U.S. Congress
Here's a look at documents from all members of the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate
Featured Stories
Husted Urges Commerce Secretary to Reinstate Federal Partnership Strengthening Ohio Manufacturing
WASHINGTON, Dec. 23 -- Sen. Jon Husted, R-Ohio, issued the following news release on Dec. 22, 2025:
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Husted urges Commerce Secretary to reinstate federal partnership strengthening Ohio manufacturing
Sen. Jon Husted (R-Ohio) joined members of the Ohio Congressional delegation in sending a letter to Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick urging him to lift the suspension of the Ohio Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) award. The state was notified of the award's suspension earlier in December.
In addition to Husted, Reps. Max Miller (R-Ohio), Michael Turner (R-Ohio), Robert Latta (R-Ohio),
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WASHINGTON, Dec. 23 -- Sen. Jon Husted, R-Ohio, issued the following news release on Dec. 22, 2025:
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Husted urges Commerce Secretary to reinstate federal partnership strengthening Ohio manufacturing
Sen. Jon Husted (R-Ohio) joined members of the Ohio Congressional delegation in sending a letter to Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick urging him to lift the suspension of the Ohio Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) award. The state was notified of the award's suspension earlier in December.
In addition to Husted, Reps. Max Miller (R-Ohio), Michael Turner (R-Ohio), Robert Latta (R-Ohio),David Joyce (R-Ohio), Mike Carey (R-Ohio), Michael Rulli (R-Ohio) and David Taylor (R-Ohio) signed the letter.
Husted also sent a letter to Lutnick on December 11, 2025 requesting immediate and specific clarification on why the federal funding for the Ohio MEP program is being suspended.
The award was suspended on December 5, 2025.
"Given the severity of the consequences to Ohio manufacturers, workers, and the state's industrial competitiveness, we respectfully but urgently request that the Department of Commerce pause or lift the suspension immediately, pending completion and publication of the final audit," wrote the lawmakers.
"Every dollar invested in Ohio's MEP network produces an estimated $18-$20 in economic output, making it one of the highest-return economic-development investments available to state and federal policymakers," they continued.
"The program's technical assistance--ranging from automation and robotics integration to cybersecurity upgrades, supply-chain strengthening, workforce development and AI-enabled plant modernization--is indispensable to the competitiveness of both rural and urban manufacturers across the state. For many Ohio companies, the MEP is their engineering, process-improvement and innovation capability," the policymakers added.
"The Ohio MEP system underpins critical supply chains in defense, aerospace, automotive, semiconductors, medical devices, food production and advanced materials. Halting these services jeopardizes ongoing projects in automation, cybersecurity, digital modernization, workforce development and productivity improvement--many of which are essential to national security supply chains and reshoring efforts," the members continued.
"Given the profound economic implications, the lack of due process and the bipartisan, longstanding Congressional mandate for a strong MEP program, we urge the Department of Commerce to restore operational continuity while the audit process proceeds to completion," the lawmakers concluded.
Background:
Ohio's MEP system is a nationally recognized public-private partnership that strengthens the small and mid-sized manufacturers who form the core of our industrial economy. The program delivers essential modernization services to more than 2,000 manufacturers annually. These efforts produce enormous economic returns, including:
* More than $750 million in new and retained sales annually;
* More than $110 million in yearly cost savings;
* Roughly $500 million in new capital investment; and
* More than 6,000 manufacturing jobs created or retained each year.
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December 17, 2025
To: The Honorable Howard Lutnick, Secretary of Commerce, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Ave NW, Washington, DC 20230
Dear Secretary Lutnick:
The Ohio Congressional Delegation writes to express deep concern regarding the immediate federal suspension of the Ohio Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) award, effective December 5, 2025. This action was taken before publication of a final OIG audit report, and without providing Ohio or its regional MEP centers any meaningful opportunity to review findings, respond, or undertake corrective actions.
Given the severity of the consequences to Ohio manufacturers, workers, and the state's industrial competitiveness, we respectfully but urgently request that the Department of Commerce pause or lift the suspension immediately, pending completion and publication of the final audit.
Ohio's Manufacturing Extension Partnership system is a nationally recognized public-private partnership that strengthens the small and mid-sized manufacturers who form the core of our industrial economy. In the last five years, the program has delivered essential modernization services to more than 40,000 manufacturers in Ohio. These efforts produce enormous economic returns, including:
* Over $3.23 billion in new and retained sales;
* More than $500 million in cost savings;
* Roughly $795 million in new capital investment; and
* Over 23,000 manufacturing jobs created or retained since 2020.
The Ohio's MEP network is one of the highest-return economic-development investments available to state and federal policymakers.
The program's technical assistance--ranging from automation and robotics integration to cybersecurity upgrades, supply-chain strengthening, workforce development, and AI-enabled plant modernization--is indispensable to the competitiveness of both rural and urban manufacturers across the state. For many Ohio companies, the MEP is their engineering, processimprovement, and innovation capability.
On December 1, NIST issued a Notice of Award Suspension to the Ohio Department of Development instructing the state and its regional subrecipients to halt all MEP activities and cease incurring costs, based on preliminary audit findings. No draft audit report has been provided, and the preliminary findings referenced in the notice did not include the underlying documentation needed for Ohio or its regional MEP centers to meaningfully assess, respond to, or resolve the issues raised.
This process is inconsistent with standard federal grant-administration norms and raises significant questions about fairness and procedural integrity. The federal action compelled the state to suspend operations as well - causing an immediate operational crisis.
As a result, centers across Ohio are beginning the process of winding down activities, including releasing staff and halting ongoing modernization projects for hundreds of manufacturers. Once lost, this specialized engineering and technical capacity will be extraordinarily difficult to rebuild.
While the audit process must continue, we respectfully request that you take the following actions:
* Maintain MEP operations until the OIG releases a final audit report and Ohio and its subrecipients have been given a formal opportunity to respond.
* Restore Funding During the Review Period. This will prevent irreversible loss of technical staff and capacity, protect ongoing projects, and avert economic harm to manufacturers across the state.
* Provide a Transparent, Written Due-Process Framework. This should include draft findings, a defined response period, expectations for corrective actions, and a clear, mutually understood timeline.
The Ohio MEP system underpins critical supply chains in defense, aerospace, automotive, semiconductors, medical devices, food production, and advanced materials. Halting these services jeopardizes ongoing projects in automation, cybersecurity, digital modernization, workforce development, and productivity improvement--many of which are essential to national-security supply chains and reshoring efforts.
Given the profound economic implications, the lack of due process, and the bipartisan, longstanding Congressional mandate for a strong MEP program, we urge the Department of Commerce to restore operational continuity while the audit process proceeds to completion.
Given the statewide disruption now underway, we request a delegation briefing at the earliest possible opportunity--with participation from NIST and OIG as needed.
Sincerely,
Max L. Miller, Member of Congress
Jon Husted, United States Senator
Michael R. Turner, Member of Congress
Robert E. Latta, Member of Congress
David P. Joyce, Member of Congress
Mike Carey, Member of Congress
Michael A. Rulli, Member of Congress
David J. Taylor, Member of Congress
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Original text here: https://www.husted.senate.gov/press-releases/husted-urges-commerce-secretary-to-reinstate-federal-partnership-strengthening-ohio-manufacturing/
House and Senate Immigration Leaders Rebuke Trump DHS Proposal That Would Punish Immigrant Families for Lawfully Accessing Health Care and Food Assistance
WASHINGTON, Dec. 23 -- Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Maryland, ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, issued the following news release:
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House and Senate Immigration Leaders Rebuke Trump DHS Proposal That Would Punish Immigrant Families for Lawfully Accessing Health Care and Food Assistance
Proposed "Public Charge" Rule Defies Congress, Threatens Public Health, and Would Make America Sicker and Poorer
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House and Senate immigration leaders submitted a formal regulatory comment to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) opposing the Trump Administration's proposed "Public Charge Ground
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WASHINGTON, Dec. 23 -- Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Maryland, ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, issued the following news release:
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House and Senate Immigration Leaders Rebuke Trump DHS Proposal That Would Punish Immigrant Families for Lawfully Accessing Health Care and Food Assistance
Proposed "Public Charge" Rule Defies Congress, Threatens Public Health, and Would Make America Sicker and Poorer
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House and Senate immigration leaders submitted a formal regulatory comment to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) opposing the Trump Administration's proposed "Public Charge Groundof Inadmissibility" rule, warning that the proposal unlawfully rewrites longstanding immigration law and would deter immigrant families from accessing basic health, nutrition, and housing assistance they are legally entitled to receive.
The proposed rule would circumvent Congress to alter the meaning of "public charge," a term that for more than 135 years has applied only to individuals who are primarily dependent on the government for subsistence. If an immigrant is determined likely to become a public charge, it can affect their eligibility to enter the U.S. The Trump Administration's proposal would penalize immigrants for using supplemental benefits like health care, nutrition, or housing assistance that Congress deliberately made available to immigrant populations to support working families.
"DHS is seeking to circumvent Congress by administratively altering the 135-year-old meaning of the term 'public charge' in violation of congressional intent. [...] Congress has deliberately rejected the very changes that DHS now seeks to implement administratively in complete defiance of our will and intent," the Members wrote.
Congress has repeatedly revisited immigration law without ever redefining "public charge" to include the use of non-cash benefits. Federal agencies have long recognized that programs such as Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and housing assistance are supplemental benefits that promote public health, food security, and housing stability to help working families remain self-sufficient.
DHS's proposal would ignite widespread fear and confusion in immigrant communities, leading families to forgo medical care, nutrition assistance, and housing support even when they qualify under federal law. DHS itself expressly concedes in the proposed rule that the policy could lead to worse health outcomes, increased poverty, housing instability, and greater use of emergency rooms for basic care--harms that would extend well beyond immigrant households to communities nationwide.
Congress has consistently made decisions about immigrants' access to public benefits through eligibility rules, not by barring people from adjusting their immigration status for using those benefits. Recent legislation, including the 2025 reconciliation law, deliberately preserved access to key programs for certain immigrant populations.
For these reasons, the Members urge DHS to abandon the rule and maintain the 2022 regulations that reflect congressional intent, protect public health, and ensure that families are not punished for using lawful, life-sustaining assistance.
The comment was submitted by Rep. Jamie Raskin, Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee; Rep. Pramila Jayapal, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement; Rep. Robert C. "Bobby" Scott, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce; Sen. Dick Durbin, Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee; Sen. Alex Padilla, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Border Security and Immigration; Sen. Bernie Sanders; and Sen. Ron Wyden.
Click here (https://democrats-judiciary.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/democrats-judiciary.house.gov/files/evo-media-document/public-charge-comment-final-121825-submission-1.pdf) to read the comment.
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Original text here: https://democrats-judiciary.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/house-and-senate-immigration-leaders-rebuke-trump-dhs-proposal-that-would-punish-immigrant-families-for-lawfully-accessing-health-care-and-food-assistance
Following IG Response, Warren and Slotkin Press for Full Investigation Into Extent of Donald Trump, Trump Family, and Senior Trump Administration Officials Cashing in on Foreign Crypto Deals
WASHINGTON, Dec. 23 -- Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts, ranking member of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, issued the following news release:
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Following IG Response, Warren and Slotkin Press for Full Investigation into Extent of Donald Trump, Trump Family, and Senior Trump Administration Officials Cashing in on Foreign Crypto Deals
State Department Inspector General Refers Warren and Slotkin Request to Office of Investigations
Lawmaker's request followed a New York Times expose on connections between the Trump family's cryptocurrency firm and an agreement
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WASHINGTON, Dec. 23 -- Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts, ranking member of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, issued the following news release:
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Following IG Response, Warren and Slotkin Press for Full Investigation into Extent of Donald Trump, Trump Family, and Senior Trump Administration Officials Cashing in on Foreign Crypto Deals
State Department Inspector General Refers Warren and Slotkin Request to Office of Investigations
Lawmaker's request followed a New York Times expose on connections between the Trump family's cryptocurrency firm and an agreementgiving the Emiratis access to advanced A.I. chips
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U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ranking Member of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), pressed the State Department Office of Inspector General, Commerce Department Office of Inspector General, and U.S. Office of Government Ethics earlier this fall to conduct a full and robust investigation into potential conflicts of interest of David Sacks, President Trump's White House AI and Crypto Czar, and Steve Witkoff, United States Special Envoy to the Middle East. The Senators released statements following the State Department IG's response that it was referring theirrequest to the Office of Investigations for review:
"The Inspector General has a role to address this matter and conduct a review. The office owes Congress a full investigation into whether Trump Administration officials used their positions to cash in on foreign crypto deals," said Ranking Member Warren. "As Congress considers crypto market structure legislation, we have a responsibility to prevent this kind of unbridled crypto corruption from happening again."
"America's foreign policy decisions must be made solely on the basis of American national interest. The American people should never accept conflicts of interest, or even the perception of personal corruption in these matters. The Department of State's Office of Investigations must conduct a full investigation in this case, and make those findings public. The public deserves to know the motivations of senior officials making international deals in their name. Our national security should never be for sale," said Senator Slotkin.
OIG Response (https://ct.symplicity.com/t/wrn/0a41e8de7a7795e9135074e092607fc7/2086253964/realurl=https://www.banking.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/2025_09_23_sens_slotkin_and_warren_requesting_oig_investigation_into_uae_chips_corruption_response1.pdf)
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Original text here: https://www.banking.senate.gov/newsroom/minority/following-ig-response-warren-and-slotkin-press-for-full-investigation-into-extent-of-donald-trump-trump-family-and-senior-trump-administration-officials-cashing-in-on-foreign-crypto-deals
Fact Sheet: GOP Proposals in Remaining 9 Funding Bills Fail to Address Cost of Living, Make Communities Less Safe, Permit Continued Corruption
WASHINGTON, Dec. 23 -- Rep. Rosa L. DeLauro, D-Connecticut, ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee, issued the following news release on Dec. 22, 2025:
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FACT SHEET: GOP Proposals in Remaining 9 Funding Bills Fail to Address Cost of Living, Make Communities Less Safe, Permit Continued Corruption
Democrats are fighting for funding bills that bring down costs, make our communities safe, and rein in an out-of-control White House
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After weeks of infighting, Republicans have failed to move any of the nine remaining fiscal year 2026 spending bills since the government reopened
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WASHINGTON, Dec. 23 -- Rep. Rosa L. DeLauro, D-Connecticut, ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee, issued the following news release on Dec. 22, 2025:
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FACT SHEET: GOP Proposals in Remaining 9 Funding Bills Fail to Address Cost of Living, Make Communities Less Safe, Permit Continued Corruption
Democrats are fighting for funding bills that bring down costs, make our communities safe, and rein in an out-of-control White House
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After weeks of infighting, Republicans have failed to move any of the nine remaining fiscal year 2026 spending bills since the government reopenedmore than a month ago. A new fact sheet released today by the House Appropriations Committee highlights how Republican proposals fail to address Americans' concerns about affordability, community safety, and President Trump's corruption. With just 39 days until another funding lapse, Democrats are fighting to enact spending bills that bring down costs, keep our communities safe, and constrain President Trump and Budget Direct Russ Vought's corrupt abuses of power.
"Time waits for no one. With each passing day, we come closer to another lapse in government funding. My Republican colleagues have wasted precious weeks with petty squabbles and partisan infighting while the American people are left to wonder whether their concerns will ever be addressed. While working families buckle under the weight of higher prices for everything from groceries to rent to health care to utility bills, President Trump calls affordability a 'con job.' I know that my counterpart on the Appropriations Committee, Chairman Tom Cole, shares my goal of enacting full year spending bills through regular order. But we must get to work now, before it is too late."
A fact sheet detailing President Trump and Director Vought's numerous violations of the law, a pattern of behavior that must be constrained by Congress, can be found here (https://democrats-appropriations.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/democrats-appropriations.house.gov/files/evo-media-document/fact-sheet-trump-admin-illegality-final.pdf).
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Democrats will fight to enact 2026 spending bills that address the cost-of-living crisis, make our communities safer and more enjoyable, and stand up to President Trump's corruption. In the last year, we have witnessed the Trump administration's lawless actions while operating under Continuing Resolutions. A second year of funding on autopilot would allow President Trump and Budget Director Russ Vought another year to dismantle critical government services. It is imperative that we end up with full-year 2026 spending bills that constrain an out-of-control White House and drop the following Republican proposals in the president's budget request or House bills.
Republicans are failing to address the cost-of-living crisis Trump has called a "hoax" and failing to help families
* At a time when households are struggling with utility costs, Trump has proposed to eliminate funding for the Weatherization Assistance Program, which increases home energy efficiency and saves households $372 on average per year, and the House bill cuts Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy funding by $1.6 billion (E&W)
* When millions of Americans cannot afford housing, the House bill cuts $1.5 billion from public housing, threatening eviction for 230,000 low-income households as well as cuts $770 million from the section 8 voucher program, which is $3 billion less than what is needed to prevent 140,000 households from being evicted (THUD)
* Rather than increase education opportunities so that Americans can thrive, the House bill cuts education funding by $12 billion, including $5 billion from grants for schools in low-income areas and over $2 billion for teacher training (LHHS)
* Despite the need to invest more in infrastructure, President Trump wants to cut Corps of Engineers funds by $2 billion for water infrastructure in our communities (E&W)
* Instead of ensuring that future breakthroughs occur in US labs, President Trump's budget plan slashes National Science Foundation funding by 57%, NASA Science funding by 47%, Department of Energy Office of Science by $1.1 billion, and the National Institutes of Health by 40% (CJS, E&W and LHHS) Republican budget proposals would make our communities less safe and less enjoyable
* Both the Trump budget request and the House Republican bill slash Violence Against Women Act grants and eliminate hate crime prevention grants (CJS)
* Endangers law enforcement and our communities by including more than 20 new extreme gun policy riders in the House bill that weaken public safety and fuel gun violence (CJS)
* Instead of supporting popular bipartisan priorities like parks, the president proposed to cut the National Park Service by $1.2 billion and the House bill cuts NPS by $213 million (Interior)
* Worsens the climate crisis by defunding all EPA climate work and cutting EPA funding by $2.1 billion in the House bill (Interior)
* Eliminates federal funding for arts and humanities grants throughout the country (Interior)
* Surrenders to ongoing health crises by cutting public health programs at CDC by $1.7 billion and substance abuse and mental health services by $300 million in the House bill (LHHS)
* Congressional Republicans continue their assault on women's health, including prohibiting funding for Planned Parenthood health centers and blocking access to abortion services and reproductive healthcare (LHHS)
* Makes our communities more vulnerable to natural disasters by cutting FEMA funding by 11% in President Trump's budget (Homeland)
Republicans are not standing up to corruption from Trump and his billionaire cronies
* On the heels of slashing health care for millions of Americans to pay for tax cuts for billionaires, the House bill cuts IRS enforcement by $2.4 billion (FSGG)
* Instead of helping small businesses that compete against large corporations, the House bill cuts the Small Business Administration and the assistance it provides to entrepreneurs by $324 million while at the same time turning a blind eye to corporate enforcement by cutting Securities and Exchange Commission by $154 million (FSGG)
* Leaves consumers vulnerable to scams and predatory junk fees by cutting the Federal Trade Commission by $37 million in the House bill (FSGG)
With only 39 days until government funding lapses, there are still nine outstanding funding bills to be negotiated. Given the amount of work that is required to clean up the mess Republicans have created, it is imperative that we get to work right away to address the priorities of the American people before January 30.
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Original text here: https://democrats-appropriations.house.gov/news/press-releases/fact-sheet-gop-proposals-remaining-9-funding-bills-fail-address-cost-living
Committee Republicans Request Federal Reserve Thoughtfully Approach Recirculating Existing Pennies
WASHINGTON, Dec. 23 -- Rep. French Hill, R-Arkansas, chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, issued the following news release on Dec. 22, 2025:
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Committee Republicans Request Federal Reserve Thoughtfully Approach Recirculating Existing Pennies
House Committee on Financial Services Chairman French Hill (AR-02) joined by Vice Chairman Bill Huizenga (MI-04) and Subcommittee Chairmen Ann Wagner (MO-02), Andy Barr (KY-06), Bryan Steil (WI-01), Warren Davidson (OH-08), Dan Meuser (PA-09), Mike Flood (NE-01), Frank Lucas (OK-03), and Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain (MI-09), sent
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WASHINGTON, Dec. 23 -- Rep. French Hill, R-Arkansas, chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, issued the following news release on Dec. 22, 2025:
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Committee Republicans Request Federal Reserve Thoughtfully Approach Recirculating Existing Pennies
House Committee on Financial Services Chairman French Hill (AR-02) joined by Vice Chairman Bill Huizenga (MI-04) and Subcommittee Chairmen Ann Wagner (MO-02), Andy Barr (KY-06), Bryan Steil (WI-01), Warren Davidson (OH-08), Dan Meuser (PA-09), Mike Flood (NE-01), Frank Lucas (OK-03), and Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain (MI-09), senta letter to the Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell asking the Fed to take a thoughtful approach to its role in recirculating existing pennies.
In the letter, members express support for the administration's decision to halt penny production due to its high cost to taxpayers, while emphasizing the need for clear legislative guidance to ensure fair and consistent cash practices. They highlight the bipartisan Common Cents Act as the best way to provide certainty for retailers, banks, and consumers and to preserve the viability of cash transactions.
Read the lawmakers' full letter here (https://financialservices.house.gov/UploadedFiles/2025-12-22_-_FSC_Leadership__LM_Letter_-_Letter_to_Powell_re_Penny.pdf) or below:
Dear Chairman Powell:
We write today to express support for President Trump's decision to direct the U.S. Mint (Mint) to stop producing pennies for circulation. For decades, Members on both sides of the aisle have recognized the high cost of producing pennies. In 2024, each penny cost 3.68 cents to mint, resulting in an $85 million loss for the U.S. Department of Treasury. Halting further production not only saves American taxpayer dollars but reduces the burden of cash payment "by reducing the number of coins that need to be exchanged between the payer and payee."
Importantly, on July 23, 2025, Republican Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain's legislation, H.R. 3074, the Common Cents Act, passed out of the House Committee on Financial Services (Committee) on a bipartisan basis. This legislation will provide additional clarity for retailers and alleviate penny demand. Clear rounding guidance will enable retailers and banks to implement rounding practices consistently, protect against potential legal or regulatory risks, and ensure consumer confidence that everyday transactions remain fair and transparent. Without clear guidance, retailers may increasingly find accepting cash transactions difficult, threatening the important viability of cash as a payment option for all Americans.
While the Committee works to provide legislative clarity regarding the penny, we remain concerned about the recent decisions by the Federal Reserve to cease accepting penny deposits or orders at a substantial majority of coin terminal locations across the United States. As you are aware, coin terminal locations - operated by private armored carrier providers under contract with the Federal Reserve - facilitate coin circulation. We acknowledge that the Federal Reserve is not "shutting down" these terminals entirely, as private armored carriers may continue to process orders and deposits from the financial institutions' own accounts. However, this is not a practical solution, as banks understandably want to preserve their own penny inventories out of concern that additional terminals may no longer be available, leaving them unable to obtain additional pennies in a cost-effective manner.
Given current supply and demand dynamics, the Federal Reserve's actions have significantly, and perhaps unnecessarily, impeded the circulation of pennies. Although the Mint will no longer produce additional one-cent pieces for circulation, estimates indicate that the nearly 300 billion pennies already in circulation are more than sufficient to facilitate commerce. We urge the Federal Reserve to proceed cautiously before shutting down additional terminals and to assess whether reopening more locations to penny deposits and orders would help recirculate existing coins and alleviate current pressures in the system.
Currently, the lack of penny availability is imposing inconvenience to our families and significant costs on retailers and financial institutions. We are particularly concerned that the prohibition on penny deposits at most coin terminal locations is unnecessarily preventing pennies from re-entering circulation. Allowing more penny deposits would increase the Federal Reserve's supply and help maintain normal coin circulation nationwide.
We appreciate your prompt attention to this important matter.
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Original text here: https://financialservices.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=410964
Comer Expands Investigation Into Widespread Fraud Uncovered in Minnesota Government Programs
WASHINGTON, Dec. 23 -- Rep. James Comer, R-Kentucky, chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, issued the following news release on Dec. 22, 2025:
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Comer Expands Investigation Into Widespread Fraud Uncovered in Minnesota Government Programs
Today, House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) is expanding the Committee's investigation into massive fraud and money laundering in Minnesota's social services program under Governor Tim Walz's and Attorney General Keith Ellison's watch, the state's efforts to cover it up, and retaliation
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WASHINGTON, Dec. 23 -- Rep. James Comer, R-Kentucky, chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, issued the following news release on Dec. 22, 2025:
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Comer Expands Investigation Into Widespread Fraud Uncovered in Minnesota Government Programs
Today, House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) is expanding the Committee's investigation into massive fraud and money laundering in Minnesota's social services program under Governor Tim Walz's and Attorney General Keith Ellison's watch, the state's efforts to cover it up, and retaliationagainst whistleblowers who sought to protect taxpayer dollars.
"Whistleblowers have made it clear that American taxpayers were defrauded in Minnesota, raising serious questions about whether Governor Walz and Attorney General Ellison failed to act or was complicit in the theft. The House Oversight Committee is aggressively investigating widespread fraud in Minnesota's social services programs and the failures of Governor Walz's administration that allowed taxpayer funds to be funneled to terrorist networks responsible for the deaths of Americans. Today, the Committee is requesting information from the Treasury Department and the Department of Justice, as well as transcribed interviews with Minnesota state officials. While Governor Walz and Attorney General Ellison turn a blind eye to taxpayer fraud, the House Oversight Committee is acting decisively and will use its full power to protect hardworking taxpayers," said Chairman Comer.
The Committee is examining the extensive money laundering and fraud uncovered by the U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota. In a letter to U.S. Department of the Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Chairman Comer requests all relevant Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) to support the Committee's investigation into fraud in Minnesota, along with a staff-level briefing to understand how the Treasury enforces financial regulations and monitors fund transfers to foreign entities. In a letter to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, Chairman Comer is requesting the U.S. Department Justice provide a briefing on the massive fraud uncovered. Chairman Comer is also requesting transcribed interviews with several Minnesota state officials.
Read the letters sent today here:
* Secretary Scott Bessent, U.S. Department of the Treasury
* Attorney General Pam Bondi, U.S. Department of Justice
* Daron Korte, Assistant Commissioner at the Minnesota Department of Education
* Dave Greeman, former Chief Financial Officer of the Minnesota Department of Human Services
* Eric Grumdahl, former Assistant Commissioner for Homelessness and Housing Supports at the Minnesota Department of Human Services
* Jodi Harpstead, former Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Human Services
* Mary Cathryn Ricker, former Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Education
* Tony Lourey, former Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Human Services
* Emily Honer, Director of Nutrition Program Services at the Minnesota Department of Education
Background: Earlier this month, Chairman Comer called on Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison to provide documents, communications, and records about widespread fraud that occurred under their watch. Federal prosecutors in Minnesota have charged dozens of individuals with stealing more than $240 million from the Federal Child Nutrition Program through the Minnesota-based nonprofit Feeding Our Future. Reports indicate that Minnesota officials saw early signs of fraud within Feeding Our Future but failed to intervene. Additional reporting alleges that some fraudulently obtained funds distributed through the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) were sent overseas to support terrorist organizations, including Al-Shabaab and ISIS. Whistleblowers within DHS have alleged the agency has deleted data and withheld records to cover up the fraud. To date, Governor Walz has failed to cooperate with the Committee's request for documents and information.
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Original text here: https://oversight.house.gov/release/comer-expands-investigation-into-widespread-fraud-uncovered-in-minnesota-government-programs/
Citing National Security Concerns--the Critical Issue Chris Smith Has Raised for Years--the Trump Administration Halts Construction of Offshore Wind Projects
WASHINGTON, Dec. 23 -- Rep. Chris Smith, R-New Jersey, issued the following news release:
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Citing national security concerns--the critical issue Chris Smith has raised for years--the Trump administration halts construction of offshore wind projects
Construction of Empire Wind suspended
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Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), a longtime opponent of offshore wind industrialization, issued the attached statement following the Trump administration's announcement that the Depts. of the Interior and War have paused the leases for five major offshore wind farms--including Empire Wind off the New Jersey and
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WASHINGTON, Dec. 23 -- Rep. Chris Smith, R-New Jersey, issued the following news release:
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Citing national security concerns--the critical issue Chris Smith has raised for years--the Trump administration halts construction of offshore wind projects
Construction of Empire Wind suspended
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Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), a longtime opponent of offshore wind industrialization, issued the attached statement following the Trump administration's announcement that the Depts. of the Interior and War have paused the leases for five major offshore wind farms--including Empire Wind off the New Jersey andNew York coasts--due to national security concerns:
"I am grateful to President Donald Trump and Secretary Doug Burgum for their leadership in assessing ocean wind's threats to national security and radar interference. The safety and security of the American people should always be at the forefront of U.S. policy.
"As I have argued from day one--ocean wind projects pose significant, catastrophic impacts to radar, putting military and civilian aircrafts and vessels at grave risk.
"This concern has been raised in a number of studies, including the April 2025 Offshore Wind Energy report released by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), an analysis I requested, along with many of my colleagues, and was also called for in my legislation passed by the House--by a margin of 244 to 189--nearly three years ago.
"As early as 2023, I joined Fox News' Madison Alworth in Middletown, NJ to highlight the numerous national security and navigational risks associated with offshore wind industrialization.
"That same year, the House passed my amendment requiring the President or his designee to certify that offshore wind projects 'will not weaken, degrade, interfere with, or nullify the capability of radar relied upon the Federal Aviation Administration or the Armed Forces.'
"It is particularly important that among the five offshore wind projects suspended by the Trump administration, Empire Wind is one of them--a project I have vehemently opposed for years.
"Empire Wind's close proximity to major international airports, including Newark Liberty, LaGuardia, and JFK, and critical military installations, such as Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst and Naval Weapons Station Earle, make the project especially dangerous. It must be halted.
"Projects like Empire Wind have already threatened New Jersey's commercial and recreational fishing industries, as well as our tourism industry and the ocean environment, which is now recovering after years of pollution. And, these projects are extremely expensive, creating undue burdens on taxpayers--which I discussed with Martha MacCallum in July of 2023.
"I look forward to working alongside the Trump administration in ensuring that these dangerous offshore wind projects are stopped."
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Original text here: https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415204
Border Brief: Christmas Comes Early as the Trump Effect Leads to Another Month of Record Low Border Encounters
WASHINGTON, Dec. 23 -- Rep. Andrew Garbarino, R-New York, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, issued the following news on Dec. 22, 2025:
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BORDER BRIEF: Christmas Comes Early as the Trump Effect Leads to Another Month of Record Low Border Encounters
Today, the House Committee on Homeland Security released its latest "Border Brief" factsheet (https://homeland.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Nov-FY26-Border-Brief-1.pdf), highlighting the continued historic success of the Trump administration in securing our borders and the homeland. In October and November, U.S. Customs
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WASHINGTON, Dec. 23 -- Rep. Andrew Garbarino, R-New York, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, issued the following news on Dec. 22, 2025:
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BORDER BRIEF: Christmas Comes Early as the Trump Effect Leads to Another Month of Record Low Border Encounters
Today, the House Committee on Homeland Security released its latest "Border Brief" factsheet (https://homeland.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Nov-FY26-Border-Brief-1.pdf), highlighting the continued historic success of the Trump administration in securing our borders and the homeland. In October and November, U.S. Customsand Border Protection (CBP) reported only 60,940 encounters nationwide, 28 percent lower than the previous low, making the start of Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 the lowest start to a fiscal year ever. Additionally, in November 2025, nationwide encounters (30,375) were even lower than October 2025's historic low.
"Thanks to the work of our federal law enforcement our borders had yet another month of record low encounters. Today, the border is secure, the flow of drugs has been disrupted, and violent criminals are being taken off the streets," House Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Andrew Garbarino (R-NY) said."The historic investments in border security provided in the One Big Beautiful Bill made these successes possible, and I look forward to continued partnership with the administration to extend these historic successes throughout FY26. The Committee will continue working with the Trump administration to ensure our frontline personnel have the tools, resources, and support they need to carry out their mission and keep our homeland secure."
"2025 has been a record year for border security," Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement Chairman Michael Guest (R-MS) said. "I'm honored to work with President Trump to keep our border secure now and into 2026. Thank you, President Trump, for keeping your promise to secure the border."
U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) apprehensions between ports of entry at the Southwest border last month (7,350) decreased 84 percent compared to November FY25 (46,609). USBP agents apprehended an average of 245 inadmissible aliens per day along the Southwest border in November, 95 percent lower than the daily average under the previous administration. From January 21 through the end of November, the Border Patrol recorded 117,105 total enforcement encounters along the Southwest border, representing 37 percent fewer than the monthly average of 185,625 during the Biden-Harris administration. Since President Trump took office, USBP has averaged fewer than 10,000 apprehensions per month. For comparison, at the height of the border crisis under the previous administration, USBP averaged 155,000 apprehensions per month. For seven consecutive months, USBP released zero illegal aliens into the United States.
Heading into the holidays, federal law enforcement is also safeguarding our communities by identifying dangerous inadmissible aliens, including illegal aliens accused of sex offenses against children, murder, and drug trafficking. Additionally, the Trump administration has also located more than 62,000 missing children who were released as unaccompanied alien children (UACs) under the Biden-Harris administration to poorly vetted sponsors, leading to potential abuse and exploitation.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) remains central to deterring threats to the homeland and preventing criminal activity from reaching the border. The Committee held a hearing on Thursday, December 11 to ensure agencies have the resources and tools needed to fulfill their critical mission of protecting the American people, featuring testimony from DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, National Counterterrorism Center Director (NCTC) Joseph Kent, and Operations Director of the National Security Branch of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Michael Glasheen.
The Trump administration's robust border enforcement measures are effectively deterring illicit drug smuggling, reducing the flow of dangerous substances into communities across the United States. Nationwide fentanyl seizures in FY25 decreased 45 percent compared to FY24, highlighting deterrence. At the same time, CBP's interdiction efforts have not slowed. CBP seized 1,543 pounds of fentanyl nationwide in November, a 59 percent increase from October. In testimony before the Committee, NCTC Director Kent highlighted the evolving strategy of transnational criminal organizations, saying, "President Trump and Secretary Noem decisively secured the border. A lot of the fentanyl smuggling and drug smuggling is moving to the Maritime environment on both coasts..." U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Stone's crew seized 49,010 pounds of narcotics worth more than $362 million in November - the most cocaine seized in one patrol in Coast Guard history.
Key Facts:
* CBP nationwide border encounters in November decreased 75.7% compared to last November (124,972 vs 30,375).
* Southwest border encounters in November decreased 88.4% compared to last year (94,183 vs 10,960).
* Border Patrol apprehensions between ports of entry at the Southwest border last month decreased 84.2% compared to November FY25 (46,609 vs 7,350).
* CBP encounters of inadmissible aliens at the northern border dropped 70.3% from November of last year (12,085 vs 3,588).
* For the seventh month in a row, there were zero inadmissible aliens released by Border Patrol into our communities compared to the 7,185 released under the Biden administration along the Southwest border in November 2024.
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Original text here: https://homeland.house.gov/2025/12/22/border-brief-christmas-comes-early-as-the-trump-effect-leads-to-another-month-of-record-low-border-encounters/
