Rep. April McClain Delaney

I waited six hours to speak against unauthorized USDA facility closures.

For nearly a century, BARC has been a cornerstone of American agricultural research. But Republicans are blocking my efforts to protect these facilities, putting rural communities and farmers at risk.

When you block solutions that protect farmers, you fail to meet the moment. That is exactly what this Farm Bill does.

One year ago, Mountain Maryland was hit by a devastating flood that forced Westernport Elementary School to close its doors. The road to recovery hasn’t been easy for this town—including this Administration’s continued denial of FEMA aid. But today was about remarkable resilience, community, and hope. My team and I were honored to donate 50 books from the @librarycongress to help restock the shelves and support these students. Moments like this are a powerful reminder of what we can achieve when we work together, because in Maryland, we leave no one behind.

Quantum leadership starts here in Maryland.   That’s why advancing the National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act out of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee matters — it builds on bipartisan momentum and invests in the research institutions driving American innovation.   NIST in Gaithersburg continues to be a cornerstone of that leadership.

The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services just leaked Social Security numbers for healthcare providers through an untested DOGE-created portal. Americans should not have to worry that their own government is exposing their most sensitive data. This is unacceptable, and I am committed to protecting Americans' personal information. washingtonpost.com/health/2026/04…

Happy Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. During the month of May, we honor these communities and their rich culture, as well as the countless contributions they have made to our country. John and I were so pleased to celebrate at the South Asian Boishakhi event in Gaithersburg with Anis Ahmed and his wife, Nasima Ahmed.

I voted no on the Farm Bill because it failed to meet the momentand still leaves farmers without the resources and remedies they need to thrive.   I cannot condone the 187 billion in cuts to SNAP and food assistance, the nearly 1 billion dollars in reductions to USDA conservation and service programs, and the undermining of critical USDA resources and facilities (including the BARC research facility in Beltsville).   I will keep fighting to ensure our farmers get the resources they need to thrive during this time of crisis. mcclaindelaney.house.gov/media/press-re…

Reopening DHS is long overdue. A bipartisan bill cleared the Senate more than a month ago, and I called on House leadership to move it forward. Federal workers and families should never be caught in the middle of delays when a solution is already on the table. Thankfully, today DHS agencies like FEMA, TSA and Coast Guard are now funded.

I voted NO on the Republican Budget Resolution because it does nothing to lower costs for families.   Instead, it hands billions to ICE and CBP with no accountability—while failing to fund critical agencies, like TSA and FEMA. Writing another massive check to ICE and CBP without meaningful reforms or oversight will not make our communities safer.   Instead of working with Democrats on a real solution, Republicans are supercharging an out-of-control immigration enforcement agenda that spreads fear in our communities — while ignoring the cost-of-living crisis their policies helped create.

After weeks of infighting, the House has forced through a three-year reauthorization of FISA’s Section 702, one of the most powerful and sweeping surveillance programs in the world. I voted NO because this bill fails to protect Americans from executive overreach and historic abuse. I cannot support legislation that ignores the protected privacy rights of Americans, like requiring a warrant before viewing U.S. person data. For years, Section 702 has operated without transparency, accountability, or responsible use by agencies like the FBI. Congress must restrict this Administration's ability to violate Americans’ data privacy and constitutional rights.

Thank you to Reps. @RepTeresaLF, @RepJoeNeguse, and @RepMcGovern for backing my efforts to stop unauthorized USDA facility closures. Republicans in the House do not take the USDA reorganization seriously — putting rural communities and farmers, including those in their own districts, at risk. That won’t stop me. I will keep fighting to protect places like BARC that have supported our farmers for generations.

Voting is a sacred right. Today’s Supreme Court decision weakens the Voting Rights Act and opens the door to unfair maps and diminished representation for Black, Brown, and AAPI communities I will not stand by while hard-won civil rights are rolled back. We must pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act to protect every American’s right to vote and ensure our democracy remains truly representative. True election integrity requires fair representation — not manipulated districts designed to hold onto power.

The days of protecting powerful people at the expense of women and staff are over. As a mother of four daughters and a Member of Congress, I will hold everyone accountable — no matter their party. Enough is enough. @ZerlinaMornings

It was a joy to spend time with Alonna Soward Puryear, Maryland’s Teacher of the Year and a dedicated educator at Monocacy Elementary School in Frederick County. We had a thoughtful conversation about the importance of education and the vital role teachers play in shaping young minds. Alonna shared that King Charles and Queen Camilla are passionate about education and uplifting educators like her. I was also honored that we shared the privilege of attending the Joint Session of Congress to hear King Charles speak — a meaningful experience alongside an inspiring teacher. 🍎✨

In my early legal career working as a communications attorney, I represented broadcast stations before the FCC and furthered the ideals of a free and independent press, media uplifting the public interest and that media ownership should be diversified so no one entity (or group) had too much market control over citizens’ access to information. Our democratic government is premised on the 1st Amendment - but Trump does not like that principle in practice. Instead this Administration prefers to weaponize the FCC to police content they do not like. Fortunately he cannot under our laws and we cannot tolerate his attacks on our press, on our entertainment outlets or those who speak their opinions. And we must all speak up.

More positive momentum in the fight against Trump's lawless desires for mass detentions. His administration has shown no regard for the due process rights of U.S. citizens and legal immigrants, as we've seen from Minnesota to Maryland and everywhere in between. We must keep fighting. politico.com/news/2026/04/2…

Closing the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center would put farmers, food security, and critical research at risk.   My amendment to the Farm Bill stops unauthorized closures of USDA facilities, and protects this world-class institution.   BARC has been serving our agricultural communities for over a century -- I will fight at every turn to keep its doors open.

Together, we’re investing in our environment and our community for generations to come. Thank you to the Hagerstown Youth Council for organizing such a meaningful event and for their commitment to giving back to our district. This past Saturday, I joined the Hagerstown Youth Council’s Earth Day Celebration and had the honor of planting the Liberty Tree alongside Delegate Matt Schindler, @MarylandDNR, the Maryland Forestry Service, and the City of Hagerstown Parks & Recreation.

I’m pressing the Trump Administration, alongside the Maryland federal delegation, over its ill conceived scheme to shut down the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC) — a world-class research hub that supports farmers and communities across America and furthers research which underpins our U.S. competitiveness and crop production.   Today, I’ll speak before the House Rules Committee to offer an amendment to stop the unauthorized closure of USDA offices and defends its research. I'm taking action to protect our farmers, our food supply, and this critical research facility. vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-rel…