Kweisi Mfume

Rep. Mfume Commends Postal Workers, Requests Briefing on Suspicious Mailings to Congressional Offices

Position: The release commends Postal Service and Postal Inspection Service employees for intercepting suspicious mailings and requests a congressional briefing on the threat, related safety measures for postal workers, and resources needed to address such mailings.

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Congressman Kweisi Mfume (D-MD), Ranking Member of the House Oversight Subcommittee on Government Operations, sent a letter to Postmaster General David Steiner and Chief Postal Inspector Gary Barksdale requesting a briefing on the suspicious mailings sent this week to congressional offices and state election offices. In the letter, Congressman Mfume commends the Postal Service employees who intercepted several of the letters before they were delivered and honors the postal workers who face the greatest risk from dangerous mail. “I commend the Postal Service and Postal Inspection Service employees who, according to state election officials and a Senate office, intercepted several of these letters before they were delivered,” wrote Congressman Mfume. “As the investigation continues, I want to make sure Congress has a clear picture of the threat and of any support the Postal Service needs to address it.” “This week’s mailings are also a reminder that the people most exposed to dangerous mail are the postal employees who handle it first,” Congressman Mfume continued. “Our country learned this at great cost in 2001, when two employees of the Brentwood processing facility in Washington, D.C., both Maryland residents, died after anthrax letters addressed to Senate offices passed through their facility. We owe them and their families a lasting debt.” “I thank these inspectors, and the letter carriers, clerks, and mail handlers who keep doing this work every day, often without knowing what is inside the envelopes they carry,” Congressman Mfume concluded. In the letter, Congressman Mfume requests a briefing on the following: The approximate number of suspicious mailings identified to date, including how many were addressed to congressional offices and how many were intercepted before delivery; How the Postal Service and the Postal Inspection Service identified and intercepted these mailings; How and when the Postal Inspection Service shares information about threats in the mail with the Capitol Police and the House and Senate Sergeants at Arms; The steps taken to protect postal employees who may have processed or delivered these letters; and Any changes to procedures adopted after earlier suspicious mailings, and any additional resources the Postal Inspection Service needs to address these threats. Text of the letter can be viewed HERE. ###

Reps. Mfume, Vindman Urge Netanyahu to Contain Violence and Protect Palestinians in the West Bank

Position: Representatives Mfume and Vindman led a letter urging Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to contain settler violence in the West Bank, protect Palestinian communities, investigate and prosecute violence against Palestinians and the deaths of nine American citizens, and halt further settlement approvals and remove illegal outposts.

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Kweisi Mfume (D-MD), Member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa, and Congressman Eugene Vindman (D-VA) led a letter to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, urging him to take immediate steps to contain settler violence and protect Palestinian communities in the West Bank. "We write with urgent concern regarding the growing outbreak of extremist settler violence in the West Bank, including violence that has killed and threatened American citizens," wrote the lawmakers. "We do so out of concern for Israel's long-term security as well as for the safety of Palestinians. Continued settlement expansion and violence in the West Bank will harm that security and the prospects for lasting peace, prosperity, and freedom for Israelis and Palestinians alike." "Amidst this violence, we are especially concerned for the safety of American citizens in the West Bank," the lawmakers continued. "Nine American citizens have been killed in the West Bank since January 2022. To date, no one has been held accountable for any of these nine deaths. Many of us have heard directly from constituents, including American citizens who have themselves been threatened or harassed by settlers without cause." "Restoring the rule of law in the West Bank serves the security of Israelis and Palestinians alike," the lawmakers concluded. "The safety of our constituents matters to us as the safety of your citizens matters to you. We also hope to see conditions improve so that Israelis and Palestinians may one day live alongside one another without fear of terrorism or lawless violence." In the letter, the representatives request that the Israeli government take the following actions to uphold the rule of law and end the violence in the West Bank: Instruct the Israeli Police and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to defend Palestinian communities in the West Bank when they come under attack, and to apply that standard consistently, whoever the attackers are; Establish a transparent and credible mechanism to investigate and prosecute violence against Palestinians, including Palestinian Americans, and complete the pending investigations into the deaths of the nine American citizens killed in the West Bank since January 2022. Halt further settlement approvals and continue to take steps to remove illegal outposts in the West Bank. The letter was also signed by Reps. Ansari, Balint, Barragán, Beyer, Bonamici, Boyle, Carbajal, Carson, Carter, Casten, Chu, Clarke, Cleaver, Cohen, Courtney, Crockett, Davis, Dean, DeLauro, Deluzio, DeSaulnier, Doggett, Elfreth, Escobar, Foster, Garamendi, Green, Grijalva, Hoyer, Hoyle, Huffman, Jackson, Jacobs, Johnson (GA), Kamlager-Dove, Kaptur, Kennedy, Khanna, Lofgren, Lynch, Mannion, McBride, Moore, Morrison, Nadler, Norton, Olszewski, Pallone, Panetta, Pelosi, Peters, Pettersen, Pingree, Pocan, Quigley, Randall, Raskin, Ross, Salinas, Scanlon, Schakowsky, Stansbury, Stanton, Subramanyam, Thompson (MS), Tokuda, Tran, Vindman, Walkinshaw, Waters, and Watson Coleman. Supporting organizations include: J Street, New Jewish Narrative, and Jewish Democratic Council of America. Text of the letter can be viewed here. ###

Reps. Mfume, Jackson Introduce House Bill Requiring the U.S. to Rejoin the WHO and Help Contain the Fastest-Growing Ebola Outbreak on Record

Position: The release supports legislation requiring the President to rejoin the World Health Organization within 30 days of enactment and directing the U.S. to work with the WHO on the Ebola outbreak in Central and Eastern Africa. It also criticizes the Administration's withdrawal from the WHO, foreign-assistance cuts, and stalled funding for Gavi.

WASHINGTON, DC – This month, Congressman Kweisi Mfume (D-MD-07) and Congressman Jonathan L. Jackson (D-IL-01) introduced the Epidemic Barrier and Outbreak Leadership Act, or the EBOLA Act (H.R.10345), which would require the President to rejoin the World Health Organization within 30 days of enactment and direct the United States to begin working with the WHO immediately on the Ebola outbreak in Central and Eastern Africa. The bill is the House companion to legislation introduced by Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Per the World Health Organization's September 6 Situation Report, the Democratic Republic of the Congo has passed 6,500 confirmed cases and 3,200 confirmed deaths in a little over two months, a faster rate of spread than any previous Ebola outbreak. By comparison, the 2014 West Africa outbreak had roughly 40 suspected cases when the international response began. Fighting between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Rwanda-backed M23 has cut off humanitarian access to some of the areas where the virus is spreading fastest, and the WHO and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention are running the global response without American participation. "President Trump pulled the United States out of the World Health Organization and told Americans we would be safer for it. It was a foolish decision the day he made it, and sadly, with Ebola now spreading faster than any outbreak of it we have seen, it did not take long to become a dangerous one," said Congressman Kweisi Mfume. "This Administration also cut foreign assistance and stalled funding for the vaccine organizations that stop outbreaks abroad before they reach us, including Gavi. Every one of those choices made this crisis worse and left Americans more vulnerable. Protecting American families means working alongside the health experts tracking this virus, not turning our backs on them. The House should take this bill up without delay." "Every American family should be concerned that when this dangerous outbreak began, our own government did not hear about it for nine days because we are no longer in the room,” said Congressman Jonathan L. Jackson. “While Ebola continues to spread and communities are living in fear and desperate for support, the United States is on the sidelines, cruelly abandoning the humanitarian mission that our nation guided for decades. In June, I co-led a letter with 74 of my colleagues warning that America’s retreat from the global health system would leave us exposed and vulnerable. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and CDC Acting Director Jay Bhattacharya did not heed our warnings, and that’s exactly what has happened. The answer is straightforward: America is safer when we invest in partnerships that have long advanced both our moral responsibilities and American interests. I am proud to co-lead this legislation with Congressman Mfume to require the U.S. to rejoin the WHO and stop treating the health of families in Central and Eastern Africa as separate from the health of families on the South Side of Chicago.” President Trump signed Executive Order 14155 in January 2025 beginning the withdrawal of the United States from the WHO, and the withdrawal was completed in January 2026. It ended nearly all American support for the organization and pulled back U.S. personnel and contracts. One consequence is that the State Department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cannot retrieve personal protective equipment that American taxpayers paid for and that is being held in WHO facilities near the affected region. Another is timing: the United States did not learn of this outbreak until nine days after the WHO did. Additional House Cosponsors include: Yvette Clarke, Jasmine Crockett, Danny Davis, Madeleine Dean, Jonathan Jackson, Pramila Jayapal, Sydney Kamlager-Dove, Stephen Lynch, Sarah McBride, Seth Moulton, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Johnny Olszewski, Ilhan Omar, Deborah Ross, Rashida Tlaib, Nydia Velazquez. Additional Senate Cosponsors include: Cory Booker, Chris Van Hollen, Tim Kaine, John Hickenlooper, Amy Klobuchar, Jacky Rosen, Chris Coons, Alex Padilla, Chris Murphy, Tammy Baldwin, Jeff Merkley. Click HERE to read the bill's full text. The EBOLA Act would: Require the President to rejoin the WHO no later than 30 days after enactment, and require the United States to begin collaborating with the organization immediately on the outbreak in Central and Eastern Africa; and Authorize the appropriations needed to carry out the Act, including membership dues and voluntary or programmatic support aimed at stopping the spread of Ebola. ###

Congressman Mfume Statement on the Retirement of Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch

Position: The statement commends Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch's career and his work on the National Museum of African American History and Culture, and criticizes President Trump for seeking to impose a particular interpretation of history on the public.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, in response to the retirement of Smithsonian Secretary Dr. Lonnie G. Bunch III, Congressman Kweisi Mfume (D-MD-07) released the following statement: "Lonnie Bunch has devoted nearly four decades to ensuring that America tells its whole, unvarnished story. He understood that our history, in all its complexity and consequence, deserves to be preserved, taught, and understood. His extraordinary work bringing the National Museum of African American History and Culture to life changed the National Mall and changed the way current and future generations of Americans understand our nation and themselves." "Shame again on Donald Trump, who wants to impose his own brand of history and facts on the American public. Kudos to Dr. Lonnie Bunch for a fight well fought. Scholarship is more important than presidential gamesmanship." ###

Reps. Mfume, Bell, Strickland Lead 70+ Congresspeople in Efforts to Stop Navy from Renaming Ship Honoring War Hero to Instead Honor Donald Trump

Position: Representatives led a letter urging the Department of Defense and Navy to retain the name USS Doris Miller for aircraft carrier CVN-81 and not rename it after a sitting president.

WASHINGTON, DC — Last week, Representatives Kweisi Mfume (D-MD-07), Wesley Bell (D-MO-01), Marilyn Strickland (D-WA-10), led over 70 of their Democratic House colleagues in an effort pressing Department of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao to keep the name of the USS Doris Miller as is. The letter follows recent reporting that the U.S. Navy is considering renaming the USS Doris Miller in honor of President Trump. Doris Miller was a sailor aboard the USS West Virginia when Japan began its attack on Pearl Harbor who placed himself in harm's way to help save his fellow sailors. “Renaming this ship after a sitting President would be unprecedented and break longstanding tradition,” wrote the Representatives. “Most importantly, this would diminish the recognition of one of our country’s greatest military heroes. It was during President Trump’s first term that the Navy announced CVN-81 would bear Doris Miller’s name. Reversing that decision now would be a significant step backward in honoring the courage and sacrifice of those who have served our country.” News broke last week about the Navy potentially renaming its ship, CVN-81, to honor Trump. During the president’s first term, the Navy had announced that CVN-81 would bear Doris Miller’s name, making it the first aircraft carrier to be named for an African American, as well as the first named in honor of an enlisted sailor. Doris ‘Dorie’ Miller was serving aboard the USS West Virginia on December 7, 1941, when Japan began its attack. At the time, Miller was a Mess Attendant Third Class, and after his station came under fire, he took control of an anti-aircraft gun and fired at incoming aircraft. Even as the ship sank, he kept fighting until he ran out of ammunition, and assisted his fellow wounded sailors to reach safety. “Doris Miller’s story is one of extraordinary bravery, service, and pure patriotism,” the Representatives continued. “When he served, segregation restricted the roles available to Black sailors and servicemembers. Yet, when his country came under attack, Miller did not hesitate to put himself in harms’ way to defend his fellow sailors and his nation. This story embodies the finest traditions of the United States Armed Forces.” “There has never been a time when we have named a warship after a sitting president. Changing course and now to satisfy a sitting President’s ego, especially one who dodged service to his country, would be shamefully wrong. We urge you to reject this plan and ensure that CVN-81 bears the name USS Doris Miller. Our Navy must continue honoring the courage of those that answered their country’s call to service,” the lawmakers concluded. In addition to co-leading this letter, Congressman Mfume has long led the congressional effort to secure federal recognition for Doris Miller. On March 25, 2025, National Medal of Honor Day, he introduced a pair of bills to honor Miller's heroism at Pearl Harbor: H.R. 2335, which authorizes the President to award Doris Miller the Medal of Honor posthumously for acts of valor while serving in the Navy during World War II. The bill has 12 cosponsors and was referred to the House Committee on Armed Services. The Doris Miller Congressional Gold Medal Act (H.R. 2336), which would posthumously award Miller the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian honor bestowed by Congress. If enacted, Miller's family would receive the medal and it would be displayed at the Smithsonian. The bill was referred to the Committees on Financial Services and House Administration. In introducing the bills, Congressman Mfume continued the work of the late Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, who fought since 2001 to see Miller awarded the Medal of Honor. The Medal of Honor legislation is endorsed by the National Association for Black Veterans (NABVETs) and the Dorie Miller Medal of Honor Committee. Congressman Mfume represents Maryland's Seventh Congressional District and serves as Ranking Member of the House Oversight Subcommittee on Government Operations. The letter was signed by: Reps. Gabe Amo, Yassamin Ansari, Joyce Beatty, Julia Brownley, Nikki Budzinski, Salud Carbajal, André Carson, Troy Carter, Ed Case, Joaquin Castro, Gilbert Cisneros, Emanuel Cleaver, Steve Cohen, Herb Conaway, Joe Courtney, Jason Crow, Diana DeGette, Christopher Deluzio, Mark DeSaulnier, Debbie Dingell, Sarah Elfreth, Dwight Evans, Shomari Figures, John Garamendi, Daniel Goldman, Maggie Goodlander, Josh Gottheimer, Steven Horsford, Chrissy Houlahan, Glenn Ivey, Sara Jacobs, Jonathan Jackson, William Keating, Timothy Kennedy, Ro Khanna, Greg Landsman, Stephen Lynch, April McClain Delaney, Jennifer McClellan, Christian Menefee, Dave Min, Gwen Moore, Seth Moulton, Jerrold Nadler, Donald Norcross, Eleanor Norton, Frank Pallone, Scott Peters, Brittany Pettersen, Mike Quigley, Patrick Ryan, Bradley Schneider, Robert Scott, Terri Sewell, Adam Smith, Eric Sorensen, Suhas Subramanyam, Shri Thanedar, Bennie Thompson, Dina Titus, Jill Tokuda, Ritchie Torres, Derek Tran, Gabe Vasquez, Marc Veasey, Eugene Vindman, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Maxine Waters, George Whitesides, Frederica Wilson. Text of the letter can be viewed here. ###

Mfume, Van Hollen, Alsobrooks Announce Over $10 Million to Upgrade Baltimore's Harbor Connector

Position: The release announces $10,935,000 in federal funding to replace Baltimore's Harbor Connector diesel ferries with hybrid vessels, add a fourth hybrid vessel, and make boarding more accessible. The officials state support for the funding and for the infrastructure modernization law that enabled it.

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Representative Kweisi Mfume and U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks (All D-MD) announced $10,935,000 in federal funding for the Harbor Connector, Baltimore City’s fare-free ferry service that transports riders across the harbor around waterfront neighborhoods like Locust Point, Canton, and Fells Point. The federal funding will allow the Baltimore City Department of Transportation to replace the fleet’s three diesel ferries with new hybrid vessels and support the purchase of a fourth hybrid vessel. The new ferries will have deck heights that match the landings’ freeboard, so riders with wheelchairs and mobility devices can access the boats more easily. “The Harbor Connector is an invaluable part of Baltimore’s transportation network, and I’m proud to have played a part in bringing these funds home to modernize the ferry fleet and ensure that the Connector is accessible to all Marylanders,” said Congressman Kweisi Mfume. “The Harbor Connector allows residents of Baltimore’s waterfront communities to get where they need to go more easily, and now, they will be able to do so on modern, efficient, and environmentally conscious hybrid ferries. Team Maryland will never, ever stop working to bring resources like these back home to the communities that need them.” “The Harbor Connector brings thousands of riders a year to the businesses and activities around the Baltimore Harbor. We fought to pass the infrastructure modernization law to upgrade our transportation, and this investment is an example of those federal dollars at work. This upgrade will bring more sustainable and accessible transportation options to the city and provide more opportunities for Baltimore residents and visitors to enjoy all it has to offer,” said Senator Van Hollen. “The Harbor Connector efficiently connects Baltimoreans to where they need to be — whether for school, work, or recreation — and keeps our entire community connected. I am so proud to have worked with Senator Van Hollen and Congressman Mfume to secure over $10 million to ensure more Baltimoreans can travel safely, while helping to achieve our environmental goals,” said Senator Alsobrooks. “The Harbor Connector is a key part of our transportation network, especially for our waterfront neighborhoods,” said Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott. “As we continue to see record ridership, this award will help us make the fleet even more efficient, sustainable, and accessible for all of our residents and visitors. I want to thank the best federal delegation in the country for their work to secure this funding, and I look forward to seeing the new hybrid ferries in action.” The Harbor Connector carried nearly 350,000 passengers in the city’s Fiscal Year 2026, marking the highest ridership on the service since 2017. Throughout the year, the service helped reduce single-occupancy vehicle travel by 500,000 miles and serves as an important tool to help Baltimore reach its sustainability and congestion-reduction goals. This investment comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Electric or Low-Emitting Ferry Pilot Program, which was created and funded at $250 million over five years through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, legislation that Congressman Mfume and Senator Van Hollen fought to pass in 2021. ###

Reps. Mfume, Smith form new Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Protection and Prevention Caucus in the House of Representatives

Position: The lawmakers call for the House to promptly take up and vote on HR 1144, the Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Act of 2025, and state that comprehensive anti-trafficking legislation should be passed and sent to the President. The release also announces formation of a bipartisan caucus to advance anti-trafficking legislation.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, on the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, Reps. Kweisi Mfume (D-MD) and Chris Smith (R-NJ) announced that they will be co-chairing the new, bipartisan Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Protection and Prevention Caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives. Reps. Mfume and Smith also noted that they will be working alongside Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), who plans to form a complimentary Caucus in the U.S. Senate. The Caucus—named in honor of famed abolitionist and statesman Frederick Douglass—will serve as a bicameral effort and the principal forum in Congress dedicated to advancing legislation that prevents human trafficking, protects victims and survivors, prosecutes traffickers, and strengthens partnerships with survivors across government, civil society, faith-based organizations, law enforcement, and the private sector. “Today, on the annual World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, I am proud to stand alongside Representative Chris Smith as we form this bipartisan Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Protection and Prevention Caucus,” said Congressman Kweisi Mfume. “Human trafficking is modern-day slavery and a scourge on our collective humanity. Nearly 27 million people worldwide are trapped in forms of forced labor and human bondage, and Americans in all 50 states have been victimized as well. We owe it to every survivor and victim to pass comprehensive anti-trafficking legislation out of the Congress and send it to the President’s desk. This Caucus and anti-trafficking organizations across the country represent proof of our collective intention to get that done, no matter how long it takes,” he continued. “I am honored to announce the formation of the Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Protection and Prevention Caucus alongside my Co-Chair, Rep. Mfume, who is fiercely committed to ending the modern-day slavery that is human trafficking,” said Rep. Chris Smith. “Human trafficking is an ever-evolving crime, as traffickers are constantly finding new ways—both in-person and virtually—to exploit, manipulate, and abuse victims. To meet these changing and challenging demands, this Caucus will work tirelessly to advance new anti-trafficking legislation—especially and including the Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Act of 2025 (HR 1144), which Rep. Mfume and I introduced earlier this Congress—that uplifts and empowers survivors and raises awareness of this global problem," he concluded. In addition to announcing the formation of the Caucus, Reps. Smith and Mfume urged the U.S. House of Representatives to quickly take up HR 1144 for debate and a vote. “The House passage of the Frederick Douglass TVPRA will bring us one step closer to finally eradicating this modern-day slavery,” said the two lawmakers. “Delay means denial for the millions of men, women, and children currently trapped in trafficking situations. We are working every single day—especially and including World Day Against Trafficking in Persons—to get this critical legislation over the finish line to protect critical funding and programs.” HR 1144, developed in close collaboration with several survivor-leaders, upgrades and expands the U.S. government’s toolkit for fighting human trafficking by authorizing more than $1.2 billion in federal funding over the next five years. Once enacted, the Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Act of 2025 will: Reauthorize and bolster anti-human trafficking programs across numerous federal agencies, including the State Department, Department of Justice, Department of Homeland Security, and Department of Health and Human Services; Ensure robust prosecutions for human trafficking crimes, along with thorough investigations and jail time commensurate with the crime; Authorize the first-ever housing program for survivors, ensuring wrap-around case management, including education, life skills training, mental health services, and employment assistance; Reauthorize International Megan's Law through FY2029 which, among other things, requires sex offenders to provide certain information about their intended travel outside of the United States; Train instructors and students within elementary and secondary schools, in an age-appropriate manner, on building situational awareness, self-esteem, and resources to prevent, identify, and respond to human trafficking; and Strengthen partnerships among federal, state, and local authorities. ###

Congressman Mfume’s Remarks at DOGE Subcommittee Hearing on American History and the Smithsonian

Position: Congressman Mfume opposes Trump administration efforts to reshape the presentation of American history at federal museums and cultural institutions, including the Smithsonian, and to diminish African American contributions to national history.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Rep. Kweisi Mfume spoke out against the Trump administration's attacks on Black history and on the Smithsonian Institution during a hearing on the House Oversight Committee's DOGE Subcommittee. In 2026, Congressman Mfume has consistently pushed back on the Trump administration's attempts to reshape the presentation of American history at federal museums, parks, and cultural institutions, as well as their efforts to deny, denigrate, and obfuscate African American contributions to our nation's history. Most recently, the Trump administration published a report on July 4th falsely accusing the museum of "extreme political activism." "Black people across this country are outraged at what is happening now with these efforts to do away with the African American museum and all of the Smithsonian," Congressman Mfume declared. "They are outraged because they have lived too many years, been through too many struggles, suffered too many bruises, and clearly have very, very, very little to show for that sojourn here in this country." "I want to be real clear about this: If you erase it, we will replace it," he continued. "It is that damn simple. We don't seem to learn – if anything we should be looking at history to learn, and to make sure that we are taking advantage of what we do learn." Image

Congressman Mfume Statement After Protesting at the Supreme Court Against Decision to End Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti and Syria

Position: Congressman Mfume opposes the Supreme Court's decision allowing the elimination of Temporary Protected Status for Haitian and Syrian nationals and calls on Congress to pass the American Dream and Promise Act, which would provide lawful permanent residence and an earned path to citizenship for TPS recipients and Dreamers.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Kweisi Mfume (MD-07) issued the following statement regarding the Supreme Court of the United States' decision to allow the Trump Administration to eliminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian and Syrian nationals: "With yesterday's disastrous decision, the far-right Supreme Court majority has put the lives and livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of immigrant families in jeopardy and will harm employers and weaken communities in Baltimore and nationwide. The Court has shamefully handed President Trump the green light to tear families apart and punish people who have done nothing more than work hard, contribute to their communities, and follow the law." "In the hours after the ruling, I proudly stood in front of the Supreme Court with Marylanders and people of goodwill from across the country. We came to reject this unjust decision and to stand with the families it targets, who are our neighbors, our coworkers, and the parents of American children. "TPS holders are nursing assistants and caregivers. They keep our hospitals and farms and businesses running, and they have earned their place in the only home their children have ever known. Haitian TPS holders alone generate an estimated $5.9 billion for our economy each year and pay more than $1.5 billion in taxes, and 50,000 U.S. citizen children have a parent who holds Haitian TPS. Breaking up these families and harming the economy we all share is both cruel and misguided, and Congress cannot stand by while it happens. "Congress must now move to protect TPS holders and pass the bipartisan American Dream and Promise Act, which I am a proud original cosponsor of. The bill would offer lawful permanent residence and an earned path to citizenship for TPS recipients, and the Dreamers brought here as children. I promise to keep fighting until the people who have given so much to this country can remain in it with dignity and without fear." ###

Mfume, Van Hollen, Olszewski Highlight Nearly $1.2 Million in Federal Funding to Support Gun Violence Reduction in Baltimore

WASHINGTON, DC – Yesterday, U.S. Representative Kweisi Mfume, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen, and Congressman Johnny Olszewski (All D-MD), joined by Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott, highlighted $1,184,000 in Fiscal Year 2026 Congressionally Directed Spending that they, along with U.S. Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), fought to deliver to help reduce gun violence across Baltimore. The federal funding will support the expansion of the City’s Group Violence Reduction Strategy (GVRS), a program that engages individuals most directly involved in and affected by violence and brings together law enforcement, social services, and community partners to provide resources and reduce crime. Image