Funding for the NEA, NEH and CPB combined account for just 0.02 percent of the federal budget. We spend 1/40th of what Germany does on government funded arts programs--they average $20 per citizen, we a measly 41 cents. And it is not only Western Europe where the arts are deemed crucial to the continuation of their culture and society. Mexico, Uzbekistan and the Balkans all spend a greater percentage of their national budgets on arts education and programming or allow artists to pay their federal taxes through the donation of a work of art for the benefit and education of their citizens. The country currently faces great uncertainty and fear given the bullying and fascistic governing style of Donald Trump and his appointees. At a time when so many of us are worried about access to healthcare, the need to combat and solve climate change and the disturbing erosion of our civil rights, protecting the arts and humanities may not be at the top of your list. But the arts and humanities not only remind us what it means to be human but also provide us with inspiration, joy and a much-needed respite from the chaos of Trumpism.

According to the Associated Press, the Trump administration is considering a plan mobilize as many as 100,000 National Guard troops to round up millions of undocumented immigrants in states along the southern border. This includes states like California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas; as well as states adjacent to border states, like Oregon, Nevada, Arkansas, Colorado, Oklahoma, Utah, and Louisiana. Governors have the final approval on National Guard deployments. This means Donald Trump’s plan won’t work without the support of Governors. So if we want to stop the systematic removal of millions of aspiring Americans from the United States by the National Guard, we need to make sure Governors in the targeted states hear from their constituents. Please join with me and demand that Governor Susana Martinez does not authorize the New Mexico National Guard from joining Donald Trump’s Deportation Force.

According to the Associated Press, the Trump administration is considering a plan mobilize as many as 100,000 National Guard troops to round up millions of undocumented immigrants in states along the southern border. This includes states like California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas; as well as states adjacent to border states, like Oregon, Nevada, Arkansas, Colorado, Oklahoma, Utah, and Louisiana. Governors have the final approval on National Guard deployments. This means Donald Trump’s plan won’t work without the support of Governors. So if we want to stop the systematic removal of millions of aspiring Americans from the United States by the National Guard, we need to make sure Governors in the targeted states hear from their constituents. Please join with me and demand that Governor John Hickenlooper does not authorize the Colorado National Guard from joining Donald Trump’s Deportation Force.

Trump's family business trips and vacations cost taxpayers over $11 million in just his first month in office. That $11 million paid for security on Trump's children's business trips on behalf of the Trump business organization and for Trump's three trips to the Mar-a-Lago resort, which he owns. By contrast, the Obamas' personal travel expenses averaged $12 million per year through eight years in office. In light of this exorbitant spending, Representative Earl Blumenauer introduced the No Taxpayer Revenue Used to Monetize the Presidency Act, or, the No TRUMP Act, to prohibit the use of taxpayer funds to pay for events, overnight stays, food, and other miscellaneous expenses at hotels owned or operated by a president or his or her relatives. What's worse, while the taxpayers continue to pay millions for him to play golf, Trump recently unveiled his cruel and immoral budget plan that would cut funding to PBS, NEA, Meals on Wheels, heat assistance, and other important social services. Essentially, we, the taxpayers, are paying exorbitant sums for the wealthy Trumps to further enrich themselves personally. It's hypocrisy and it's unfair to taxpayers. Lawmakers must find a way to limit extravagant spending by this administration—especially when it profits the president personally—and prevent similar behavior by future administrations and presidents.

According to the Associated Press, the Trump administration is considering a plan mobilize as many as 100,000 National Guard troops to round up millions of undocumented immigrants in states along the southern border. This includes states like California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas; as well as states adjacent to border states, like Oregon, Nevada, Arkansas, Colorado, Oklahoma, Utah, and Louisiana.

Rep. Don Bacon is not doing his job. We, his constituents, are affected by his choice not to meet with us. We are denied access to Rep. Bacon and cannot ask him questions or tell him what we, his constituents, see as issues impacting us and asking him to address and fight for the needs of his constituents in DC.

This is a particularly precarious moment in the new Congress. Tom Cole must hear the concerns of his constituents before taking up legislation, not wait until the August recess to hear responses to previous legislation.

We would like to request a cap on presidential spending. Our current president is accustomed to a very lavish lifestyle. We the People feel his spending is out of control! A few months into his presidency, he is having a re-election rallies across America. At what expense? Is anyone overseeing who is paying for this? If the tax payers are paying for any part, we would like to see the budget. His family (Wife, Children, and In-Laws) need extra security for multiple locations in and out of the USA Daily. At what expense? Between $127,000 and $146,000 a day just for Melania and Barron. Who is paying this? How is it going to be paid? How many trips/days would taxpayers be paying? What is the budget, and what is the 4-year projection of cost? The President has been on vacation Golfing at his properties almost as much as he has been in the White House, being President for only a few months. IT HAS ALREADY COST TAX PAYERS ALMOST $20 MILLION DOLLARS! Who's hotels and businesses profit from these very expensive trips? Who is paying for these trips? How many Vacation Days a Year will the taxpayers be paying for? We would like to also see a budget. I think it's time to put some CAPs on what looks to be a VERY dangerous spending agenda. We would like to see a Yearly and Four Year budget and how they plan to pay for these useless avoidable expenses. We the people could use this money for so many other important life-saving things. For instance not gutting social security, Medicaid, Medicare, or taking food from the poor and education from the children. This money could have paid for YEARS of MEALS ON WHEELS AND MILLIONS OF FREE LUNCHS FOR CHILDREN. Our nation is in debt already and this spending is just out of control!

Rep Joe Wilson hasn't return calls on healthcare, social security, or national security. As his constituent, I want to know he will support our needs.

Over the last 3 weeks, almost 100 of us have visited Senator Blumenthal's Hartford office to ask that he take more aggressive action to protect all of us from the egregious agenda of this administration. We asked last week for a Community Meeting. Across the country Senators are setting these up now that Congress is on break during the week of February 20. His office committed to get back to us within a few days but so far Sen. Blumenthal has declined to set a date. It's time!

Ann Wagner has not held a town hall or met in a public forum with her constituents. It is her responsibility to represent all her constituents, which means engaging in an honest and open dialogue in public.

The Trump administration has announced that it will be sending National Guard troops to the border, even though crossings are at a 50-year low. There are already so many Border Patrol agents there that each agent makes an average of two arrests per month. Trump's plan includes states like California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas; as well as states adjacent to border states, like Oregon, Nevada, Arkansas, Colorado, Oklahoma, Utah, and Louisiana. Governors have the final approval on National Guard deployments. This means Donald Trump's plan won't work without the support of governors. So if we want to stop the systematic removal of millions of aspiring Americans from the United States by the National Guard, we need to make sure governors in the targeted states hear from their constituents. Please join with me and demand that Governor Greg Abbott does not authorize the Texas National Guard to join Donald Trump's Deportation Force.