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Countdown to shutdown: It looks like House GOP members lack the votes on their short-term spending bill to keep the government funded through February 16th. House Speaker Paul Ryan and his lieutenants are up against the clock and challenges from their own ranks as they scramble to lock down votes. Don’t look to the Dems for help. With DACA talks remaining deadlocked, most in the party won’t budge. We break it down below. Meanwhile, WH Chief of Staff John Kelly appears to be at odds with Donald Trump, stating the president’s views on the border wall have evolved since the campaign. Nuh-uh, retorted 45 via Twitter this morning. “The Wall is the Wall, it has never changed or evolved from the first day I conceived of it,” read part of the tweet. Trump also broke with his party and said children's insurance shouldn't be part of a short-term funding bill. Meanwhile, 45’s base got some love from a strange bedfellow. The NYT editorial board is giving Trump supporters a platform to make their case for supporting this president, they say, “in the spirit of open debate.” And in the spirit of discrediting the free press, Trump unveiled his asinine “Fake News Awards” yesterday. Though they were temporarily delayed when the website of the Republican Party, where the awards were listed, crashed. Is it Friday yet?? We’re kicking off Thursday with this...
- Is your iPhone suddenly moving slow? The CBC asks Apple why.
- Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Congressman Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) return from Korean peninsula.
- Barack Obama huddles with Tom Pérez and Eric Holder.
- CHC voices opposition to proposed citizenship question on 2020 Census.
- DACA talks stall despite WH CoS meetings with legislators.
- Congressmen John Lewis (D-GA) and Bennie Thompson (D-MS) to be honored by the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum.
- HI Congresswomen ask for hearing on military involvement in emergency alerts.
- Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) pushes transportation package.
- CBC members mull SOTU demonstration or boycott.
- Young Latino doc wants to be Rhode Island’s next governor.
- TX Republican businessman wants to unseat incumbent Congressman Pete Olson (R-TX).
- CHC BOLD PAC backs Congressman Carlos Curbelo’s (R-FL) opponent.
- Mellody Hobson joins The Rockefeller Foundation.
- Grosvenor appoints Director to expand diverse manager platform.
- Internet Innovation Alliance announces its new Co-Chair.
- Freed journo returns to WaPo.
- Former Obama appointee’s plans to buy the Weinstein company gets stalled.
- Meet BuzzFeed’s new White House Correspondent.
- A Philadelphia Eagles teams with former First Lady Michelle Obama.
- Pacific Islander lawmakers ask for more funds to help migrants.
- Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) holds up Trump trade nominees.
- Congressman Elijah Cummings (D-MD) leads push for subpoena on Homeland Security Muslim travel ban report.
- Administration withholding hurricane emergency loan for Puerto Rico.
- Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) intro bill on foreign meddling in elections.
- Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) intros legislation on human trafficking.
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San Juan, PR Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz with Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) on Sunday in Atlanta, where she received the Humanitarian Leadership Award from the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change. | |  | Soledad O'Brien with James Rhee, CEO of the Ashley Stewart clothing company, at the National Retail Federation Foundation gala in NYC on Sunday. | |
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DACA Talks Remain Stalled Despite WH CoS’ Meetings With CHC, House GOP
White House representatives including WH Chief of Staff John Kelly took to the Hill yesterday in attempts to move the conversations forward on a legislative solution for DACA. First, the group met with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, CAPAC Chair Judy Chu (D-CA), and others. Kelly told the group that Trump supports protecting “Dreamers,” but WaPo reports that the meeting ended with no resolution as to what exactly the administration wants in exchange. It was during this meeting that John Kelly reportedly said there will be no wall "that Mexico will pay for," though Trump tweeted differently this morning. Lawmakers say Kelly also told them that "Certain things are said during the campaign that are uninformed." Kelly and company also met with a group of pro-immigration GOPers, including Congressmen Will Hurd (R-TX) and Carlos Curbelo (R-FL), as well as Congresswomen Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) and Mia Love (R-UT), and said their meeting was productive though not much progress was made. Yet, both sides continue to push their respective legislative solutions. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) last night said that the bipartisan immigration legislation proposed by the “Gang of Six” has “56 senators ready to move forward with this issue.” On the House side, Congressmen Will Hurd (R-TX) and Pete Aguilar (D-CA) continue to work on getting co-sponsors for their USA Act legislation, which would protect DACA program recipients and provide them a pathway to citizenship while adding to the government's efforts to secure the border; at last count, 50 lawmakers from both sides of the aisle have signed on. Unfortunately, their efforts don’t seem to be at the top of the WH’s agenda. During his meeting with House Dems, Kelly said he knew nothing about the Hurd/Aguilar bill -- a comment that left attendees stunned. See the latest on the talks here.
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CBC Members Push Apple to Look into Tech Addiction
Has your iPhone been slowing down? If so, Congresswoman Robin Kelly (D-IL) is asking why. She led a letter several lawmakers sent to Apple asking the company to explain its recent controversial move to slow down older models of the iPhone without previously notifying users, a move critics decried as Apple pushing consumers to buy its newest models by making the older products appear to be obsolete. Lawmakers also asked the company to provide some answers on how their products can negatively affect consumers, including “smartphone addiction” among children. Overdependence by young people on technology has been an ongoing issue, but it recently came to the forefront at Apple when two of its largest shareholders asked the company to address the issue. Signatories to the letter sent to Apple CEO Tim Cook include Congressional Black Caucus members Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), Marcia Fudge (D-OH), and Marc Veasey (D-TX). CBC members have been actively pressuring tech companies on several issues, including a push to include more people of color on boards. More here.
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Duckworth and Gallego Return from North Korea and Japan
Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Congressman Rubén Gallego (D-AZ), both Iraq war veterans, returned on Tuesday from an official trip to South Korea and Japan, where they toured the border of North Korea and met with regional military and diplomatic leaders, human rights activists, and troops. After completing her first official trip as a Senator, Duckworth said in a statement “It is clear that the costs of war in the Korean Peninsula would be catastrophic and claim countless military and civilian lives.” She goes on to say, “While I am encouraged by North Korea’s return to the negotiating table, we will not compromise on denuclearization.” The Senator will deliver a speech at Georgetown University tonight about the risks of a North Korean conflict. More here.
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CHC Voices Opposition to Census 2020 Citizenship Question
Members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), led by Congressman Darren Soto (D-FL), sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Commerce expressing strong opposition to DOJ’s proposal to add a citizenship question to the 2020 Census. In the letter, CHC members expressed their concerns to Secretary Wilbur Ross and urged the Department to oppose DOJ’s untested citizenship question, arguing it would “instill fear among immigrant communities, decrease participation and negatively impact the outcome and accuracy of the 2020 Census.” See the full letter here.
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|  | Sonya Brathwaite, actor Cress Williams, and Nicol Turner-Lee from the Brookings Institution on Saturday at the Black Lightning premiere. | |  | CA State Treasurer and gubernatorial candidate John Chiang on Sunday with Ana, a campaign supporter. | |
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Lewis and Thompson to be Honored at Mississippi Civil Rights Museum
Civil rights icon Congressman John Lewis (D-GA) will finally visit the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum after refusing to attend the opening that Donald Trump attended last month. As part of the celebration hosted by the Friends of Mississippi Civil Rights Inc. -- a private group comprised of community leaders and elected and appointed officials -- the Congressman will give a lecture on February 24th. Lewis will be joined by Congressman Bennie Thompson (D-MS). The group also announced that it will bestow awards to both Lewis and Thompson during the event: Lewis will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award, and Thompson will receive the Chairman’s Award. More here.
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HI Congresswomen Ask for Hearing on Military Involvement in Emergency Alerts
The fallout and reaction continues after the false alarm last weekend about a missile strike on Hawaii sent island residents panicking, with Congresswomen Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) and Colleen Hanabusa (D-HI) asking the House Armed Services Committee to hold a hearing over whether the military should be given access to the state emergency alert system when national security issues come into play. The two lawmakers sent a letter to the committee on Tuesday saying that while it made sense for a state to have jurisdiction over natural disaster alerts such as floods and hurricanes, perhaps the military could take over on national security issues since they more than anyone would know if an attack is imminent, and that their oversight would help allay any fears. Hawaii is the only state set up to send cell phone alerts about the threat of an incoming ballistic missile. State officials are holding a hearing tomorrow, with Governor David Ige among those testifying. More here.
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Catherine Cortez Masto Pushes Transportation Package
Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) asked the Senate Science and Transportation Committee to hold a hearing on legislation to improve transportation systems in communities, ahead of a possible bipartisan transportation package to be considered in Congress. Joined by Senator Richard Burr (R-NC), the lawmakers filed legislation that they say would allow more communities to compete for Department of Transportation program funding to enhance transportation systems with new technology. The Moving and Fostering Innovation to Revolutionize Smarter Transportation, or Moving First Act, would provide $500 million over five years and distributed on a competitive basis to rural and urban communities with plans to upgrade transportation systems through technology. More here.
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CBC Mulls Boycott or Demonstration at SOTU
Speaking to BuzzFeed’s AM to DM yesterday, Congressional Black Caucus Chair Cedric Richmond (D-LA) said that the Caucus had plans to meet to discuss if the group would protest Donald Trump’s State of the Union address later this month. "We could go, we could go and walk out, we could go and hold up fists ... or we could not go, or we could hold our own State of the Union," Richmond said. [T]he most important part is to let people out there know that we're still here, we're still fighting, we really don't care what [Trump] thinks about us." As we told you last week, Congressman John Lewis (D-GA) and Congresswomen Frederica Wilson (D-FL) and Maxine Waters (D-CA) have already RSVP'ed “nope.” So, too, has Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus member Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (D-WA). We’ll keep you posted as we get additional deets. Today, Richmond and Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) will introduce a resolution to censure the president for the racist “shithole” comments he made about Haiti and African countries during a bipartisan January 11th meeting on American immigration policy. The pair will hold a press availability at 1P in the House Radio-TV Gallery. More here.
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|  | NM congressional candidate Deb Haaland with a supporter out on the campaign trail on Monday. | |  | Congressman Jimmy Gómez (D-CA) and volunteers on Saturday celebrating the 115th Korean American Day with a neighborhood cleanup in Koreatown in LA. | |
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Barack Obama Huddles with Holder and Pérez to Prep for 2018 Campaign Trail
Former President Barack Obama is working behind the scenes on campaign strategy with DNC Chair Tom Pérez and National Democratic Redistricting Committee (NDRC) Chair Eric Holder, according to Politico. Reportedly, Obama isn’t expecting to make campaign appearances until the fall, and when he does, will take cues from the NDRC in looking for endorsements and appearances that play up redistricting. “He’s going to be out there for candidates, he’ll be out there helping us in meaningful ways, not just in fundraising,” Pérez said. The most likely stops will be where races for Governor, or perhaps Senate, overlap with competitive races for the House and state legislatures, Politico reports. Obama won’t endorse in primaries, but once he does weigh in, will be open to a range of ways to help. A 2008 campaign aide, Paulette Aniskoff, has become the point person for candidates and Obama alumni looking for how to get involved. “Just as he did in 2017, I fully expect President Obama will continue to help us fundraise, engage grassroots activists through NDRC’s partnership with Organizing for Action, and shine a spotlight on redistricting in key state races this year,” Holder said. More here.
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Young Doc Launches Gubernatorial Bid
Political newcomer Dr. Luis-Daniel Muñoz has kicked off a campaign aiming to be the next governor of Rhode Island. The 32-year-old says he has never been a registered Democrat or Republican and is running as an Independent. He's hoping to unseat Democratic Governor Gina Raimondo, the first woman to ever serve in the office. He’s currently a full-time entrepreneur working in the medical technology field. Muñoz says if elected, he would scale back corporate financial incentive programs and provide more assistance to Rhode Islanders for whom English is a second language. The NYC native and Rhode Island College graduate completed medical school at the University of Connecticut. He will face Republican state Representative Joe Trillo -- who is also running for Governor as an Independent -- in the September 9th primary. More here.
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CHC Backs Curbelo’s Opponent
After refusing Congressman Carlos Curbelo’s (R-FL) membership, BOLD PAC -- the political arm of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus -- is backing the Republican’s opponent. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, a potential source of campaign cash, immigrated to the U.S. from Ecuador when she was 14. The 46-year-old bilingual Pitzer College graduate earned her Master's from Claremont Graduate University. “As a Latina and an immigrant, Debbie knows exactly what it means to fight for the right to live the American Dream. Unlike her opponent, she shares our values of passing a clean Dream Act, expanding access to healthcare, and improving the lives of hard-working Florida families,” said BOLD PAC Chair Congressman Tony Cárdenas (D-CA). Curbelo’s spokesperson, Joanna Rodríguez, did not mince words in her response to the endorsement. “The Congressional Hispanic Caucus’ extreme partisanship has led them to embrace bigotry and discrimination against any Hispanic American who isn’t a card-carrying member of the Democratic Party,” she said in a statement. “The Congressman feels sorry for any candidate who feels desperate enough to embrace the endorsement of individuals who promote bigotry and discrimination against fellow Americans of Hispanic descent.” She went on to say that Curbelo will still work with the Caucus to find a solution for "Dreamers." More here.
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|  | Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) on Tuesday in sunny Miami making her way back to snowy DC. | |  |
Congresswoman Grace Meng (D-NY) last week presenting a proclamation to the New York Bangladesh Press Club in honor of the organization’s inauguration ceremony. | |
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Vietnamese Businessman Wants to Unseat Fellow Republican
Republican businessman Danny Nguyen kicked off his congressional campaign last week, hoping to unseat incumbent Congressman Pete Olson (R-TX). The 47-year-old Nguyen has a short window to convince GOP voters he should represent Texas’ 22nd Congressional District -- which covers a largely suburban south-central portion of the Greater Houston metropolitan area -- before the March 6th primary. The Texas A&M University graduate first came to the U.S. in 1984 as a teenage refugee from Vietnam, fleeing with his father on a fishing boat. Ten years later, he and his father would be reunited with his mother and five siblings in a suburb outside of Houston. The majority-minority district population is 35.6% White, 13.9% Black, 18.1% Asian, 25.0% Hispanic, 0.41% Native American, and 7.1% other. "As I look around at our country today, I see deception, I see divisiveness, I see distractions, and if we do not do something about it, we will soon self-destruct before any external enemy can harm us," Nguyen says on his webpage. More here.
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González Talks About His Massachusetts Gubernatorial Bid
Democrat Jay González launched his Massachusetts gubernatorial bid nearly a year ago. The 46-year-old former state Secretary of Administration and Finance during the Governor Deval Patrick administration gives a lengthy interview to The Boston Globe on his vision for the New England state. After graduating from Dartmouth, the Cleveland, OH native went on to complete law school at Georgetown. He moved to Massachusetts in 1998. His mother dropped out of college when he was born, and his father was a Spanish immigrant who worked as a bricklayer. Most recently, Jay served as President and CEO of CeltiCare Health and New Hampshire Healthy Families. Check out his interview.
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Executive Director (DC preferred)
The Ballot Initiative Strategy Center is looking for an Executive Director to serve as the chief strategic officer and public spokesperson for BISC’s mission, vision, values, and programs. The Executive Director provides vision, leadership, and direction to ensure the organization is financially sustainable and leads the progressive community in ballot-measure strategy and innovation. The Executive Director is responsible for overseeing fiscal management, fund development, and fundraising efforts. Click here to learn more and apply.
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Mellody Hobson Joins The Rockefeller Foundation
Mellody Hobson has joined The Rockefeller Foundation’s Board of Trustees. She is the current President of Ariel Investments and serves as chairman of the Board of Trustees for Ariel Investment Trust. The 1991 Princeton grad is a nationally recognized voice on financial literacy and investor education. She makes regular appearances on CBS News commenting on finance, the market, and economic trends. Hobson previously served as Chairwoman of the board for DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. and is currently a Director of The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. and Starbucks Corporation. “I am proud to join an organization that is at the forefront of innovation in philanthropy and business, and am eager to continue advancing its mission,” said Hobson. She joins Sharon Percy Rockefeller and retired Admiral James Stavridis, who were also appointed. “Our new trustees will play an instrumental role in helping to guide our organization through a crucial time for philanthropy and for our country. The Foundation could not ask for three better or more qualified people to support us in our mission amidst new and growing challenges,” said Rajiv Shah, President of The Rockefeller Foundation. More here.
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Grosvenor Appoints Director to Expand Diverse Manager Platform
GCM Grosvenor announced that Renae Griffin has joined the firm as a Director in a newly created role. Most recently, Griffin was CEO of RG + Associates, a firm she founded in 2001, which has annually sponsored its flagship ConsortiumEAST and ConsortiumWEST conferences for over a decade. In her new role, the University of San Francisco graduate will assist GCM Grosvenor in expanding its small, emerging and diverse manager platform, which currently has cumulative commitments to small and emerging managers totaling $15 billion, including $3 billion in commitments to minority-owned and diverse asset managers across a number of asset classes. Griffin will focus on developing effective strategies for institutional investors, federal, state and local government agencies, corporations and nonprofits to expand their exposure to high-quality emerging and diverse asset managers. Griffin began her career in finance in 1982 with Bankers Trust Company serving as an Associate to senior officers in the commercial lending group. In 1986, she joined Capital Guardian Trust Company as a Marketing Associate. In 1995, she joined Progress Investment Management Company as a Marketing Director. On her new role, she says, “Diversity and inclusion is at the heart of GCM Grosvenor's culture; the firm has a long history of being a catalyst for change in the industry and I'm excited to be joining the team." Congrats! More here.
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Philadelphia Eagle Teams with Michelle Obama
Philadelphia Eagles Defensive End Chris Long has teamed up with former First Lady Michelle Obama’s Reach Higher/Better Make Room initiatives and Summer Search, a youth development nonprofit. The goal of their partnership is to help college-aspiring students from low-income backgrounds across the nation apply to college, get the financial aid they need, and find the support they need to graduate. The initiative aims to help students fill out the FAFSA, the Free Application for Student Aid. Every year, millions of free federal aid dollars for college are left untouched, simply because students don’t apply for it. Furthermore, students that complete their FAFSA and get financial aid are much more likely to attend college than those who don’t. More here.
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Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. sorors celebrate 110 years of service with a $50,000 donation presented to the Thurgood Marshall College Fund and TMCF President & CEO Dr. Harry Williams. | |  |
Former AG Eric Holder speaking with Bakari Sellers last week on his ViewPoint podcast. | |
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Obama Appointee In Battle to Buy Weinstein Co.
Until a few weeks ago, a group of investors led by former Barack Obama appointee María Contreras-Sweet looked to be in a pretty good position to buy the Weinstein, Co. But an attempt by Qatar-owned film company Miramax has thrown a wrench into plans. The LA Times reports that Harvey and Bob Weinstein, who co-founded Weinstein Co. in 2005 and own about 46% of the business, have been trying to steer the company toward a deal with Miramax. The offer from Contreras-Sweet, who ran the Small Business Administration from 2014-2017, would be valued at less than $500 million, including the assumption of hundreds of millions of Weinstein debt. The proposal, laid out in a 96-page asset purchase agreement, would give Contreras-Sweet's consortium control of Weinstein Co.'s assets and install a majority female board of directors. Last week, sources told the paper that a deal was close. Now, with this news, a deal may still be weeks away. More here.
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After Months in Captivity, Journo Returns to the Newsroom
The former WaPo Tehran Bureau Chief who spent 18 months in captivity in Iran on bogus charges, is finally returning to the newsroom as a staff writer on the WorldViews team. Jason Rezaian was convicted of espionage in a closed-door trial in Iran in 2015. Since being released two years ago, he has been working on a book while also serving as a Nieman fellow at Harvard University and a Terker fellow at George Washington University's School of Media & Public Affairs. He is a graduate of the New School’s Eugene Lang College and one-time Persian rug dealer who began his career in journalism freelancing from Iran. Jason and his wife now live in the Beltway. He makes his official return to the newsroom on January 22nd. More here.
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Meet BuzzFeed’s New WH Correspondent
Tarini Parti has been named the new White House Correspondent for BuzzFeed News. The University of North Carolina grad joined BuzzFeed in 2015, most recently serving as one of its political reporters; Parti helped to break the outlet's story detailing the first allegation against Congressman Rubén Kihuen (D-NV). Previously, Parti worked for Politico, where she covered money and politics, campaigns and agriculture. She also did internships at the Center for Responsive Politics and The Christian Science Monitor. Parti replaces Adrian Carrasquillo, who was terminated after sending inappropriate messages to colleagues and who appeared on the “Shitty Media Men” list. More here.
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Kennan Will Co-Chair IIA Coalition
The Internet Innovation Alliance (IIA) announced yesterday that Kim Keenan would serve as the new Co-Chairwoman of the coalition. Previously, the Georgetown University and University of Virginia School of Law grad served as the President and CEO of the Multicultural Media, Telecom & Internet Council from 2014 through 2017. At the beginning of this year, she joined Odyssey Media as the Executive Vice President for Marketing and Research. Before that, Keenan was the longest-serving female General Counsel of the NAACP. She also previously served as Principal of her own law firm, The Keenan Firm, and also worked as a Senior Trial Attorney at Jack H. Olender & Associates for 16 years. Keenan is also a Senior Adjunct Professor at the George Washington University Law School. Keenan, who replaces outgoing Co-Chair Jamal Simmons, joins Honorary Chairman Rick Boucher and IIA Founding Co-Chairman Bruce Mehlman at the helm of the coalition. More here.
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|  | Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) ready to twirl the kane back in the 90s with "the bruhs" from Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. | |  |
Throwing it back to DNC Chair Tom Pérez as a teen in Buffalo, NY. | |
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Haitians Barred from Applying for Visas for Low-Skilled Work
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that Haitians will no longer be eligible for U.S. visas given to low-skilled workers, bringing an end to a small-scale effort to employ Haitians in the United States after a catastrophic 2010 earthquake. The change comes less than a week after Donald Trump reportedly questioned in an Oval Office meeting why the U.S. would want to take in immigrants from Haiti and African nations, referring to them as “shithole” countries. DHS said in a regulatory filing that it was removing Haiti from lists of more than 80 countries whose citizens can be granted H-2A and H-2B visas, given to seasonal workers in agriculture and other industries. It cited what it said were “high levels of fraud and abuse” by Haitians with the visas and a “high rate of overstaying the terms” of their visas. Note: it has been reported that Trump's Mar-a-Lago hires Haitian workers using the H-2B visa program. More here.
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Rubio, Van Hollen Intro Senate Bill to Deter Foreign Election Interference
In response to Russia’s meddling in the 2016 presidential election, Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) have introduced bipartisan legislation that would penalize foreign entities for interfering in a future U.S. election. The Defending Elections from Threats by Establishing Redlines (DETER) Act lays out specific foreign actions against U.S. elections that would warrant penalties from the federal government. The bill would require the Director of National Intelligence to report to Congress, within one month after every federal election, on whether any foreign government had interfered in that election. Should there be interference, the Senator’s bill lays out specific sanctions and penalties the U.S. would enforce -- especially against Russia. “We cannot be a country where foreign intelligence agencies attempt to influence our political process without consequences," said Rubio. “This bill will help to ensure the integrity of our electoral process by using key national security tools to dissuade foreign powers from meddling in our elections.” More here.
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Cummings, Oversight Dems Want Subpoena on DHS’ Muslim Ban Report
Democrats on the House Oversight Committee, led by their Ranking Member, Congressman Elijah Cummings (D-MD), sent a letter to Committee Chairman Congressman Trey Gowdy (R-SC) calling on him to issue a subpoena that compels DHS to produce a full, unredacted copy of a report on Donald Trump’s first attempt at banning Muslim immigrants and visitors from the U.S. The report, which was completed more than three months ago by the Inspector General, came as a result of efforts by Cummings and 37 other members of Congress requesting that Inspector General John Roth launch an investigation into multiple reports of coercive actions taken by Customs and Border Patrol agents in response to Trump’s executive order, including the denial of access to legal counsel. “The Department has been blocking the Inspector General from delivering its report to Congress based on spurious legal arguments, and our Committee would be forsaking its constitutional oversight responsibilities if we allow this ongoing abuse to stand,” the letter says. Their correspondence comes on the heels of a pair of letters sent Tuesday by Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) demanding answers about DHS' attempt to claim “executive privilege” for the report. Read more here.
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|  | Comedian Patton Oswalt with Congressman Ted Lieu (D-CA) and his wife Betty on Monday at the kickoff of The Comedy Resistance event. | |  | Congressman Keith Ellison (D-MN) showing his support for the NFL's Minnesota Vikings. | |
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Cruz Intros Bill Aimed to Bring Transparency to Temporary Worker Visa Programs and Combat Human Trafficking
Last week, Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) joined Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Congresswoman Lois Frankel (D-FL) in introducing the bipartisan Visa Transparency Anti-Trafficking Act. The bipartisan, bicameral bill seeks to prevent human trafficking by bringing more openness to the foreign temporary worker visa process. Millions of foreign individuals are authorized to work in the U.S. every year on temporary, non-immigrant visas. Some abusive employers bring foreign workers to the country only to coerce them into unbearable conditions, including sex slavery and domestic servitude. Federal data on these temporary work visas is not uniformly reported and not available to the public. Cruz says the Visa Transparency Anti-Trafficking Act provides a straightforward solution to gaps in reporting, by requiring a standardized reporting system, expanding reports to include critical information, and providing governments, advocates, and the public with the data needed to develop trafficking prevention programs. “Across the globe, far too many people are in bondage,” Cruz said. “Human trafficking is a scourge on our country, and all of us must stand together to stop this grotesque abuse.” More here.
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Administration Withholds Hurricane Emergency Loan for Puerto Rico
The Trump administration is withholding a billion-dollar loan approved by Congress to help Puerto Rico in its recovery efforts from Hurricane Maria, arguing that the island is not facing an immediate cash shortage. FEMA and Treasury Department officials sent a letter to the island’s fiscal agency saying that Puerto Rico had a central cash balance of more than $1 billion and that the local government released documents in late December that showed it had nearly $7 billion available in cash -- although most is earmarked for specific uses and can’t be used to keep the government running. Island officials argue that the loan had already been approved by lawmakers and that the funds are needed because Puerto Rico’s utility companies will run out of money this month. "These public corporations are facing severe liquidity problems that threaten essential services to the people of Puerto Rico if their operations are interrupted for lack of immediate action," said Gerardo Portela, Executive Director of the island’s Fiscal Agency and Financial Advisory Authority. Federal officials say once the island’s cash balance decreases to a level agreed upon by island and federal officials, it would release the funds through the Community Disaster Loan Program. Several island legislators and unions call the administration’s move “cruel and arrogant.” More here.
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Scott Holds Up Trump’s Trade Nominees
Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) has questions and concerns for U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer that are not being answered. The Hill reports that during a hearing on his own party’s nominees, Scott announced that he will not vote on any "trade space" nominees until Lighthizer responds to him. “The reality of it is, I don’t ask for much," Scott said. "You can not call me back but you cannot disrespect the companies and the trading partner that is South Carolina ... And without more responsiveness and without a commitment for more responsiveness I will not be voting for any nominees in the trade space." Speaking to the nominees at the hearing, Scott said: “So while you both, I think, are very qualified, I will be putting a hold on your nominations until I find more responsiveness from Mr. Lighthizer.” Lighthizer’s staff blamed the issue on a “communications breakdown,” and the two men met after the hearing. No word on whether Scott has lifted the hold or not. Read more here.
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| FOMO
Friday, January 26th, 12P: The Congressional Hispanic Staff Association hosts a roundtable discussion with Mexico’s Ambassador to the U.S., Gerónimo Gutiérrez. Capitol Visitors Center, SVC 212-210.
Monday, January 29th, 10A: A memorial service for trailblazing civil rights journalist Simeon Booker is being held at the Washington National Cathedral, 3101 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Simeon Booker Scholarship at Youngstown State University. All gifts designated for this minority scholarship are matched by the Youngstown State U Foundation. Click here for more information.
Tuesday, February 13th, 7P: The Women’s Fund of Central Indiana hosts “A Moderated Conversation with Former First Lady Michelle Obama." Bankers Life Fieldhouse, 125 South Pennsylvania Street, Indianapolis. Tickets go on sale Friday, January 12th at 10A. Click here for more information and click here to purchase tickets.
Wednesday, February 21st - Friday, February 23rd: The NFL, along with Morehouse College and the Ross Initiative in Sports for Equality (RISE), hosts a program in Atlanta to educate athletes on how to develop and implement effective advocacy platforms that positively impact society. Click here for more information.
Saturday, February 24th: The Association for the Study of African American Life and History hosts the 92nd Annual Black History Month Luncheon. Washington Renaissance Hotel, 999 9th Street, N.W. Click here for more information and to register.
Tuesday, March 13th, 7P: The National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials presents Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez (D-NY) with the 2018 Edward R. Roybal Award for Outstanding Public Service during the organization’s annual Edward R. Roybal Legacy Gala in DC. JW Marriott, 1331 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.
Wednesday, April 18th - Saturday, April 21st: The National Action Network hosts its annual conference, this year commemorating the 50th anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. Sheraton Times Square, NYC. Click here for more information.
Thursday, April 19th: The University of North Dakota sponsors a conference on the Dakota Access Pipeline and the Standing Rock protests. Click here for more information.
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