coordination among federal, state, and local partners so that every traveler and every community can enjoy these celebrations safely and confidently.”
“I’m honored to join this task force at such a critical moment for our nation. As a lifelong first responder, I know firsthand the unique challenges mass-gathering events present—and why they often become targets for those who seek to do harm,” said Rep. Strong. “As the United States prepares to welcome the world for events like the World Cup and the Olympics, we must ensure every measure is taken to protect the safety of our citizens and guests while preserving the spirit of these global celebrations. This task force will aid coordination efforts among federal, state, and local authorities – including law enforcement and emergency services.”
“As America prepares to host several major global competitions in the coming years, it is imperative that we provide a safe environment for our citizens and international guests,” said Rep. Crane. “By proactively establishing this critical task force, we will work closely with the administration to solidify operational readiness. I am grateful for the leadership of Chairman Green and Task Force Chairman McCaul, and I am honored to be part of this zero-fail mission.”
Background:
The Task Force on Enhancing Security for Special Events in the United States was established earlier this year to conduct oversight of security preparations ahead of major upcoming international events, including the 2028 Summer Olympics, the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, the 2025 Ryder Cup, and the United States’ 250th anniversary in 2026. As part of the committee’s oversight of National Special Security Events (NSSEs) and major Special Event Assessment Rating (SEAR) events, members of the task force will visit additional event sites in advance, hold hearings, host roundtables, and release a final report on their findings and recommendations.
Prior to Congress, Congressman McCaul served as chief of counter terrorism and national security in the U.S. attorney’s office, Western District of Texas, and led the Joint Terrorism Task Force charged with detecting, deterring, and preventing terrorist activity. And during the 113th-115th Congresses, he served as the chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, leading the investigations into the Boston bombing to correct deficiencies at the FBI and CIA, and revamping how these agencies communicate with one another. He also led the Foreign Fighter Task Force, which enabled rapid legislative responses to the Paris Attacks.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Judy Chu (CA2-27)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28), Rep. Gil Cisneros (CA-31), and Rep. Derek Tran (CA-45) sent aletterto Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons condemning the agencies for unlawfully blocking their legally authorized oversight visit to the Adelanto ICE Processing Center in San Bernardino County, California. On June 8, 2025, the Members attempted to conduct an inspection of the facility in response to a wave of immigration raids across Los Angeles County. Despite federal law guaranteeing Members of Congress unfettered access to DHS facilities for oversight purposes, the delegation was denied entry, even after waiting outside for nearly two hours.
“For nearly a decade, I’ve visited Adelanto because of its notorious history of violating detainees’ basic human and constitutional rights. Unfortunately, it appears that Adelanto’s inhumane track record continues as we hear reports that detainees rounded up after Trump’s ICE raids in Los Angeles are being denied their right to due process and that even U.S. citizens may have been detained. And yet, our attempts as Members of Congress to conduct oversight at Adelanto, which is expressly permitted by law, were unlawfully denied, blocking us from getting the truth about what’s going on behind illegally closed doors. Regardless of immigration status, everyone has a right to due process. We need answers now,” said Rep. Chu.
“This past weekend, I joined Reps. Chu and Tran to conduct Congressional oversight at the Adelanto ICE Detention Center, but instead we were met with locks on the gate, no answer to our calls, and denied entry,” said Rep. Cisneros. “We have a responsibility to ensure ICE is abiding by the law, but they refused to even let us in. We will not stop pressing for answers.”
“On Sunday, I visited the Adelanto ICE Facility with Reps. Chu and Cisneros to perform my constitutional oversight responsibility for the health and safety conditions of the detention center. Despite having the right to enter, my colleagues and I were locked out,” said Rep. Derek Tran. “I won’t stand by while private facilities continue to deny lawful oversight requests. We demand transparency and accountability from all facilities holding detainees.
Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey
Washington (June 13, 2025) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today hosted a fireside chat with Massachusetts advocates and community leaders to discuss artificial intelligence (AI), civil rights, and the Senator’s AI Civil Rights Act, the most comprehensive AI civil rights legislation introduced in Congress. The legislation, which Senator Markey introduced last year, would put strict guardrails on companies’ use of algorithms for consequential decisions, ensure algorithms are tested before and after deployment, help eliminate and prevent bias, and renew Americans’ faith in the accuracy and fairness of complex algorithms.
Participants discussed the civil rights issues already developing in Massachusetts communities—from housing to hiring algorithms—and the necessity of passing the AI Civil Rights Act to build a just digital world for all.
“Today’s discussion provided powerful evidence of the risks AI poses for marginalized communities and workers in Massachusetts and across the country. I remain committed to fighting for a just digital future and that starts by protecting those who are most affected by these emerging technologies,” said Senator Markey. “That is why I authored the AI Civil Rights Act. My legislation would protect the public’s civil rights and liberties during the development and deployment of algorithms that make critical life decisions for individuals on everything from housing to health care. We need to chart a path forward for AI that protects civil rights, empowers workers, and promotes innovation rooted in accountability.”
“The threat of AI to unions and labor organizing comes from the imbalance of control and access to information between management and workers – a dynamic the labor movement has long battled,” said Chrissy Lynch, Massachusetts AFL-CIO President. “Robust notification systems and knowledge that one’s sensitive information, including biometric data, is being accessed by an employer should be a baseline for all workplace-based AI and other algorithmic technologies. Workers need a voice in how these tools are developed and implemented, and workers need to be at the table when policy decisions are being made that affect their livelihood and wellbeing.”
“In the current political climate, having this bill is crucial because it serves as a safeguard against the erosion of civil rights and racial justice gains that are being challenged or rolled back,” said Rahsaan Hall, President and CEO of the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts.
“The dangers from artificial intelligence aren’t a future problem—they are here now. Today, corporations are using algorithmic systems to manipulate prices, decide who gets a job or a loan, conduct surveillance of our labor and political expression, and artificially inflate already sky high rents. Even worse, these technologies can be used to secretly discriminate against us based on our race, religion, gender, and other protected characteristics. The ACLU is proud to stand with Senator Markey as he fights for legislation to ensure technology works for all people, strengthens rather than undermines our democracy, and is never used to discriminate against us because of who we are or where we come from,” said Kade Crockford, Director of the ACLU MA Technology for Liberty Project.
“Artificial intelligence technology is already being used nationwide to discriminate,” said Armani White, Co-Founder of Reclaim Roxbury. “Right here in Boston, it is being used by companies to gouge prices for renters. We are overdue on artificial intelligence oversight and regulation.”
Senator Markey first introduced the AI Civil Rights Act in September 2024. This week, Senator Markey announced plans to file an amendment to the Senate reconciliation bill to block Republicans’ attempt to prevent states from regulating artificial intelligence (AI) for the next 10 years. Last week, Senator Markey convened a virtual roundtable with advocates to discuss the impacts this ban would have on communities across the country. On June 3, Senator Markey delivered remarks on the Senate floor opposing the provision in the House-passed reconciliation bill that would prevent states from regulating AI for the next ten years.
Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Cory Booker
NEWARK, N.J. – This afternoon, Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following statement:
“The conditions at the Delaney Hall ICE detention facility in Newark are untenable. With serious security lapses, numerous reports of mistreatment by staff of detainees, complaints of persistent food shortages, and a troubling lack of transparency from facility administrators, it’s clear that GEO Group has shown it cannot—or will not—operate Delaney Hall humanely or safely. I have long opposed privately owned and operated immigration detention facilities because they are mired by rampant abuse and neglect of those in their care. After spending millions of dollars in upgrades it continues to be a house of horrors. The consequences of GEO’s mismanagement, and the Department of Homeland Security’s resistance to Congressional oversight, are borne by my neighbors in Newark and those detained at Delaney Hall. The Department of Homeland Security has a duty to work with Congress to address the problem, take immediate action to improve the conditions at Delaney Hall, and ensure the proper and fair treatment of those detained.”
Source: United States Senator for New York Kirsten Gillibrand
Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and the Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following statement on the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran.
“The situation in the Middle East is extremely serious and I am closely monitoring ongoing developments. I will always support Israel’s right to defend itself. Iran is the foremost sponsor of terrorism in the world, and it must never be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon. With Iranian retaliation already occurring and likely to continue, I am praying for the Israeli people, as well as for American troops, personnel and citizens throughout the Middle East. I will remain in close contact with our intelligence and national security community as this situation evolves.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Scott Peters (52nd District of California)
Washington, D.C. – Today, Representative Scott Peters (CA-50) introduced the “Preserving Great Americans’ Legacies Act,” legislation to prevent the United States Navy from renaming the USNS Harvey Milk and other ships named for other great Americans and civil rights leaders. Reports from earlier this month indicate that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth ordered the Secretary of the Navy to rename the USNS Harvey Milk during national Pride Month as part of the Administration’s broader efforts to demonize American citizens it does not like. Milk was a veteran, political leader, and advocate for the LGBT community. He served as a diving officer during the Korean War before being forced out of service with an “other than honorable” discharge due to his sexual orientation.
Secretary Hegseth also ordered the review of other ships, including those named for American icons such as abolitionist Harriet Tubman, labor organizer Cesar Chavez, and former Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, among others. Every one of these ships was built in San Diego, which is a proud military town and partner in the national defense.
“Secretary Hegseth claims that this hateful move would return a ‘warrior ethos’ to the force, but renaming these ships won’t help better train or equip a single servicemember,” said Rep. Scott Peters. “While Hegseth works to erase the names of these important civic leaders from the fleet, the President also publicly commits to renaming military bases for Confederate leaders. That is a clear values statement by the Administration about the America it envisions and asks our servicemembers and their families to serve. It is unacceptable and unreflective of our country. Every sailor deserves to serve on and fight from a ship named after an American who embodies those values we wish to see in our military. That is why the Navy named these ships after such important leaders.”
The Preserving Great Americans’ Legacies act is co-sponsored by Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (CA-12), House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Ranking Member and Equality Caucus Chair Mark Takano (CA-39), and Representatives Juan Vargas (CA-52), Sara Jacobs (CA-51), Mike Levin (CA-49), Hank Johnson (GA-4), Jill Tokuda (HI-2), Troy Carter (LA-2), Linda Sanchez (CA-39), John Garamendi (CA-8), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-8), and Eleanor Holmes Norton (Del-DC).
It is also supported by Equality California, Silver State Equality, and VoteVets.
“Just days into Pride Month, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed plans to strip Harvey Milk’s name from a Navy ship. Milk is a global civil rights icon for LGBTQ+ civil rights, and this move is a petty and political act of erasure from the Trump administration,” said Equality California Executive Director Tony Hoang. “We’re proud to support Rep. Peters’ Preserving Great Americans’ Legacies Act, which would block efforts to rename ships honoring leaders in civil rights, labor, and social justice. We must protect these legacies.”
“The Preserving Great Americans’ Legacies Act is about honoring the legacies of Americans who expanded freedom, justice, and equality — values that every service member swears to defend. Renaming ships that bear the names of Harvey Milk, Harriet Tubman, or Ruth Bader Ginsburg is not just unnecessary — it’s a political stunt that disrespects the very principles they stood for. We applaud Representative Peters for leading this important effort to ensure our Navy continues to reflect the diversity, courage, and moral leadership that defines the best of our country.” – VoteVets
Source: United States House of Representatives – Julia Brownley (D-CA)
Washington, DC – This week, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (CA-26), Congressman Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), Congresswoman Nanette Barragán (CA-44), Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA), and 38 members of the California Delegation demand that President Donald Trump immediately withdraw the National Guard and U.S. Marines from Los Angeles, California. In a bicameral letter sent today, the lawmakers condemn the deployments as an unlawful overreach that bypassed state and local authority and urge the immediate withdrawal of the National Guard and Marines.
“We are writing to express grave concern regarding the deployment of the National Guard and the activation of 700 Marines to Los Angeles. These actions were taken without the consent of California Governor Gavin Newsom and over the objections of local law enforcement. It constitutes a clear violation of constitutional principles and law, and a grave overreach of executive authority,” wrote the lawmakers.
“This deployment does not appear to be motivated by any public safety emergency that could not be dealt with successfully by local authorities. Instead, it coincides with a broader federal enforcement escalation involving mass ICE raids, militarized immigration tactics, and the use of tear gas and riot control methods in civilian areas. These actions undermine civil liberties, destabilize communities, erode public trust in government institutions, and violate the law,” continued the lawmakers.
As protests erupted in Los Angeles in response to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids and detentions, the Trump administration escalated the situation by authorizing the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines, without the consent of California Governor Gavin Newsom and over the objections of local elected and community leaders. They argue the legal authority Trump cited doesn’t apply, making the deployment plainly unlawful.
“As federal officials, we must prioritize de-escalation and adherence to the constitutional principles that govern the balance of power between federal and state and local governments. For these reasons, we urge you to immediately withdraw the National Guard and U.S. Marines from Los Angeles and to refrain from further deployments of any military personnel in circumstances that violate constitutional boundaries and escalate domestic tensions,” stated the lawmakers.
The bicameral letter was also signed by Representatives Nancy Pelosi (CA-11), Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), Pete Aguilar (CA-33), Ami Bera (CA-6), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Judy Chu (CA-28), Gilbert Cisneros Jr. (CA-31), Lou Correa (CA-46), Jim Costa (CA-21), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), Laura Friedman (CA-30), John Garamendi (CA-8), Robert Garcia (CA-42), Jared Huffman (CA-2), Sara Jacobs (CA-51), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Ro Khanna (CA-17), Sam Liccardo (CA-16), Ted Lieu (CA-36), Doris Matsui (CA-7), Dave Min (CA-47), Kevin Mullin (CA-15), Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), Scott Peters (CA-50), Luz Rivas (CA-29), Raul Ruiz (CA-25), Linda Sánchez (CA-38), Brad Sherman (CA-32), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Eric Swalwell (CA-14), Mark Takano (CA-39), Mike Thompson (CA-4), Norma Torres (CA-35), Derek Tran (CA-45), Juan Vargas (CA-52), Maxine Waters (CA-43), and George Whitesides (CA-27).
The full letter can be found here and below:
President Donald J. Trump
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, D.C. 20500
RE: Deployment of National Guard Troops to Los Angeles
Mr. President,
We are writing to express grave concern regarding the deployment of the National Guard and the activation of 700 Marines to Los Angeles. These actions were taken without the consent of California Governor Gavin Newsom and over the objections of local law enforcement. It constitutes a clear violation of constitutional principles and law, and a grave overreach of executive authority.
On June 6 and 7, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) carried out a series of immigration raids in downtown Los Angeles, which were met with widespread public protests. On the evening of June 7, you issued a formal memorandum titled “Department of Defense Security for the Protection of Department of Homeland Security Functions,” authorizing the deployment of 2,000 California National Guard personnel to Los Angeles for a 60-day period. This action bypassed the state governor’s authority and proceeded despite active objections from local law enforcement already managing the situation. By the time National Guard troops arrived on Sunday morning, protests had largely subsided, and the streets were calm. Instead, the National Guard presence contributed to a renewed escalation of tensions. The overwhelming majority of protestors have done so peacefully. State and local authorities have already said that they can and will arrest and prosecute the very few who have committed acts of violence.
This deployment does not appear to be motivated by any public safety emergency that could not be dealt with successfully by local authorities. Instead, it coincides with a broader federal enforcement escalation involving mass ICE raids, militarized immigration tactics, and the use of tear gas and riot control methods in civilian areas. These actions undermine civil liberties, destabilize communities, erode public trust in government institutions, and violate the law.
Your memorandum cited 10 U.S.C. §12406 as the legal basis for your actions. That provision allows the President to call the National Guard into federal service only in three specific circumstances:
(1) the United States, or any of the Commonwealths or possessions, is invaded or is in danger of invasion by a foreign nation;
(2) there is a rebellion or danger of a rebellion against the authority of the Government of the United States; or
(3) the President is unable with the regular forces to execute the laws of the United States
10 U.S.C. §12406 also requires that “Orders for these purposes shall be issued through the governors of the States.” None of these enumerated circumstances exist and no order was issued through the governor of our state. Therefore, your order is plainly unlawful.
In addition, on June 8, U.S. Northern Command announced the activation of 700 active-duty U.S. Marines to the Los Angeles area under the same Task Force. The deployment of active-duty Marines marks a significant escalation in the federal government’s response, blurring the line between military and civilian law enforcement roles. The deployment of active-duty military personnel into domestic operations raises serious legal and constitutional questions. Marines are trained for combat, not law enforcement. The introduction of Marines in securing largely peaceful protests is an unnecessary escalation in a situation that has already been inflamed because of escalatory actions.
As federal officials we must prioritize de-escalation and adherence to the constitutional principles that govern the balance of power between federal and state and local governments. For these reasons, we urge you to immediately withdraw the National Guard and U.S. Marines from Los Angeles and to refrain from further deployments of any military personnel in circumstances that violate constitutional boundaries and escalate domestic tensions.
U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 06/13/2025 09:30 PM EDT
06/13/2025 09:10 PM EDT
SAN DIEGO — Capt. Robert Tucker relieved Capt. Patrick Dill as the Coast Guard Sector San Diego commander during a change of command ceremony in San Diego, Friday morning.
LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas resident who pleaded guilty to unlawfully selling ghost guns, stolen guns, large capacity magazines, machinegun conversion devices, and cocaine in Las Vegas and North Las Vegas was sentenced today by United States District Judge Gloria M. Navarro to three years in prison followed by three years of supervised release.
According to court documents, from April 24, 2023, to August 3, 2024, Richard Edwin Sanchez engaged in the business of dealing in firearms without a Federal Firearms License by selling 17 firearms, including .223, .40, and 5.56 caliber firearms, 9mm firearms, and a 12-gauge shotgun. Of these firearms, 10 were Glock semi-automatic firearms capable of being converted into fully automatic weapons using machinegun conversion devices provided by Sanchez. In addition, he sold 21 machinegun conversion devices. Of the Glock pistols, nine were sold with large capacity magazines, two were stolen, and two others were associated with at least five shootings in the Las Vegas and North Las Vegas area. Two other firearms sold had either no serial number or an obliterated serial number. Additionally, Sanchez sold a total of about 435 grams of cocaine.
Sanchez pleaded guilty to one-count of engaging in the business of dealing firearms without a license, one-count of distribution of cocaine, and one-count of possession or transfer of a machine gun.
United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Alex Buenaventura, San Francisco Field Division, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the ATF; and the United States Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case.
Defendant Kidnapped Former Girlfriend and Drove Her into the District Where He Strangled and Assaulted Her
WASHINGTON –Adam Ahmed, 38, of Chantilly, Virginia, was found guilty by a Superior Court jury of kidnapping and strangulation related to an incident that began in Manassas, Virginia, on May 10, 2024, and ended in northeast Washington, D.C., on May 11, 2024, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
The verdict was returned on June 12th and included two counts of making threats and one count of misdemeanor assault. Superior Court Judge Robert Salerno scheduled sentencing for August 15, 2025.
According to the government’s evidence, on May 9, 2024, Ahmed was arrested in Virginia on multiple warrants for protective order violations and assault charges against his ex-girlfriend. The next day, on May 10, 2024, the victim got into Ahmed’s car outside her home in Manassas, Virginia, believing that they would sit in her building parking lot and talk about their relationship. Instead, the defendant took off, driving erratically. Ahmed told the victim that they were both “going to die tonight,” and that if she was going to charge him with abduction, he was going to do it. The defendant drove onto I-66 and took the victim into the District, where he repeatedly assaulted her and threatened to kill her.
After several hours of terrorizing the victim, Ahmed told her that he was going to drive her somewhere no one would find her. When he stopped the car, he climbed over her and strangled her with both hands until she couldn’t breathe. While strangling her, he bit her, putting his whole mouth over hers. He started driving again, eventually stopping at a Shell gas station on Nannie Helen Burroughs Avenue. At one point, Ahmed walked away from the car, and the victim tried to escape. Surveillance footage shows the defendant rushing at the victim, picking her up, and struggling with her to force her back in the car. A passerby on the street saw the defendant hitting the victim and turned into the gas station parking lot, rescuing the victim and calling 911.
During the course of trial two expert witnesses spoke about the unique dangers inherit in strangulation, and violence in intimate partner violence relationships, respectively. Strangulation is widely recognized as one of the most lethal forms of intimate partner violence, as a major strangulation study in San Diego, found surviving domestic violence “victims are much more likely to die later if their abuser has strangled them.” The study also noted that “…..the odds of becoming a victim of attempted homicide increased by 700%, and the odds of becoming a homicide victim increased by 800%, among women who had been strangled by their partner. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia’s Sex Offense and Domestic Violence Section has charged over 110 acts of felony strangulation since the D.C. Council created it as a criminal offense under D.C. Code 22-404.04, which went into effect in July of 2023.
In announcing the verdict, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Chief Smith commended the work of the officers and detectives at the Metropolitan Police Department. They also credited Assistant U.S. Attorneys Trisha Jhunjhnuwala and Amanda Swanson, of the Sexual Offense and Domestic Violence section for successfully prosecuting the case.
WASHINGTON – Michelle Shropshire, 54, of Waldorf, Maryland, and Harlisha Jones, 49, of Clinton, Maryland, and Washington, DC, were arrested this morning on health care fraud, wire fraud, mail fraud, aggravated identity theft, and conspiracy charges filed in U.S. District Court.
The arrests were announced by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro, Assistant Director in Charge Steven J. Jansen of the FBI Washington Field Office, and Inspector General Michelle Zamarin of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Office of Inspector General.
Both defendants are expected to make their initial appearance today in the District Court for the District of Columbia.
According to the indictment, from June 2021 through January 2024, Shropshire and Jones, both Train Operators employed by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), conspired to use Jones’s insurance policies with American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus (AFLAC) to submit fraudulent health care and short-term disability insurance claims for injuries, medical treatments, and disability periods that did not exist.
Court documents allege that the defendants used the information of real doctors to create fraudulent medical excuse notes and physician’s statements, including forged doctors’ signatures, that were submitted to AFLAC in support of the insurance claims. Then, shortly after AFLAC paid each claim to Jones, she paid a kickback to Shropshire using a percentage of the total claim payment. As a result of those fraudulent insurance claims, AFLAC paid Jones approximately $58,750, of which Jones paid approximately 20% back to Shropshire.
The indictment further alleges that in addition to Jones, Shropshire assisted numerous other WMATA employees with submitting fraudulent health care and short-term disability insurance claims to AFLAC. As a result of that scheme, AFLAC paid at least $362,035.14 in phony insurance benefits to Shropshire, Jones, and other WMATA employees.
Those employees included Sharon Washington, 53, of Woodbridge, VA, Selethia Blake, 53, of Waldorf, MD, Brady Turner, 56, of Clinton, MD, Lushawn Foreman, 51, of Upper Marlboro, MD, and Margot Jackson, 52, of Hughesville, MD, among others.
Washington, Blake, Turner, Foreman, and Jackson have each admitted to their involvement in Shropshire’s scheme, including paying kickbacks to Shropshire using a portion of the claim payments they received, and have pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud. Each is currently awaiting sentencing.
If convicted, Shropshire and Jones each face a maximum statutory sentence of 20 years in prison for the charged offenses, with an additional mandatory sentence of two years in prison for the offense of aggravated identity theft. The maximum statutory sentence for federal offenses is prescribed by Congress and is provided for informational purposes. If convicted, the defendants’ sentence will be determined by the court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
These cases are being investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office and the WMATA Office of Inspector General. They are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian P. Kelly and Diane Lucas.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth
June 13, 2025
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE) and 17 of their Senate colleagues in condemning U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s decision to gut the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and appoint several members to the committee with a documented history of anti-vaccine ideology and peddling misinformation. In the letter, the lawmakers raise the alarm on the dangers of gutting the ACIP and urge Secretary Kennedy to immediately reappoint the members of the committee he fired.
“We are deeply concerned by your decision to fire every member of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP),” the Senators wrote. “This unprecedented action will strip Americans of the ability to make informed decisions about the benefits and risks of vaccinations — the complete opposite of ‘radical transparency’ and ‘good science.’”
The Senators raised the alarm on the recent appointment of several members to the committee, “We are troubled by your recent announcement to appoint several members to the committee who have a documented history of anti-vaccine ideology and peddling misinformation. We urge you to restore legitimacy to this historically non-partisan, science-based, and data-driven committee and immediately reinstate the members of ACIP you have baselessly fired.”
“ACIP is a longstanding, trusted national source of science- and data-backed advice and guidance on the use of vaccines to prevent and control disease. Members that serve on this committee must undergo extensive vetting and disclose any conflicts of interest. Firing every member of the committee just before their next meeting scheduled for June 25-27 eliminates the advisory board’s ability to debate and make well-informed recommendations, putting American lives at risk,” continued the Senators.
“We urge you to immediately reappoint the members of the committee that you fired and remove those that you have recently appointed that have a documented history of peddling misinformation or undermining vaccine confidence,” the Senators concluded.
Last week Duckworth also slammed Kennedy and HHS for announcing changes to CDC’s recommended vaccine schedule that would dramatically limit access to COVID-19 vaccines for millions of pregnant women and children, needlessly endangering their health.
In addition to Duckworth, Durbin, Luján, Warnock and Blunt Rochester, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), John Fetterman (D-PA), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Angus King (I-ME), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Tina Smith (D-MN) and Peter Welch (D-VT).
Read the full letter on the Senator’s website or below:
Dear Secretary Kennedy,
We are deeply concerned by your decision to fire every member of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). This unprecedented action will strip Americans of the ability to make informed decisions about the benefits and risks of vaccinations — the complete opposite of “radical transparency” and “good science”. We are troubled by your recent announcement to appoint several members to the committee who have a documented history of anti-vaccine ideology and peddling misinformation. We urge you to restore legitimacy to this historically non-partisan, science-based, and data-driven committee and immediately reinstate the members of ACIP you have baselessly fired.
ACIP is a longstanding, trusted national source of science- and data-backed advice and guidance on the use of vaccines to prevent and control disease. Members that serve on this committee must undergo extensive vetting and disclose any conflicts of interest. Firing every member of the committee just before their next meeting scheduled for June 25-27 eliminates the advisory board’s ability to debate and make well-informed recommendations, putting American lives at risk. This reckless move is also happening as our nation faces the largest measles outbreak in over 30 years.
This decision appears to be a deliberate effort to repopulate the committee with anti-vaccine demagogues and continue pushing vaccine misinformation to the American people. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, over 80 percent of parents with children under age 18 report that their children receive routine immunizations; however, a divide based on political ideology is growing. The reality is that most Americans trust the science behind vaccines — but through inaccurate information and politicization, you are eroding the trust in vaccines.
This is just one action of many that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has recently taken to undermine vaccine confidence in the United States. Just over two weeks ago, HHS reversed the CDC recommendations on COVID-19 vaccination. This decision was made without the consultation of ACIP or CDC, narrowing recommendations to exclude healthy pregnant people despite pregnancy increasing the risk for severe infection. Just a day later, HHS announced the termination of a contract with Moderna to develop a bird flu vaccine despite warnings of a future pandemic from infectious disease doctors and public health professionals. These deliberate efforts to sow doubt in the safety and efficacy of vaccines have real consequences — people will die.
In addition to advising everyday Americans on their health decisions, ACIP recommendations also influence whether insurance will cover certain vaccines, making them accessible to insured Americans. Furthermore, ACIP determines the vaccine recommendations for the Vaccines for
Children program, which ensures underinsured and uninsured children across the nation can access vaccines at no cost. Without these recommendations, vaccines will become out of reach for far too many Americans. These actions contradict your written responses to questions for the record from the Senate Finance Committee, in which you said “yes” in response to a question about your commitment to ensure there are no financial barriers to accessing safe and effective vaccines.
Vaccines are safe and effective and have significantly reduced, and in some cases entirely eliminated, disease. With recent scientific advances in mRNA technology, vaccines are becoming easier and faster to produce in addressing today’s public health crises. It is critical that ACIP maintains its ability to develop science- and data-driven recommendations on vaccination without interference from anti-vaccine ideology.
Patient safety and transparency is at the heart of ACIP — Americans deserve the ability to make informed decisions about their health. You are stripping Americans of the freedom to choose by your recent appointments to the committee by centering anti-vaccine ideology. Therefore, we demand that you recuse your personal views on vaccines and restore the ACIP. We urge you to immediately reappoint the members of the committee that you fired and remove those that you have recently appointed that have a documented history of peddling misinformation or undermining vaccine confidence.
Source: United States Small Business Administration
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced today the opening of a Disaster Loan Outreach Center (DLOC) in Hot Spring County to assist small businesses, private nonprofit (PNP) organizations and residents affected by severe storms and tornadoes occurring March 14-15 and also for those impacted by severe storms, tornadoes and flooding occurring April 2-22.
Beginning Monday, June 16, SBA customer service representatives will be on hand at the DLOC in Malvern to answer questions and assist with the disaster loan application process. No appointment is necessary, walk-ins are welcome. Those who prefer to schedule an in‑person appointment in advance can do so at appointment.sba.gov.
The center’s hours of operation are as follows:
HOT SPRING COUNTY Disaster Loan Outreach Center Former USDA Service Center 220 Olive St. Malvern, AR 72104
“When disasters strike, SBA’s Disaster Loan Outreach Centers perform an important role by assisting small businesses and their communities,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the U.S. Small Business Administration. “At these centers, our SBA specialists help business owners and residents apply for disaster loans and learn about the full range of programs available to support their recovery.”
Businesses and nonprofits are eligible to apply for business physical disaster loans and may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets.
Homeowners and renters are eligible to apply for home and personal property loans and may borrow up to $100,000 to replace or repair personal property, such as clothing, furniture, cars, and appliances. Homeowners may apply for up to $500,000 to replace or repair their primary residence.
Applicants may be eligible for a loan increase of up to 20% of their physical damages, as verified by the SBA, for mitigation purposes. Eligible mitigation improvements include insulating pipes, walls and attics, weather stripping doors and windows, and installing storm windows to help protect property and occupants from future disasters.
The SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries, and private nonprofit organizations impacted by financial losses directly related to these disasters. The SBA is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for small aquaculture enterprises.
EIDLs are available for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the business or PNP did not suffer any physical damage. The loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills not paid due to the disaster.
Interest rates are as low as 4% for small businesses, 3.62% for nonprofits, and 2.75% for homeowners and renters with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not begin to accrue, and payments are not due until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA determines eligibility and sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.
To apply online, visit sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.
The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage due to the March storms is July14,2025. The deadline to return economic injury applications is Feb. 9, 2026.
The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage due to the April storms is July22,2025. The deadline to return economic injury applications is Feb.23,2026.
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About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) joined Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Senate Democratic colleagues in urging U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to resume processing applications for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, following a Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that limited a nationwide injunction to only Texas.
“[Dreamers] are American in every way but their immigration status,” wrote the Senators. “Many only know this country as their home, and they contribute every day to this great nation by paying taxes and serving in critical roles, such as police officers, teachers, and nurses. Americans overwhelmingly support providing Dreamers a path to citizenship, and in December 2024, President Trump stated that he supported protections for Dreamers to remain in the United States.”
“Consistent with this statement, we implore you to use your authority at United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to resume processing initial applications for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and provide such protections for Dreamers immediately,” they continued. “Pursuant to the order, in Texas, DACA must resume as a limited program providing protection from deportation for current DACA recipients, but without access to work authorization or driver’s licenses as part of those renewals. This order went into effect on March 11, giving USCIS the authority to start processing initial DACA applications from states other than Texas. However, nearly three months later, USCIS has not made any public announcement on whether new DACA applications will be processed; nor has the agency begun processing initial applications that have been pending with the agency for years. We urge you to begin processing these DACA applications immediately, consistent with the Fifth Circuit decision and existing regulations, and to ensure Dreamers eligible to file initial DACA applications can do so as soon as possible.”
Senator Rosen has been outspoken in her strong support for immigrant communities, including DACA recipients and their families. This week, she took to the Senate floor to mark the thirteenth anniversary of the DACA program and deliver a forceful defense of Nevada’s Dreamers in light of the Trump Administration’s attacks on immigrant communities across the country. In a committee hearing last year, Senator Rosen raised concerns over the significant application delays impacting DACA recipients.
Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich
Passed by Congress, the Digital Equity Act Provides Funding to Help Connect Americans in Tribal, Rural, and Urban Communities to the Internet;
Trump Administration is Blocking Over $8 Million in Funding Appropriated by Congress to Expand Broadband Access and Digital Resources in New Mexico
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. SenatorsMartin Heinrich (D-N.M.),Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the Senate Telecommunications and Media Subcommittee, and U.S. Representatives Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.), Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.), and Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.) demanded U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and National Telecommunications and Information Administration Acting Administrator Adam Cassady immediately reverse the decision to abruptly terminate the Digital Equity Act grant programs that help New Mexicans access the internet. In the letter, the lawmakers highlight how Digital Equity Act grant programs help provide reliable broadband access and digital resources across New Mexico and call on the Trump administration to restore funding appropriated by Congress for this vital program.
“We write to express our opposition to your attempts to abruptly terminate the Digital Equity Act grant programs and urge you to immediately restore these funds awarded for digital inclusion efforts in New Mexico. The cessation of these funds will have an outsized impact on New Mexico where the digital divide is vast and remains a defining barrier to opportunity,” wrote the lawmakers.
The lawmakers highlighted the importance of Digital Equity Act grant programs to connect New Mexicans to reliable broadband access, “With the administration’s attempt to terminate these programs, New Mexico expects to lose the majority of the over $8 million it had been awarded to support efforts to address the significant challenges to providing reliable broadband access and digital resources across our state. This funding is essential to serving 1,939,000 people in New Mexico who continue to face significant challenges in securing and maintaining internet connectivity.”
“Ending these grants is like abandoning a bridge when it is only halfway built – it leaves communities stranded and in the digital dark, with opportunity just out of reach. We urge the Department of Commerce to reverse this decision immediately and restore funding appropriated by Congress for this vital program,” the lawmakers concluded.
Read the full letterhereor below:
Dear Secretary Lutnick and Acting Administrator Cassady:
We write to express our opposition to your attempts to abruptly terminate the Digital Equity Act grant programs and urge you to immediately restore these funds awarded for digital inclusion efforts in New Mexico. The cessation of these funds will have an outsized impact on New Mexico where the digital divide is vast and remains a defining barrier to opportunity.
Passed by Congress and signed into law under the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, the grants provide a one-time infusion of $2.75 billion to close the digital divide in Tribal, rural and urban communities, support telemedicine, cybersecurity, and AI education programs, strengthen connections between loved ones, and allow people to acquire the digital skills and necessary technology to participate in the digital economy regardless of their ZIP Code. The programs created by these grants would fund tested and proven strategies like digital navigator programs that provide tailored digital skills training that meet the unique needs of seniors, veterans, low-income families, Tribal and rural communities, people with disabilities, and other historically underserved groups.
With the administration’s attempt to terminate these programs, New Mexico expects to lose the majority of the over $8 million it had been awarded to support efforts to address the significant challenges to providing reliable broadband access and digital resources across our state. This funding is essential to serving 1,939,000 people in New Mexico who continue to face significant challenges in securing and maintaining internet connectivity. This funding, that has been needlessly stalled, would have expanded workforce development, improved online safety, cybersecurity and privacy training, and several other training programs.
Permanently terminating these funds will exacerbate the difficulties for individuals and families to use the internet to improve their lives and fully participate in an increasingly digital world. Ending these grants is like abandoning a bridge when it is only halfway built – it leaves communities stranded and in the digital dark, with opportunity just out of reach. We urge the Department of Commerce to reverse this decision immediately and restore funding appropriated by Congress for this vital program.
We appreciate your attention to this urgent matter.
Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley
Q: Why did you convene a Judiciary Committee hearing about 23andMe?
A: More than 15 million Americans are customers of 23andMe, a genetic testing company whose services include analyzing one’s DNA to provide ancestry information and insights on inherited genes that may reveal predispositions for certain health conditions, including some cancers, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Customers submit a saliva sample to begin the direct-to-consumer genetic testing service. Earlier this year, 23andMe filed for bankruptcy, opening a can of worms exposing consumer privacy and national security implications. Because 23andMe is not a health care company, federal health privacy laws don’t apply to customers’ sensitive genetic data. Even though the company suggests that its privacy policy protects consumers’ data, 23andMe and its successor company can unilaterally change that privacy policy at any time. So, the potential sale of the company raises serious concerns about genetic privacy and what happens to that information, including the genomic profile and saliva specimen of each customer. Since its founding in 2006, the company that was once valued at $6 billion has suffered financial hardship, due in part to a massive data breach impacting millions of customers.
As chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which has jurisdiction over bankruptcy and certain privacy laws, I called a hearing to gather testimony from the head of the company, as well as bioethics, bankruptcy and national security experts. Consumers deserve to know how their genomic data is going to be used, and Americans deserve protection from foreign threats. As the company seeks court approval to sell its assets in the bankruptcy process, 23andMe, its creditors and shareholders want the highest price for the sale of the company. Make no mistake, potential buyers are after the genetic data of 15 million customers. The fewer restrictions there are on the company’s assets, the more they’re worth. Just consider if this sensitive information should get into the hands of a foreign adversary or potentially be used against an individual as blackmail or when applying for life insurance, health insurance or employment. Before the genetic information of Americans is sold, they ought to be able to decide whether, when and how their data is used. What’s more, the data privacy issues reach far beyond the 15 million Americans who submitted their saliva for genetic analysis. The genomic data would span across family tree lines, meaning the trove of data being mined would involve an exponentially larger pool of people. That’s why it’s imperative this sensitive information doesn’t get into the hands of bad actors.
Q: What’s your takeaway from the witness testimony?
A: During my questioning, I focused on the vulnerabilities to national security, particularly stemming from China. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is pursuing aggressive development of AI, biotech and computing to conduct mass surveillance, boost its military capabilities and dominate the bioeconomy. We heard about the CCP’s use of genetic tests to track, target and oppress Uyghur Muslims and how 23andMe’s American customer base would provide a genetic diversity trove of data that could be an attractive target for the CCP. They should never be allowed to get their hands on it. Considering strong evidence showing COVID-19 was created in a Chinese lab, as well as Chinese nationals smuggling dangerous biological pathogens into the United States just this past month, the weaponization of biologics and military application of genomic data are no longer far-fetched fantasies of science fiction. American genetic data must be protected.
Currently, no federal privacy or bankruptcy laws protect genomic data. I’m cosponsoring the bipartisan Don’t Sell My DNA Act to protect sensitive genetic data during corporate bankruptcy proceedings. Notably, it would require affirmative consumer consent prior to the use, sale or lease of genetic information. Policymakers must take steps to safeguard consumer privacy and prevent foreign adversaries and bad actors from obtaining sensitive genetic information. As an outspoken watchdog in the U.S. Senate to hold China accountable for its intellectual property and espionage policies, I’ve long worked to screen its foreign investments, combat the CCP’s influence at U.S. colleges and protect U.S. farmland. I’ll continue working to advance policies that safeguard the sensitive genetic data of Americans.
Washington, D.C. (June 13, 2025) — In response to the Department of the Interior’sannouncementyesterday of the publication of a Request for Information and Interest to explore the potential for seabed mineral leasing offshore American Samoa, Arlo Hemphill, Greenpeace USA’s Deep Sea Mining Campaign Lead, said: “Greenpeace USA is deeply disappointed that the Department of Interior is considering seabed mineral leasing near American Samoa — a U.S.territory that has placed a moratorium on the industry in its waters. This move disregards the sovereignty and voices of Pacific communities and opens the door to an industry that threatens their environment, culture, and livelihoods.
“The Pacific is not a sacrifice zone. Its people should not be forced to host a destructive industry they’ve clearly rejected. We urge the American public to stand in solidarity with those communities and send a resounding message during the public comment period: the deep sea is not for sale.”
This announcement follows President Trump’s executive order advancing deep sea mining in both U.S. and international waters — a move widely condemned by environmental organizations, Pacific Indigenous leaders, and other nations, including France, China, and the European Commission. Deep sea mining company, Impossible Metals, submitted a request to commence a leasing process for the exploration and potential mining of critical minerals in the deep sea off the coast of American Samoa in April.
Deep sea mining poses irreversible threats to biodiversity, imperils fragile ecosystems, and could have unforeseen impacts on the ocean’s carbon cycle, potentially impacting the climate crisis.
Despite U.S. backpedaling, momentum for ocean protection continues to grow. As of the 2025 UN Ocean Conference, which concluded today in Nice, 37 countries have now publicly supported a moratorium on deep sea mining. There has also been significant progress toward ratifying the Global Ocean Treaty, a key agreement towards the goal of protecting at least 30% of the world’s oceans by 2030 — a critical threshold scientists say is needed to restore marine health and safeguard biodiversity.
To meet this target, protection must extend across both national and international waters. Countries must not only ratify the Global Ocean Treaty, but also take bold domestic action to ban unsustainable extractive industries, such as deep sea mining, and ensure that local and Indigenous communities are at the center of marine conservation planning and decision-making processes.
Contact: Tanya Brooks, Senior Communications Specialist at Greenpeace USA, [email protected]
Greenpeace USA is part of a global network of independent campaigning organizations that use peaceful protest and creative communication to expose global environmental problems and promote solutions that are essential to a green and peaceful future. Greenpeace USA is committed to transforming the country’s unjust social, environmental, and economic systems from the ground up to address the climate crisis, advance racial justice, and build an economy that puts people first. Learn more at www.greenpeace.org/usa.
Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed
PROVIDENCE, RI – Today, U.S. Senator Jack Reed, a West Point graduate and former U.S. Army paratrooper who served in the 82nd Airborne, issued the following statement:
“The U.S. Army and our military personnel are worthy of celebration and recognition each and every day. They have our unwavering gratitude and support.
“As a proud Army veteran, I, like all Americans, understand that the strength of our military is its people – generations of brave men and women who defend our nation and stand a post for freedom. They are not props. They serve the American people and deserve principled policy, leadership, and action that demonstrates our support for them and matches their enduring sacrifice.
“While this parade is a reminder that a president gets to give the military its marching orders, it’s really a demonstration of how this president prioritizes his own image above the needs of the American people, particularly those in uniform, whom he has frequently ridiculed.
“Given the chaotic state of affairs – with Marines deployed in Los Angeles, President Trump threatening to “have troops everywhere” within the United States, and unfolding attacks in the Middle East — locking down the nation’s capital to parade tanks and military hardware through the streets is not an appropriate way to honor servicemembers. That sounds like something an isolated, insecure despot would do for his own aggrandizement.
“Our military has important missions to accomplish. The tens of millions of dollars expended for this event could be better allocated to improve the lives and readiness of our servicemembers and their families.
“I think we should be celebrating the Army’s 250th anniversary, but doing it in the dignified way that the Army itself had originally planned, which was an appropriate, right-sized, static celebration on the Mall and a fitting salute to the generations of brave Americans who have served and continue to serve our nation with great courage and distinction.”