“President Trump’s executive order to erode voting rights and give Elon Musk access to the American people’s personal voter information is a clear power grab intended to disenfranchise and intimidate voters. Trump is once again showing that he has no regard for the U.S. Constitution, the rule of law, or the fundamental principle that all Americans, regardless of their race, creed, or color, have a right to have their voice heard at the ballot box.
“To be clear, this executive order has nothing to do with protecting the integrity of our elections. These are the actions of a wannabe dictator, and we will not stand by as he attempts to dismantle the core principles of our democracy!
“The American people’s right to vote is sacred, and I will continue the fight to pass H.R. 14, the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, in order to restore the full protections of the Voting Rights Act and protect the American people from the authoritarian actions of the Trump Administration.”
H.R. 2182 – “The Bipartisan Pre-Pilot Pathway Act” is the 10th piece of legislation introduced by Congressman Donalds during the 119th Congress and has received the support of Representatives Don Davis (D-NC) and Troy Nehls (R-TX) as well as the National Flight Training Alliance.
Specifically, this legislation: (1) Directs the Secretary of Transportation to establish a pilot apprenticeship program for students at Part 141 flight training facilities within 12 months of enactment; (2) Allows for participating facilities in this voluntary program to select up to 8 applicants to serve as apprentices each academic year; (3) Helps to establish a qualified pipeline of interested individuals to become pilots. Congressman Donalds released the following statement:
“America is facing a critical pilot shortage and we must act before it’s too late. This is why I introduced the ‘Bipartisan Pre-Pilot Pathway Act.’ My common-sense proposal addresses our national shortage head-on by creating a pilot apprenticeship program to bolster our nation’s waning talent pipeline. Ensuring the safety and efficiency of American air travel should be bipartisan and I thank Representatives Davis and Nehls for joining me in this important initiative.”
Background:
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), it’s projected that 14,500 pilots will be needed every year through 2030.
The shortage is estimated to be 17,000 commercial aviation pilots by 2030.
The shortage arises from a combination of factors, including baby boomers reaching the mandatory retirement age of 65, the COVID-19 pandemic, and a shrinking pool of potential pilot candidates.
Specifics of the Pilot Apprenticeship Program:
Why Flight Training Facilities—Part 141 flight training facilities may be able to provide a greater variety of training aids and require dedicated training facilities, flight instructor oversight, and FAA-approved curricula.
Under the 141 program, pilots will benefit from receiving an airline standard of training—which allows the pilot to move onto a Part 121 airline, Part 135 commercial charter operation, Part 91 private operation, or to enjoy a future career as a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI).
What’s the Traditional Pilot Path— Student → Flight Instructor → Regional Pilot → Major Airline Pilot
With the increased demand for pilots, training facilities are seeing more students enrolling in their programs.
Currently, there are approximately 600 Part 141 flight training facilities that have been licensed by the FAA.
More:
Read Text of H.R. 2182 – “The Bipartisan Pre-Pilot Pathway Act” HERE.
Bill Profile of H.R. 2182 – “The Bipartisan Pre-Pilot Pathway Act” HERE.
Florida Congressman Jared Moskowitz (D-FL-23) announced that he just introduced his FEMA Independence Act, a bipartisan bill to reform federal emergency management and improve efficiency in federal emergency response efforts. This legislation would remove the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and restore it as an independent, Cabinet-level agency reporting directly to the President. It would also stipulate that FEMA’s Senate-confirmed leader must have “a demonstrated ability in and knowledge of emergency management and homeland security” across the public and private sectors.
Moskowitz previously introduced his FEMA Independence Act during the 118th Congress, and as Florida’s former Emergency Management Director, the legislation remains a top priority of his to reform federal emergency management. He is joined on the bill’s introduction by Congressman Byron Donalds (R-FL-19).
“As the first Emergency Management Director ever elected to Congress, I’ve seen firsthand the challenges preparing for, responding to, and recovering from disaster events. As these emergencies continue to grow larger and more widespread, the American people deserve a federal response that is efficient and fast. To achieve that, FEMA should be reformed,” said Congressman Moskowitz. “FEMA currently sits under the bureaucracy of the Department of Homeland Security—and with around 20 other agencies and offices under that umbrella, the set-up simply doesn’t work. DHS has become too big and too slow to oversee what needs to be a quick and flexible emergency response.
“By removing FEMA from the Department of Homeland Security and restoring its status as an independent, Cabinet-level agency, my bipartisan bill will help cut red tape, improve government efficiency, and save lives. It will also help refocus FEMA on its original mission: as an agency tasked with responding before, during, and after disaster events. FEMA is meant to be an emergency management agency, but right now, it functions more as a grant agency with emergency management capabilities. This commonsense bill will help set those priorities back where they should be. I look forward to my colleagues taking up this bipartisan proposal so we can continue to build a more seamless federal response to emergency situations wherever and whenever they occur.”
“FEMA has become overly-bureaucratic, overly-politicized, overly-inefficient, and substantial change is needed to best serve the American people,” said Congressman Donalds. “When disaster strikes, quick and effective action must be the standard––not the exception. It is imperative that FEMA is removed from the bureaucratic labyrinth of DHS and instead is designated to report directly to the President of the United States. I am proud to join Congressman Moskowitz in this innovative initiative to ensure the most efficient disaster relief response for the American people.”
Under Moskowitz’s bipartisan FEMA Independence Act, FEMA would become a Cabinet-level agency within the U.S. Executive Branch. Its Director would be appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate under the requisite qualifications, and it would have up to four Deputy Directors subject to Senate confirmation and ten Regional Directors chosen by the Director. FEMA would carry out all responsibilities given to it prior to the enactment of the FEMA Independence Act, including under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, and it would have an Inspector General and associated Office of the Inspector General.
From its activation in 1979 until the Homeland Security Act of 2002, the Federal Emergency Management Agency lived within the federal government as an independent agency under the White House, including as a Cabinet-level agency during the Clinton Administration. The Department of Homeland Security absorbed it in 2003, even as then-Director Michael Brown warned that doing so would “sever FEMA from its core functions.”
FEMA currently sits within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security alongside around 20 other incorporated agencies, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Transportation Security Administration, the U.S. Coast Guard, and more. Under the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006, its Administrator was named the principal advisor to the President of the United States for all matters related to emergency management.
Before entering Congress, Moskowitz served as Florida’s Director of Emergency Management from 2019-2021. In this role, Moskowitz oversaw disaster response and recovery for the DeSantis Administration for major events like the COVID-19 pandemic and the Category 5 Hurricane Michael.
Since coming to Congress, Moskowitz has been a leading voice for fully funding FEMA, keeping emergency response nonpartisan, and enacting commonsense reforms to bolster federal emergency management. He has served as co-chair of the Bipartisan Congressional Disaster Preparedness and Recovery Caucus.
For more information on Moskowitz’s bipartisan FEMA Independence Act, click HERE.
Florida Senator Rick Scott joined Louisiana Senator John N. Kennedy and their colleagues to introduce the No Dollars for Dictators Act, a critical piece of legislation to prevent American tax dollars from going to evil regimes and state sponsors of terrorism through the International Monetary Fund (IMF)’s special drawing rights. Senators Marsha Blackburn, Jim Justice, John Barrasso, and Chuck Grassley also cosponsored the bill.
“American taxpayers want their dollars to work in their best interests, not financially supporting dictators of dangerous and adversarial regimes like Communist China, Iran, Venezuela and more,” Scott said. “Over the course of the Biden administration, the former president authorized billions of dollars to be funneled to these regimes through the International Monetary Fund without a single act of Congress. President Trump is rightly putting Americans first and ensuring their tax dollars are providing a return for them. The No Dollars for Dictators Act will protect U.S. tax dollars from fueling the evils of dictators or terrorists who seek to destroy our way of life.”
Senator John Kennedy added, “The Biden administration allowed China, Russia, Iran, and Syria to collect billions of dollars from the IMF without ever consulting Congress. My bill would ensure that Congress has a say before the IMF doles out American tax dollars to countries that hate us.”
Tennessee Senator Bill Hagerty received President Donald Trump’s endorsement for re-election in 2026. With Trump recently threatening to support challengers to certain incumbents in Republican primary campaigns, Hagerty’s campaign will likely avoid major competition prior to the 2026 Mid-Term General Election.
“I have known Bill for a long time, as both a Highly Successful Businessman, and outstanding Ambassador to Japan. He has been with us from the very beginning, helping us, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post. “In the Senate, Bill is working hard to Revitalize our Economy, Lower Taxes, Secure the Border, Champion our Incredible Military/Vets, Restore American Energy DOMINANCE, Protect our always under siege Second Amendment, and Ensure PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH.”
“Senator Bill Hagerty has my Complete and Total Endorsement for Re-Election – HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN,” Trump added.
Prior to serving in the Senate, Hagerty was the U.S. ambassador to Japan in the first Trump administration. He also served at the state level as a member of former Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam’s cabinet and commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development.
Hagerty said he was “deeply honored” to be endorsed for reelection to the Senate by the president, saying that with Trump’s support, he is “more determined than ever to fight for Tennessee, defend our conservative values, and work side by side with the President to again place the interests of Americans first.”
“President Trump’s leadership has ushered in a new golden age for America since his return to office, delivering historic victories for our Nation. But our work is far from over,” Hagerty said. “Together, we’ll keep building on this momentum and secure an even greater future for our country.”
<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>Honored to receive <a href=”https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@realDonaldTrump</a>’s endorsement for the United States Senate. Thank you, President Trump! <br><br>To my fellow Tennesseans, I ask for your support to send me back to Washington to continue preserving our conservative values and work side by side with the President to… <a href=”https://t.co/0YEMZZwzhG”>pic.twitter.com/0YEMZZwzhG</a></p>— Bill Hagerty (@BillHagertyTN) <a href=”https://twitter.com/BillHagertyTN/status/1905046244017258524?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>March 26, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src=”https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js” charset=”utf-8″></script>
Alabama Congresswoman Terri Sewell released the following statement regarding Secretary of Defenese Pete Hegseth’s use of a public app to discuss a military strike with other officials in the Trump administration:
“As a former member of the House Intelligence Committee, I was horrified to hear that officials at the highest levels of the Trump Administration were illegally texting highly classified information including war plans via Signal, a commercial phone application, putting our service members in harm’s way. Americans put their trust in our leaders to exercise the utmost care when dealing with matters of national security. I seriously question the judgment and capacity of these Trump officials to inform and implement our national security policy.”
House Appropriations Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Subcommittee Chairman Steve Womack (AR-3) held his first public hearing of the 119th Congress to conduct oversight of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy was the witness, appearing for the first time before Congress since the tragic mid-air collision at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) in January. Today is also the one-year anniversary of the catastrophic collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge.
THUD Chairman Womack delivered the following remarks during the hearing, “Safety is a top priority for this subcommittee in our work to fund the nation’s transportation network. It is our duty to ensure we provide appropriate levels of support to transportation programs that ensure the safety of our skies, roads, and railroads.
“It is also our duty on this committee to support the operations of the National Transportation Safety Board. This critical, independent safety watchdog helps ensure our world-class transportation system is as safe as possible, identifying the ‘how’ and ‘why’ of some of our most tragic accidents and puzzling events in civil transportation.”
House Appropriations Committee Chairman Cole delivered the following remarks during the hearing, “When you get on a plane, drive over a bridge, or board a train – you shouldn’t have to wonder if you’ll make it to your destination safely. The mission of Chair Homendy and her team at the National Transportation Safety Board is essential to that point. They investigate why an accident occurred and identify measures to prevent it from happening again. They don’t speculate – they find the facts necessary to uphold the highest standards of reliability and safety.
“As we begin the FY26 appropriations process, I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to responsibly fund the critical safety missions and transportation infrastructure needs of this country.”
Congressman Womack’s full remarks as prepared are available here.
A video of Congressman Womack’s opening remarks is available here.
A video of Congressman Womack’s questions for Chair Homendy can be found here.
A full recording of the hearing is available here.
Since Jeb Bush defeated Buddy McCkay in 1998, Republicans have controlled the Florida Governor’s Mansion and both chambers of the Florida Legislature. A devastating combination of poor planning and poor choices for candidates has plagued Democrats in gubernatorial races. Andrew Gillum edged out moderate Gwen Graham in a 2018 primary where the Bernie Sanders wing of the party ultimately became a liability instead of an asset, and Charlie Crist was the ultimate example of an obvious opportunist who never showed any true conviction.
For the past three decades, Florida voters have favored the candidate who seemed to offer more substance than style, even if it meant narrow victories in all but one of the races. Crist came off as too polished and calculated. Gillum was energetic but inexperienced and scandal-plagued. Alex Sink had the stigma of being the former CFO of Bank of America at a time when the nation was in recession and banking executives were public enemy number one.
Today, the Trump-endorsed Republican Congressman Byron Donalds is the odds-on favorite to win the GOP’s gubernatorial primary, even with Florida First Lady Casey DeSantis pondering her own campaign, but the Democrats have no major candidate in the field. To retake the state, they need a candidate who is sharp yet relatable. They also need a candidate who has not only shown that they’re capable of going toe-to-toe against tough-talking Republicans, but can work with them in times of crisis, when bipartisanship is most needed.
Speaking of FEMA, Moskowitz’s experience with Florida leadership includes serving under Governor Ron DeSantis as director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management, where he managed the state’s response to Category 5 Hurricane Michael as he entered the job. The state’s response to that hurricane, as well as the storms that struck the state during the other seasons during his term, was often cited as a main reason for DeSantis’ strong approval rating among Florida residents. Moskowitz also criticized 60 Minutes for running a story that claimed that DeSantis engaged in a pay-to-play scheme with supermarket chain Publix over distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine, writing that “[n]o one” from DeSantis’ “office suggested Publix” to distribute the vaccines.
Considering all of those facts, it’s hard to imagine where Byron Donalds would be able to effectively attack Moskowitz on several major issues where Democrats are typically vulnerable. Only time will tell if Moskowitz throws his hat into the ring, but if he does, the Democrats may be able to win over enough moderate independents to pull off a major upset in 2026.
