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HILL LETTERS | 31 Jan. 2025

Letters from Capitol Hill that Members of Congress have written and signed on to lately.


Letters that Members of Congress have written and signed on to lately.

President Trump hates the usual order.  And he’s thin on patience to boot. 


Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, one of President Trump’s most controversial Cabinet noms, is having a hell of a week, dealing with a Military Black Hawk and civilian aircraft collision on Wednesday evening.


The President was quick to point blame at hiring policies and failings of diversity equity and inclusion initiatives to explain the egregious accident, emphasizing the need for air traffic controllers to be very intelligent and highlighting former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg’s “bullshit” in his afternoon remarks regarding the tragedy that took nearly 70 lives.


Regardless of who is to blame, and how the government loves a good scapegoat, Ronald Regan National Airport (DCA), where the accident occurred, is not only home to the busiest runway in the country, it is the only airport used by any respectable resident of D.C. or Member of Congress.  


A trek to Dulles can take over two hours, and suggesting a flight out of Baltimore will get you laughed out of the room.


Still extinguishing the tragedy of the helicopter dumpster fire, Donald had a busy week himself testing the limits of his unilateral executive power by unleashing a flurry of direct rulings and declarations, like issuing a papered up national emergency to justify a pause on federal aid, including some foreign funding and grants.

 

Courts, constituents, and Congressmen alike erupted in chaos following the vague funding freeze announcement, but the Republican supermajority was also in authenticated action this week, with the President signing the House and Senate passed Laken Riley Act, permitting expanded means of deportation for those committing crimes while in the U.S. illegally.


Passing in standard form, President Trump signed his first Republican-led bill into law under his second term this week. 


Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) did his part for the Dems dressed in his signature sweat set, standing in for the signing of the bill named after a 22-year-old nursing student slain by a repeat deportee from Venezuela.


In spite of the sweatpant-ed display of unity, pushback from the Presidential orders may have legal grounds in an old act from the 70s requiring congressional approval to freeze authorized and appropriated funds.


Collectively, the chambers are continuing protests of its relevance in funding matters. 


Tariffs, tariffs everywhere, and not much time to think for how rapid-fire these economic threats are coming from President Trump.

 

What’s more, the President seems to have a structured settlement in his head, and he needs tariffs now, promising something for everyone in economic sticks to push carrots for the U.S. 


Concessions are being made by countries the world over to avoid the wrath of these tariff threats.  The Feb. 1 deadline for Mexico and Canada to enact changes at their borders and do more to curb fentanyl traffic or face a 25 percent increase still stands. 


However, Mexican President Sheinbaum and Canada’s soon-to-be-ex Prime Minister Justin Trudeau say it’s not going to happen, and, by Trump’s latest tranche of executive orders, China’s deadline may be extended at least to April 1 as agencies evaluate economic options.

 

Sheinbaum did some letter writing herself this week to Google contesting the renaming of the Gulf on Maps. See below.


In the mix are talks on oil imports, with a big eye on tanking the price of oil to raise the incentive for Russian President Putin to end the war in Ukraine, as well as force OPEC’s cartel to lower the cost per barrel.

 

Trump may be working to expand oil production in the U.S., but Canada continues to lead as the primary source of America’s imported crude, not to mention a significant bulk of daily consumer use.  


The evolution of the slew of tariffs has gone from 60 to 10 percent for China, and 25 percent seems to be holding strong as the threat rate for Mexico and Canada, but there are talks of an exemption for oil imports, as producers in the U.S. caution an inability to fill shortfalls on short notice should the imports cease. 


The purpose of the tariffs is to restore America to a promised greatness from Trump.  Like his executive orders, however, the hardline plan on that is less than bright, and the realities of a manufacturing society returned to the U.S. is not one that particularly matches with the current labor pool of the U.S.


While Trump may have goals for Americans to eventually spend less of their dollars on oil and gas by these tariff methods, the threats continue, this time directed toward BRICS nations on a warpath to dedollarize the international community.

 

Those with weak currencies should not throw BRICS.


As Trump and the White House work out the finer points of a tariff policy plan, like whether to weaponize the tariffs by expecting reciprocal exchange for favorable rates per country or to enact something per se, the House continues working on its strategy and policy or reconciliation.

 

Republicans met at their Member retreat this week, where Reps. received insight on reconciliation, with many reportedly walking away overwhelmed by the highly technical process to limit debate and lower a vote passage threshold.  

 

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said he is still aiming for mark up of budget language to accommodate the policy wishes with the pay for requirements in “one, big beautiful bill,”  as Trump has branded his bullish efforts to enact his campaign promised plan for a fortified America, including a tax package extension in with the kitchen sink of ambition.


The hands of the clock for TikTok are counting quieter as its new 75-day deadline creeps closer, but quakes from the DeepSeek announcements this week continue to produce aftershocks.  


Celebrating its achievement of reportedly reducing required precious semiconductor materials and running on less energy, U.S. companies have been quick to claim ownership over these advancements, citing shadow purchases of chips from the U.S. via Singapore, among other alleged rip offs.

 

Even if China is competing in a way that some may consider cheating, staying out of the mud has only allowed China and its friends to encircle the U.S. with strategic investment and purchase of critical infrastructure and shipping channels, continuing its encroachment with eyes on the arctic.

 

This certainly puts the heat on a frozen Greenland, where the U.S. believes an increased presence of China would spell critical danger for the U.S., its access to crucial waterways,  and its ability to defend itself against encroachment from Russia and a growing global nuclear arsenal getting closer to reaching with each rocket advancement.

 

Proliferating the China problem, Pentagon employees reportedly used  DeepSeek for days before it was banned by top brass, potentially bleeding sensitive data to its databases and AI systems.


DeepSeek shock aside, there is talk of a new buyer for the torrid ticking app with a tolling deadline of its 75-day extension ticking away.  Proffering a reported $20 billion, the all American consortium is in competition with another group anchored by Wonderful Canadian Kevin O’Leary targeting a $25 billion purchase price.


Capitalizing on his own slice of chaos to seize power for his country, President Trump continues to toss chips to see where they may land. 


Amidst this uncertainty, gold reached a record breaking high today, inching ever closer toward $2,800 per ounce as citizens and sovereigns alike rush to hold on to what they can touch and feel. 


Speaking of a golden America, former New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez, whose son is serving as a sophomore Member of the House, was sentenced to 11 years behind bars for accepting gold of the same variety.

 

Despite his discrepancies, Menendez earned a decorated tenure on the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, where, turns out, he was leveraging more than policy in negotiations.  Menendez said he is appealing his sentence to the President.


Serving a penance of their own, Meta today announced it would pay some $25 million to Trump for suspension of his account on Facebook following the January 6 storming of the Capitol. $22 million is said to be going to the President’s prospective library.



On to Cabinet Land


Barely clearing the Senate frying pan floor vote 51-50, including a tiebreak cast by Vice President Vance, and thrust into the fire that ensued in the ice-cold Potomac last night, several of Trump’s other nominations are having hell weeks of their own. Hegseth’s vote was thought to be the most controversial of the cabinets, but Vance may have to have another dance in the Senate this week.


Mega tan man and dorm room hawk enthusiast Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is up for Secretary of Health, and the thought of him in the cabinet is making some Members of Congress sick.

 

We don’t have time to get into stories about RFK Jr. collecting the head of a beached whale one day with his family, or the letter to Congress from his cousin Caroline urging Members not to appoint the man she calls a narcissist and dangerous, but boy would we love to ask a few more questions.  Who knew hawks eat blended up chicks?  


Dems are distraught on OMB nom Vought – protesting his committee panel confirmation yesterday by abstaining from a vote. Their absence made his official vote an 11-0 pass.


Members had questions of their own for fellow cabinet nominee Tulsi Gabbard, including huge interest on her previous religious pyramid scheme, as well as her sit down with the Syrian government when she was a Member of Congress, and whether these realities would serve her in her appointed role to Director of Intelligence.


Gabbard also dodged questions on Edward Snowden, focused specifically on preventing national security leaks in the future, rather than how she did or did not support the defected defense contractor.

 

FBI Director nom Kash Patel is facing scrutiny from Republicans for his support of Democrats condemnations of the January 6 demonstrators.


While the Dems may be divided from Republicans on the criminality of insurrectionists, they are signaling increased support for working with the President, including on passage of judicial nominations – another job of the Senate – as well as in reaching an agreement on a number of policy items.  


With 13 Districts represented by Democrats that went to Trump for President, the minority party knows where their bread is buttered at the polls by constituents, already jockeying for a change with the midterms in 2026.


Trump’s pick for Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick strongly echoed the President’s position on action over unbridled immigration and free flowing fentanyl or face the wrath of tariffs and making good on efforts to reduce the price of oil so production comes at a loss.


Another one for Trump’s cabinet shelf with Senate passage of Doug Burgum to become Interior Secretary 79-18 this evening.  Burgum previously served as governor of North Dakota, taking the helm of 600 million acres of federal land with a plan to fortify America’s power baseload.


To realize his baseload plan, Burgum will work alongside newly minted EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, who will play a key role in the administration’s efforts to boost energy production.


The House and Senate are out today. 



Next Week


Work on a budget blueprint for Republicans’ reconciliation plan could start as soon as next week — a goal leaders outlined during their House GOP retreat earlier this week.


The Senate resumes nominations work on and off the floor after wrapping up work for the week last night.


Senators plan to vote Monday at 5:30 p.m. to confirm Christopher Wright to be secretary of the Energy Department and take procedural votes to advance Russell Vought’s nomination to lead the Office of Management and Budget and Pam Bondi to be attorney general. 


The chamber also is set to confirm Doug Collins to lead the Veterans Affairs Department after yesterday’s 83-13 vote to limit debate, and take a procedural vote Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) teed up on HUD nominee Eric Scott Turner, but the timing hasn’t been announced. 


Commerce Department pick Howard Lutnick is set for a vote in the Commerce Committee and SBA pick Kelly Loeffler is up for a vote in the Small Business Committee on Wednesday. Jamieson Greer’s nomination to be US trade representative gets a Finance Committee hearing Thursday.


Legislation to classify fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I drugs under the Controlled Substances Act on a permanent basis (H.R. 27) is listed for a House floor vote. 


Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), who backs a Senate scheduling bill, said his panel will hold a hearing on fentanyl on Tuesday in a release. 


Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) and Citizens Against Government Waste President Thomas Schatz will testify at a House Oversight hearing titled “Rightsizing Government” on Wednesday.

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Jan. 30 | Gulfs Make for Good Neighbors

 

Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum sent a letter to Google contesting the tech giant’s decision to comply with US President Donald Trump’s order to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America.

 

President Sheinbaum showed the letter to reporters Thursday saying, “In the case of Mexico, where are we completely sovereign? In the area established as 12 nautical miles from the coastline, and this applies to all countries worldwide.”

 

“If a country wants to change the designation of something in the sea, it would only apply up to 12 nautical miles. It cannot apply to the rest, in this case, the Gulf of Mexico. This is what we explained in detail to Google.”

 

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Jan. 30 | Jasmine for Reproductive Justice

 

Rep. Jasmine Crockett, Vice Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Rep. Gerald E. Connolly, Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Rep. Summer Lee, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Federal Law Enforcement, and Rep. Ayanna Pressley sent a letter to Commissioner Jennifer Shuford of the Texas Department of State Health Services, expressing their continued concern regarding the Texas Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee’s (MMMRC) decision to forgo reviewing pregnancy-related deaths in the years following the state’s strict abortion ban.

 

On December 19, 2024, then-Ranking Member Raskin, Rep. Jasmine Crockett, Rep. Summer Lee, and Rep. Ayanna Pressley sent a letter to MMMRC, requesting a staff-level briefing by January 2, 2025.

 

“In December, we requested a staff level briefing to better understand MMMRC’s decision to break with past precedent and not review all maternal deaths.  Texas Department of State Health Services’ failure to provide a staff briefing or acknowledge receipt of our letter is unacceptable,” wrote the Members. “As women continue to die from preventable pregnancy-related conditions in Texas and across the entire country, the decision not to reply or engage with Committee Members and staff raises further concerns about the information the Department might be suppressing.”

 

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Jan. 30 | 33+ Congressmen for 39 million+ Children

 

U.S. Representative John Garamendi (D-CA-08), along with 33 of his colleagues, sent a letter to Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Office of Head Start (OHS) demanding that they immediately address delayed Head Start funds and ensure that Head Start programs expeditiously receive the funds they are owed. This delay in available funds comes as Donald Trump and Republicans continue to push an illegal scheme to choke the federal government of all funding, the country’s largest federal early education program, Head Start. Head Start centers across the country have yet to receive crucial funding to meet their end-of-the-month expenses, including rent, utilities, payroll, and insurance. Without receiving these payments, some programs could have to furlough employees and shut their doors as early as tomorrow, January 31. The Trump Administration’s unconstitutional threat of a federal funding pause has caused chaos, confusion, and fear for our Head Start centers, and the ongoing fallout could deprive thousands of low-income children and their families of much-needed childcare.  

 

“Within the chaotic confusion of Donald Trump’s unconstitutional freeze on all federal funding, Head Start centers in our district and across the country are still in desperate need of the funds they’re owed,” said Rep. Garamendi. “Head Start programs operate on incredibly tight budgets, and they depend on timely and reliable disbursement of federal funds to pay their operating expenses. Centers across the country are in desperate need of these funds as they face imminent deadlines to pay their employees as well as their rent, utilities, and insurance bills. Without the immediate disbursement of these funds, some centers will have to temporarily close, leaving low-income children and families to suffer. The Administration must provide payments and guidance quickly so that these centers can remain open and allow our children to continue to learn and thrive.”  

 

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Jan. 30 | SFC to RFK

 

Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and all 12 Democratic members of the committee today sent a letter to Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pressing him to answer nearly a dozen questions regarding his views on Medicare drug price negotiation and confirm he will not pause negotiations, as CEOs representing the largest pharmaceutical companies have requested.

 

“As a result of the Inflation Reduction Act, which passed without a single Republican vote, Medicare drug price negotiation is a powerful tool available right now to President Trump to make good on his long-standing promise to stand up to Big Pharma,” the senators wrote. “On behalf of the tens of millions of Americans who count on Medicare, Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee want to know whether the Trump Administration will follow through on negotiating with Big Pharma to deliver the lower costs promised to the American people.”

 

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Jan. 30 | Thanks and Breakfast

 

U.S. Representatives Jared Huffman (CA-02), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), and Sean Casten (IL-06) sent a letter to Speaker Johnson to express concerns about funding for the National Prayer Breakfast from anti-LGBTQ+ extremists at the Fellowship Foundation and about the broader constitutional problem with institutionalizing a religious ceremony in the secular Capitol.

 

“As members of the Congressional Freethought Caucus, we are steadfast in our commitment to the constitutional principles of religious freedom and church-state separation. We strive for the inclusive representation of all Americans, regardless of one’s faith perspective,” the members wrote.

 

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Jan. 30 | Hungary for Action on Iran


U.S. Representative Joe Wilson has sharply criticized Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán for his increasing closeness to Iran, Russia, and China, urging President Donald Trump to bring Orbán closer to the U.S.


In a letter to Trump, Wilson, a prominent supporter of the Iranian opposition group MEK and known for his anti-Iran stance, called for the U.S. to distance Orbán from what he described as the “enemies of America.”


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Jan. 29 | Roiled Roy Writes to Rubio

 

Congressman Chip Roy (TX-21) sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem urging them to reconsider Chile’s Visa Waiver Program (VWP) status as Chilean gangs burglarize American homes across the country, having entered lawfully through the VWP.

 

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Jan. 29 | Transparency from Trump Says Shontel

 

Congresswoman Shontel Brown (OH-11) has joined more than 150 House Democrats in demanding transparency from the Trump Administration after President Trump’s first executive order threatened to halt critical federal investments. The order, issued on his first day in office, could immediately freeze disbursements of Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding—jeopardizing vital projects that improve communities and drive economic growth.

 

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Jan. 29 | Democrats Make Demands for Kash

 

U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA), along with every  Democratic member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today sent a letter to Acting Attorney General James McHenry requesting urgent access to materials that have not yet been shared with the Committee and bear directly on the suitability of Kash Patel, President Donald Trump’s pick to be Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), to lead the nation’s premier law enforcement agency. Specifically, the Committee requested any and all sections of Volume Two of the “Final Report of the Special Counsel’s Investigations and Prosecutions,” submitted on January 7, 2025, by Special Counsel Jack Smith to the Attorney General, that refer or pertain to Mr. Patel’s testimony or actions.

 

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Jan. 29 | Tony on Transportation

 

Rep. Tony Wied (R-WI) sent a letter today to newly confirmed Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy congratulating him on his appointment.

 

“I would like to be one of the first to congratulate you on your confirmation as Secretary of Transportation!” said Wied. “As a member of the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure, I look forward to working with you and the Department of Transportation in the coming months to address the most pressing issues facing our nation’s transportation and infrastructure systems."

 

Rep. Wied went on to address an issue that has been negatively impacting the logging industry and rural communities in Wisconsin's 8th Congressional District and across the country.

 

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Jan. 29 | Reps. Write Rubio Requesting Restoration of Refugee Resettlements

 

Rep. Jamie Raskin, Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, Rep. Pramila Jayapal, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement, along with Sen. Dick Durbin, Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Sen. Alex Padilla, Ranking Member for the Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, and Border Safety, urged U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to immediately restore vital services for refugees already in the United States. The letter comes after the State Department abruptly halted services for refugees last week.

 

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Jan. 29 | Pro-Life Letter

 

Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson signed a letter encouraging President Trump to reinstate and broaden the life-affirming pro-life policies in the early days of his new administration. This bicameral letter, led by U.S. Representatives Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Robert Aderholt (R-AL) and U.S. Senators Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) and James Lankford (R-OK), has support from 36 Senators and 108 Representatives.

 

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Jan. 29 | A Letter to Labor

 

Education and Workforce Committee Chairman Tim Walberg (R-MI) sent a letter to Department of Labor (DOL) Acting Secretary Vince Micone urging DOL to return to in-person work.

 

In the letter, Chairman Walberg writes: “The Committee on Education and Workforce (Committee) applauds President Trump’s January 20, 2025, memorandum on returning federal employees to in-person work. This important memorandum sets the stage for the Department of Labor (DOL) to fulfill a request that Committee Republicans have been making consistently for more than three years. On behalf of the Committee, I request you take immediate action to implement the President’s memorandum.”

 

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Jan. 29 | Rout on Vought

 

Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), the committee’s top Democrat, asked OMB’s acting director for more information about Vought’s role at the committee prior to his confirmation, seeking details by 11 a.m. today, one hour before the scheduled vote.

 

Merkley cited a comment by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt that she spoke to “the incoming director of OMB,” who said agencies seeking an exemption from the funding pause could contact “his office.” Merkley sent a letter to acting director Matthew Vaeth asking if Vought, prior to being confirmed, has an official role at OMB or an office in its building, among other questions.

 

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Jan. 29 | Shoring Up Guam


Congressman James Moylan is requesting President Trump include Guam's shores in the executive order where he declared a state of emergency at the southern border.


In a letter to the new Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, Moylan asked for her assistance in addressing the border deficiencies in Guam and other U.S. Pacific island territories.


“With strong ties to many prominent mafias in every continent, the most notable example being the triad from the PRC, this connection and trade are used to produce highly addictive and deadly drugs like fentanyl and methamphetamine. Unfortunately, a leg in this trafficking route is Guam. While the southern border has been the priority of the Trump administration, and rightfully so, I urge you to also recognize the threat hidden in the Pacific by providing more DHS personnel, resources, and equipment for Guam,” said Moylan.


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Jan. 29 | ICE in JAN

 

Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA) sent a letter to Acting Homeland Security Secretary Benjamine Huffman and Acting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director Caleb Vitello demanding answers about recent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations conducted in Ventura County, California. These operations, which took place in Oxnard and Santa Paula, have sparked widespread fear and raised serious concerns about the agency’s tactics and respect for due process.

 

“While my office is still awaiting further details regarding ICE’s recent enforcement activity in Ventura County, I am deeply concerned about the widespread fear and uncertainty these actions have caused across our community,” said Congresswoman Brownley. “This has left many of our families feeling vulnerable and at risk, especially amid the harmful rhetoric surrounding immigration enforcement.”

 

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Jan. 29 | Moolenaar Wants More Control on Critical Chip Exports


Chairman John Moolenaar (R-MI) and Ranking Member Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party urged National Security Advisor, Mike Waltz, to review the potential national security benefits of placing export controls on semiconductor chips critical to the AI infrastructure of People's Republic of China (PRC) company, DeepSeek. As part of the review, the lawmakers also asked to strengthen controls on shipments through third countries that pose a high risk of diversion to the PRC.


This comes following President Trump's memorandum to key agencies calling for, “the Secretary of State and Commerce to review the U.S. export control system in light of developments involving strategic adversaries.”


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Jan. 29 | Democrats to Duffy 


The 31 Democrats on the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee are urging Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to clear up confusion surrounding executive orders from the White House that halt infrastructure investments and air traffic controller hiring.


In a letter sent to the newly minted secretary, the entire T&I Democrat contingent noted that executive orders, along with the Office of Management and Budget’s pause on federal financial assistance, “are sowing chaos in an industry that counts on long-term certainty and will raise project costs.”


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Jan. 29 | Roy Writes on Waivers


Congressman Chip Roy (TX-21) sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem urging them to reconsider Chile’s Visa Waiver Program (VWP) status as Chilean gangs burglarize American homes across the country, having entered lawfully through the VWP.


Rep. Roy writes: “Chile refuses to provide U.S. authorities the required background information on its nationals seeking VWP entry into the U.S. despite entering into a PCSC agreement with the U.S. in 2013.”


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Jan. 28 | Huffman on ICE

 

Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee Jared Huffman, Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernández, Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Committee Bennie Thompson, Congressman Raúl Grijalva, Congressman Melanie Stansbury, Congressman Gabe Vasquez, Congresswoman Yassamin Ansari and Senators Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Lujan sent a letter to President Donald Trump demanding immediate action to address reports of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents harassing, detaining, and questioning Native American Tribal members about their citizenship. The Members condemned these actions as unconstitutional and a violation of Tribal sovereignty, calling for swift action to end racial profiling and protect Native communities.

 

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Jan. 28 | Clearing Up Canadian Border Confusion

 

Congressman Pete Stauber (MN-08) sent a letter to the Canadian Minister of Public Safety, David J. McGuinty, requesting that he clear up any confusion surrounding the future of the Remote Area Border Crossing (RABC) permit program.

 

Since Stauber last wrote a letter requesting information regarding the RABC program, the Trudeau administration has refused to be honest and transparent with the public. The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has released inconsistent and contradictory information which has only confused the public and worsened the situation. The many people who utilize these permits have been blindsided by the CBSA’s ineptitude and are now without answers.

 

Of this problem, Stauber said, “Due to the incompetence of the Trudeau administration, I have heard from a number of my constituents who are unable to utilize their RABC permits. To make matters worse, the CBSA refuses to answer their many questions. This comes at a great cost to these individuals as they are now unable to reach loved ones, maintain property across the border, and run their small businesses. I urge them to release detailed information regarding the future of this program and right this wrong.”

 

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Jan. 28 | Getting the Lead Out


Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14)  joined 153 House Democrats in sending a letter to the Trump Administration after President Trump issued an executive order on his first day in office that could pause all disbursements of Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding immediately.


Neither the vaguely worded executive order nor a follow-up memorandum from Trump's Office of Management and Budget Acting Director Matthew Vaeth and National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett clarify which projects, programs, and activities are frozen.


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Jan. 28 | Dems Demand Harassment Ends


Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee Jared Huffman, Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernández, Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Committee Bennie Thompson, Congressman Raúl Grijalva, Congressman Melanie Stansbury, Congressman Gabe Vasquez, Congresswoman Yassamin Ansari and Senators Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Lujan sent a letter to President Donald Trump demanding immediate action to address reports of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents harassing, detaining, and questioning Native American Tribal members about their citizenship. The Members condemned these actions as unconstitutional and a violation of Tribal sovereignty, calling for swift action to end racial profiling and protect Native communities.


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Jan. 28 | Durbin Demands Answers on Dozens of IG Dismissals


Leaders of the bipartisan Senate Judiciary Committee are raising alarms about President Donald Trump’s decision to fire more than a dozen inspectors general, sending a new letter asking for further details on their dismissal.


The joint request from Chair Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and ranking member Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) notes that the White House did not submit the required 30-day notice to Congress to dismiss inspectors general. The senators are requesting further information on the 18 watchdog dismissals, which occurred late on Friday, and the names of officials who will act in their places.


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Jan. 28 | Calling Out Her Cousin


In a letter to Senators, Ms. Kennedy, who previously served as a U.S. ambassador to Australia and Japan and is the daughter of former President John F. Kennedy, etched a damning sketch of her cousin, the latest condemnation Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has received from members of his own, prominent Democratic family.


Several denounced her cousin’s bid for the presidency last year. 


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Jan. 27 | Grijalva Grizzled by Funding Freeze


Representative Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) joined 153 of his House colleagues in sending a letter to the Trump Administration regarding its recent Executive Order immediately pausing disbursements of Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) funding. The Democrats’ letter demands that the Trump administration release a list of all programs, projects, and activities currently frozen under its Executive Order.


Funds from these laws underwrite thousands of infrastructure and development projects nationwide and employ countless Americans in quality jobs across every congressional district.


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Jan. 27 | Not Without My NIH


Three Maryland Democrats urged the Trump administration Monday to reverse a directive that has frozen some operations at the National Institutes of Health, saying they have “grave concerns” about the effect on the nearly $50 billion agency’s medical research and other operations.


“Without quick corrective action, the consequences of further disruption could be disastrous for both medical progress in America and our nation’s overall standing and competitiveness on the world stage,” Rep. Jamie Raskin, Sen. Chris Van Hollen and Sen. Angela Alsobrooks wrote in a letter sent to Dorothy Fink, the acting secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, and shared with The Washington Post.


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Jan. 27 | In Lieu of State Department Chaos


Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D-Los Angeles County) joined Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Gregory W. Meeks (D-NY) and fellow Committee Democrats in sending a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressing concerns over the Trump Administration’s recent actions that undermine the State Department’s mission, its workforce, and U.S. global leadership. The letter urges Secretary Rubio to reverse the removal of career foreign and civil service professionals from their posts, to follow the law on matters related to advancing, diversity, equity, and inclusion at the State Department, and to unfreeze critical foreign assistance programs.


Joining Representative Lieu and Ranking Member Meeks on the letter are Representatives Brad Sherman, Gerald Connolly, William Keating, Ami Bera, Joaquin Castro, Dina Titus, Sara Jacobs, Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, Greg Stanton, Jared Moskowitz, Jonathan Jackson, Sydney Kamlager-Dove, Jim Costa, Gabe Amo, Kweisi Mfume, Pramila Jayapal, George Latimer, Johnny Olszewski, Julie Johnson, and Sarah McBride.


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Jan. 27 | Minnesotans on U.S. Marshals


Representatives Tom Emmer, Michelle Fischbach, Pete Stauber, and Brad Finstad sent President Donald Trump their recommendations for the role of U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota and the role of U.S. Marshal for the District of Minnesota.


The three recommended individuals for U.S. Attorney are Ronald Schutz, Daniel Rosen, and Erica MacDonald. The two recommended individuals for U.S. Marshal are James Stuart and Robert Kroll.


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Jan. 27 | DeLauro Sounds the Alarm


House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro and Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chair Patty Murray today wrote to Acting Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Matthew J. Vaeth raising the alarm on President Trump's unlawful executive orders and the new memoranda issued by OMB on Monday directing agencies to withhold vast swaths of approved federal funding.


In the letter, DeLauro and Murray wrote, “As leaders of the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations, we write with extreme alarm about the Administration’s efforts to undermine Congress’s power of the purse, threaten our national security, and deny resources for states, localities, American families, and businesses.”


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Jan. 26 | Consumer Price Concerns from Congress


The two lawmakers from Massachusetts led the letter signed by 21 Democrats in Congress, including Rep. Seth Moulton. Warren said in a statement that despite campaigning on a promise to immediately lower the price of groceries, Trump has "largely ignored" the problem in his first week in office.


The letter says Trump "instead focused on mass deportations and pardoning January 6 attackers, including those who assaulted Capitol police officers."


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Jan. 26 | Joint Sessions and Congressional Addresses


House Speaker Mike Johnson on Saturday invited President Trump to address a joint session of Congress in March, marking his first chance to address both chambers since he returned to office.


"It is my distinct honor and great privilege to invite President Donald Trump to address a Joint Session of Congress on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, to share his America First vision for our future," Johnson wrote in a social media post announcing the invitation.


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Jan. 30 | Jasmine for Reproductive Justice

 

Rep. Jasmine Crockett, Vice Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Rep. Gerald E. Connolly, Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Rep. Summer Lee, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Federal Law Enforcement, and Rep. Ayanna Pressley sent a letter to Commissioner Jennifer Shuford of the Texas Department of State Health Services, expressing their continued concern regarding the Texas Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee’s (MMMRC) decision to forgo reviewing pregnancy-related deaths in the years following the state’s strict abortion ban.

 

On December 19, 2024, then-Ranking Member Raskin, Rep. Jasmine Crockett, Rep. Summer Lee, and Rep. Ayanna Pressley sent a letter to MMMRC, requesting a staff-level briefing by January 2, 2025.

 

“In December, we requested a staff level briefing to better understand MMMRC’s decision to break with past precedent and not review all maternal deaths.  Texas Department of State Health Services’ failure to provide a staff briefing or acknowledge receipt of our letter is unacceptable,” wrote the Members. “As women continue to die from preventable pregnancy-related conditions in Texas and across the entire country, the decision not to reply or engage with Committee Members and staff raises further concerns about the information the Department might be suppressing.”

 

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Jan. 30 | 33+ Congressmen for 39 million+ Children

 

U.S. Representative John Garamendi (D-CA-08), along with 33 of his colleagues, sent a letter to Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Office of Head Start (OHS) demanding that they immediately address delayed Head Start funds and ensure that Head Start programs expeditiously receive the funds they are owed. This delay in available funds comes as Donald Trump and Republicans continue to push an illegal scheme to choke the federal government of all funding, the country’s largest federal early education program, Head Start. Head Start centers across the country have yet to receive crucial funding to meet their end-of-the-month expenses, including rent, utilities, payroll, and insurance. Without receiving these payments, some programs could have to furlough employees and shut their doors as early as tomorrow, January 31. The Trump Administration’s unconstitutional threat of a federal funding pause has caused chaos, confusion, and fear for our Head Start centers, and the ongoing fallout could deprive thousands of low-income children and their families of much-needed childcare.  

 

“Within the chaotic confusion of Donald Trump’s unconstitutional freeze on all federal funding, Head Start centers in our district and across the country are still in desperate need of the funds they’re owed,” said Rep. Garamendi. “Head Start programs operate on incredibly tight budgets, and they depend on timely and reliable disbursement of federal funds to pay their operating expenses. Centers across the country are in desperate need of these funds as they face imminent deadlines to pay their employees as well as their rent, utilities, and insurance bills. Without the immediate disbursement of these funds, some centers will have to temporarily close, leaving low-income children and families to suffer. The Administration must provide payments and guidance quickly so that these centers can remain open and allow our children to continue to learn and thrive.”  

 

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Jan. 30 | Thanks and Breakfast

 

U.S. Representatives Jared Huffman (CA-02), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), and Sean Casten (IL-06) sent a letter to Speaker Johnson to express concerns about funding for the National Prayer Breakfast from anti-LGBTQ+ extremists at the Fellowship Foundation and about the broader constitutional problem with institutionalizing a religious ceremony in the secular Capitol.

 

“As members of the Congressional Freethought Caucus, we are steadfast in our commitment to the constitutional principles of religious freedom and church-state separation. We strive for the inclusive representation of all Americans, regardless of one’s faith perspective,” the members wrote.

 

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Jan. 30 | SFC to RFK

 

Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and all 12 Democratic members of the committee today sent a letter to Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pressing him to answer nearly a dozen questions regarding his views on Medicare drug price negotiation and confirm he will not pause negotiations, as CEOs representing the largest pharmaceutical companies have requested.

 

“As a result of the Inflation Reduction Act, which passed without a single Republican vote, Medicare drug price negotiation is a powerful tool available right now to President Trump to make good on his long-standing promise to stand up to Big Pharma,” the senators wrote. “On behalf of the tens of millions of Americans who count on Medicare, Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee want to know whether the Trump Administration will follow through on negotiating with Big Pharma to deliver the lower costs promised to the American people.”

 

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Jan. 29 | ICE in JAN

 

Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA) sent a letter to Acting Homeland Security Secretary Benjamine Huffman and Acting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director Caleb Vitello demanding answers about recent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations conducted in Ventura County, California. These operations, which took place in Oxnard and Santa Paula, have sparked widespread fear and raised serious concerns about the agency’s tactics and respect for due process.

 

“While my office is still awaiting further details regarding ICE’s recent enforcement activity in Ventura County, I am deeply concerned about the widespread fear and uncertainty these actions have caused across our community,” said Congresswoman Brownley. “This has left many of our families feeling vulnerable and at risk, especially amid the harmful rhetoric surrounding immigration enforcement.”

 

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Jan. 28 | Clearing Up Canadian Border Confusion

 

Congressman Pete Stauber (MN-08) sent a letter to the Canadian Minister of Public Safety, David J. McGuinty, requesting that he clear up any confusion surrounding the future of the Remote Area Border Crossing (RABC) permit program.

 

Since Stauber last wrote a letter requesting information regarding the RABC program, the Trudeau administration has refused to be honest and transparent with the public. The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has released inconsistent and contradictory information which has only confused the public and worsened the situation. The many people who utilize these permits have been blindsided by the CBSA’s ineptitude and are now without answers.

 

Of this problem, Stauber said, “Due to the incompetence of the Trudeau administration, I have heard from a number of my constituents who are unable to utilize their RABC permits. To make matters worse, the CBSA refuses to answer their many questions. This comes at a great cost to these individuals as they are now unable to reach loved ones, maintain property across the border, and run their small businesses. I urge them to release detailed information regarding the future of this program and right this wrong.”

 

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Jan. 24 | Complicated Choreography With China

 

Chairman of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, John Moolenaar (R-MI) and Representative Chris Smith (R-NJ) released a letter asking the Kennedy Center about upcoming performances of the National Ballet of China (NBC).  The Representatives detailed the NBC’s connections to the Chinese Communist Party and the fact that “art is a political instrument in the People’s Republic China [and] used for the purpose of disseminating propaganda abroad.”  

 

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Jan. 24 | Congressmen Calls on the Co-Op

 

Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) and Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) and the co-chairs of the Congressional Labor Caucus Congressman Donald Norcross (NJ-01), Congressman Mark Pocan (WI-02), Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-06) and Congressman Steven Horsford (NV-04) led a letter with 57 of their colleagues urging REI and their Board of Directors to commit to expeditiously negotiating a fair collective bargaining agreement with unionized employees across 10 of its stores.

 

Despite forming nearly three years ago, REI has refused to formally recognize the Retail, Wholesale, and Department Store Union (RWDSU) union at its flagship SoHo store and has not yet finalized a collective bargaining agreement with its unionized workers that codifies the employees’ pay, benefits, workplace safety, and more.

 

“We urge REI to meet its duties as required under the National Labor Relations Act to negotiate and refrain from union-busting tactics such as eliminating bonuses and raises, terminations of union supporters, and unilateral changes to REI’s staffing and scheduling practices,” the member said.

 

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Jan. 24 | House Committee Cryptic on Crypto


The United States House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is conducting an investigation into alleged “improper debanking” of individuals and organizations based on political affiliations or participation in cryptocurrency and blockchain technology, according to a letter sent by the Committee to industry leaders on Friday.


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Jan. 24 | Beyer Beware


Congresswoman Jennifer L. McClellan (VA-04) led her Virginia Democratic colleagues, Representatives Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), Don Beyer (VA-08), Gerry Connolly (VA-11), Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10), and Eugene Vindman (VA-07) in urging President Donald Trump to revise or revoke his hiring freeze on federal civilian employees.


Virginia is home to nearly 150,000 federal employees. On January 20, President Trump took executive action to freeze the hiring of all federal civilian positions in the U.S. government. Reports confirm the mandate forced Veterans Health Administration (VHA) medical centers and clinics nationwide to rescind job offers for vital medical and support staff.


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Jan. 23 | Not Forgetting Fogel


U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA) joined U.S. Senators Dave McCormick (R-PA) and John Fetterman (D-PA) to lead a bipartisan, bicameral letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio urging him to use all the tools at his disposal to bring home Pennsylvania school teacher and Butler County native Marc Fogel, who has been wrongfully detained by the Russian government for nearly four years.


Kelly is among 11 members of the Pennsylvania House Delegation -- Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-1), Brendan Boyle (D-PA-2), Madeleine Dean (D-PA-4), Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA-6), Ryan Mackenzie (R-PA-7), Rob Bresnahan (R-PA-8), Dan Meuser (R-PA-9), Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA-14), Glenn Thompson (R-PA-15), & Chris Deluzio (D-PA-17) -- who signed onto the letter in the strongest display of bipartisanship the delegation has put forth this Congress.


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Jan. 23 | Rebirth of a Nation


Today, Representative Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) sent a letter to hospital administrators in his Arizona’s 7th Congressional District inquiring into plans to protect immigrants’ access to emergency healthcare services. The letter is in response to President Trump’s recent executive action that rescinded the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) guidance against carrying out immigration enforcement efforts in sensitive locations, including medical centers.


“Despite the Trump Administration’s anti-immigrant rhetoric, Arizonans understand that immigrants are a vital part of our community and local economy. We must not stand by and allow humans, especially our own neighbors, to be pushed into the shadows and frightened to access the care they need,” said Rep. Grijalva.  “The fundamental right to lifesaving healthcare is not contingent upon one’s origin or the color of their skin, and we need to make sure everyone is assured they can safely receive the care they deserve.”


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Jan. 21 | Simpson's Pro-Life Letter


Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson signed a letter encouraging President Trump to reinstate and broaden the life-affirming pro-life policies in the early days of his new administration. This bicameral letter, led by U.S. Representatives Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Robert Aderholt (R-AL) and U.S. Senators Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) and James Lankford (R-OK), has support from 36 Senators and 108 Representatives.


“Defending the right to life has been one of my top priorities since coming to Congress,” said Rep. Simpson. “My pro-life colleagues and I are deeply grateful for the Trump administration’s unwavering commitment to life, and we stand ready to support their efforts to restore life-affirming policies and secure meaningful victories for pregnant women, mothers, and their children—born and unborn.”


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Jan. 18 | VA Mail Delay 


Rep. Jack Bergman (R-1st Congressional District) says he’s concerned about changes to the U.S. Postal Service and its service to the VA clinic in Iron Mountain.


In a letter Rep. Bergman sent to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, Bergman says constituents alerted him to a change where outbound mail from the Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center is now being routed to a processing facility in Milwaukee, Wisconsin instead of Green Bay. Bergman says the Postmaster General isn’t communicating with his office.


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Jan. 15 | Dan Dictates on Direct File

 

Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) joined Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Senator Chris Coons (D-DE), Congresswoman Judy Chu (CA-28), Congressman Steny Hoyer (MD-05), and over 130 of his House colleagues in sending a letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Commissioner-Designate Billy Long urging them to maintain and expand the IRS Direct File pilot program, which helps thousands of Americans file their taxes accurately and securely for free. 

 

“We write to highlight the success of the Internal Revenue Services’ (IRS) Direct File pilot program and stand ready to work with you to use this common-sense tool to put money back in American taxpayers’ pockets,” the Members wrote. 

 

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