Following Emergency Stay, Clark Leads 250+ Democrats in Supreme Court Fight to Protect Mifepristone Access, Women’s Health Care, and FDA Authority

Yesterday, more than 250 House and Senate Democrats filed an amicus brief to the Supreme Court urging them to overturn a Fifth Circuit decision that would upend the FDA approval process and restrict access to life-saving mifepristone.

Yesterday, more than 250 Senate and House Democrats—led by House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (MA-5); House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (NY-8); Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (NY); Senators Patty Murray (WA), Dick Durbin (IL), and Ron Wyden (OR); and Representatives Frank Pallone Jr. (NJ-6), Diana DeGette (CO-1), Jamie Raskin (MD-8), and Ayanna Pressley (MA-7)—filed an amicus brief to the Supreme Court urging them to overturn a Fifth Circuit decision that would upend the FDA approval process and restrict access to mifepristone. This brief follows emergency appeals from the manufacturers of mifepristone; the Supreme Court issuing a temporary stay of the decision Monday morning until next Monday, May 11; and the announcement that the Court has ordered briefing on the stay by this Thursday, May 7.

The lawmakers argued that mifepristone already undergoes a rigorous FDA approval process, and the medication has repeatedly been found to be safe and effective. For a court to overturn this decision not only limits who is able to receive this vital and life-saving medication, putting lives at risk, but it also undermines the longstanding, congressionally mandated, and evidence-based decision-making process at the FDA.

“For more than a quarter century, FDA has repeatedly and consistently affirmed that mifepristone is safe. Over seven million patients in the U.S. have safely used mifepristone. And as with other drugs, FDA continues to monitor the post-marketing safety data on mifepristone—data confirming that mifepristone is safe without regard to how it is dispensed,” the members wrote.

The lawmakers also argued that the Fifth Circuit ruling was clearly not based on the merits of the distribution method of mifepristone, or the scientific backing of the medication, but rather a desire to limit the ability of individuals to receive abortion medication. The emergency stay is necessary to ensure that Louisiana is not able to deny medically appropriate care to patients far beyond the state’s borders.

“Decades after FDA’s initial approval of mifepristone and years after the in-person dispensing requirement was eliminated, the Fifth Circuit on an ‘emergency’ basis ordered FDA to re-impose this onerous nationwide restriction on all Americans. Allowing that decision to remain in place undermines the science-based statutory framework Congress commands and threatens patient access to reproductive health care,” the members continued. “As has been well publicized, many U.S. residents in states where abortion is legal live far from any reproductive health care provider. Reinstating an in-person dispensing requirement for mifepristone exacerbates an already significant reproductive health crisis by limiting access to the most common method of early abortion.”

The members argued that this is a clear case of judicial overreach by a lower district court.

“Preserving evidence-based access to mifepristone, including when dispensed by mail or retail pharmacy, is necessary to mitigate the imminent harm facing members of the public. Women deserve access to mifepristone for reproductive health care, and all Americans deserve integrity in the congressionally mandated, evidence-based process for FDA’s drug regulatory decisions,” the members concluded.

In the Senate, the amicus brief was signed by all 47 Democratic U.S. Senators.

In the House, the brief was signed by 212 Democratic U.S. Representatives.

The lawmakers’ amicus brief to the Supreme Court can be read in full HERE.

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Krishnamoorthi Demands Intelligence Briefing After Trump Falsely Claims Iran War Has “Terminated”

WASHINGTON — Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, a senior member of the House Oversight Committee, today sent a letter to Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard requesting a classified briefing on the status of hostilities between the United States and Iran, following President Donald Trump’s claim that the war has been “terminated.”

U.S. forces continue active naval operations and have engaged Iranian vessels in recent days in and around the Strait of Hormuz, underscoring that hostilities remain ongoing despite the Administration’s claims—and raising urgent questions about whether Iran is likely to relent under sustained economic and military pressure.

“I write to you today to express my serious concern that President Trump has falsely informed Congress that after 60 days, the war with Iran has been ‘terminated’— all while the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports and naval enforcement operations continue, and the underlying ceasefire arrangement remains contested and unstable,” Krishnamoorthi wrote.

Krishnamoorthi makes clear the Administration’s characterization is not just misleading, but aimed at evading congressional authority under the War Powers Resolution.

“President Trump is simply trying to misinform Congress and the American people so that he can try to claim to be in compliance with the War Powers Resolution of 1973, which forbids U.S. armed forces from being engaged in hostilities for more than 60 days without congressional authorization. But this is not a true ceasefire, and we continue to be in an unauthorized war.”

Krishnamoorthi requested a classified briefing by May 15 addressing the following questions:

What is the Intelligence Community’s current assessment of the status of hostilities between the United States and Iran?

What is the Intelligence Community’s assessment of the durability of the current ceasefire agreement, and what instances of violations by Iran has it noted, including throughout the region?

What is the Intelligence Community’s assessment about whether Iran is likely to relent under current conditions, and what specific indicators (economic, military, political, or internal stability metrics) are being monitored to evaluate that likelihood?

What is the current assessment of Iran’s ability to sustain oil exports under blockade pressure, including the role of floating storage, onshore capacity constraints, and alternative export pathways?

How is Iran currently evading or mitigating the effects of maritime restrictions in and around the Strait of Hormuz, including ship-to-ship transfers, flag manipulation, or rerouting of cargo?

What is the Intelligence Community’s assessment of Iran’s strategic intent regarding the Strait of Hormuz—specifically whether Iran seeks long-term closure, selective disruption, or bargaining leverage tied to nuclear development?

What indicators would signal that Iran is approaching a structural economic breaking point under current conditions, including storage saturation, production curtailment, or internal fiscal stress?


ICYMI: Lawler Announces $1 Million Relief Fund For Small Businesses Impacted By CHPE Construction

Stony Point, N.Y. – 5/5/26… Today, Congressman Mike Lawler announced a $1 million relief fund to support small businesses in North Rockland impacted by construction along Route 9W tied to the Champlain Hudson Power Express (CHPE) project.

Following months of advocacy and negotiations led by Lawler in coordination with local officials and the North Rockland Chamber of Commerce, the funding will provide direct assistance to businesses that experienced financial hardship due to prolonged construction disruptions.

“I want to thank the Champlain Hudson Power Express project, including Blackstone, Inc., the North Rockland Chamber of Commerce, the Community Foundation of Orange, Sullivan & Rockland, as well as our town supervisors from Stony Point and Haverstraw, our state and local officials, and most importantly, our small business owners, who never stopped speaking up and advocating for their communities. Small businesses aren’t just storefronts. They’re family livelihoods, they’re community anchors, and they deserve to be supported,” said Congressman Lawler.

The North Rockland Chamber of Commerce, in coordination with the Community Foundation of Orange, Sullivan, and Rockland counties and the Office of Congressman Mike Lawler, will establish an application process for impacted businesses. The Community Foundation will oversee the fund, with an independent review to ensure a fair and transparent distribution.

“The Community Foundation of Orange, Sullivan, & Rockland looks forward to playing a role in helping the local businesses that were affected by the pipeline project. We are able to help manage an open and transparent application process for the funds, and support the review committee with collection and organization of appropriate documentation and backup,” said Elizabeth Rowley, President and CEO of the Community Foundation of Orange, Sullivan & Rockland.

“Thank you Congressman Lawler for delivering this critical support to our community. This $1 million commitment from the CHPE is a meaningful step in helping our local businesses move forward after the challenges brought on by construction. Our businesses are the backbone of Stony Point and a vital part of what makes our town such a great place to live,” said Stony Point Town Supervisor Amy Stamm.

Photos from today’s announcement can be found HERE.

Congressman Lawler is one of the most bipartisan members of Congress and represents New York's 17th Congressional District, which is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties. He was rated the most effective freshman lawmaker in the 118th Congress, 8th overall, surpassing dozens of committee chairs.

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Rep. Menefee Conducts Oversight Visit at Dilley Immigration Processing Center, Calls for Facility’s Closure

DILLEY, TEXAS — Today, Rep. Christian D. Menefee (TX-18) joined Rep. Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Rep. Mark Takano (CA-39), Rep. Henry Cuellar (TX-28), Rep. Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Rep. Chellie Pingree (ME-01), and Rep. Adelita Grijalva (AZ-07) in conducting an oversight visit to Dilley Immigration Processing Center in Dilley, Texas.

Following the visit, Rep. Menefee called for \the closure of the Dilley Immigration Processing Center, the largest family immigration detention center in the United States, citing disturbing firsthand accounts of mistreatment, inadequate medical care, and harmful living conditions for children and parents held at the facility.

During the oversight visit, Members met with officials from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and facility operators before touring detention areas and speaking directly with detainees. While facility officials described conditions as safe and humane, Members heard and saw a starkly different reality from the families being held inside.

Detainees described significant weight loss from inedible food, delayed and inadequate medical treatment, unreliable internet access that left families unable to communicate with loved ones or legal counsel, and a lack of educational resources for children. Members also heard deeply troubling accounts of family separation, deteriorating mental health, and prolonged uncertainty that has left many families in crisis.

“There were glaring inconsistencies between what facility officials told us and what detainees described,” Congressman Menefee said. “We heard story after story about untreated medical conditions, food that makes people sick, and children suffering physically and emotionally. What I saw today was disturbing, and what I heard was even worse. No family should be treated this way in the United States of America.”

Rep. Menefee emphasized that immigration enforcement should prioritize genuine public safety threats, not families with no violent criminal history seeking a better life.

“What we saw today were mothers, fathers, and children being subjected to cruel and degrading treatment,” Rep. Menefee continued. “These are human beings. They deserve dignity, due process, and basic humanity. What is happening inside this facility is unacceptable. This will not be my last visit. We cannot look away. We must close this facility, reunite families, and build an immigration system that reflects our American values.”

In March, Rep. Menefee visited the Houston Contract Detention Facility to examine the impact of the Administration’s immigration policies firsthand. He remains committed to pushing for a more humane immigration process, stronger oversight, and meaningful reform of the nation’s detention system.

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About Congressman Christian Menefee (TX-18)

Rep. Christian D. Menefee represents Texas’s 18th Congressional District, covering communities across the Houston area. He was sworn into office on February 2, 2026.


Rep. Menefee Introduces the College Affordability and Accessibility Act

HOUSTON, TEXAS — Congressman Christian D. Menefee (TX-18) introduced the College Affordability and Accessibility Act, legislation aimed at making higher education more affordable and accessible for students across the country by significantly expanding Federal Pell Grant support.

The bill would double the maximum Pell Grant to $14,800 per year, with future increases tied to inflation so financial aid keeps pace with the rising cost of tuition, housing, books, and other everyday expenses students face while pursuing a degree.

The legislation would also give students more time to complete their education by extending Pell Grant eligibility from 12 semesters to 16 semesters, helping students who attend school part-time, navigate work or family obligations, or need additional time to graduate.

“I grew up on free lunch and Pell Grants. Without that support, I would not be where I am today,” said Rep. Menefee. “As a first-generation college student, I know how life-changing this assistance can be. Increasing Pell Grants expands opportunity and ensures every student, regardless of background, has a genuine chance to succeed.”

“Pell Grants give millions of students an opportunity to succeed,” Rep. Menefee continued. “Now, as the Trump administration moves to destroy the Department of Education and strip away those chances, I am pushing back. We must invest in students, our future workforce, and preserve the pathways that countless young people depend on. Not dismantle them.”

The College Affordability and Accessibility Act would especially benefit low-income students, working students, parents returning to school, first-generation college students, and students whose path to graduation takes longer than four years.

Click HERE for one-pager of the bill.


Congresswoman Nikema Williams Demands Trump Reverse Ending Programs that Support Minority-Owned Small Businesses

WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) led 22 other members of Congress in a congressional push demanding President Trump reverse his efforts to dismantle programs that support minority-owned small businesses.

On March 26, 2026, Trump signed the executive order “Addressing DEI Discrimination by Federal Contractors,” which does not protect against discrimination but instead reinstitutionalizes it. The order prohibits federal contractors from conducting targeted outreach to vendors of color, establishing mentoring or leadership development programs for underrepresented entrepreneurs, or directing any resources toward inclusion. Contractors who fail to comply face cancellation, suspension, and permanent debarment.

In January 2026, the Trump administration went beyond what any court required and declared the Small Business Administration’s 8(a) Business Development Program a burden on white Americans, stripping race from eligibility determinations entirely. Under the pretense of fraud and abuse associated with DEI favoritism, approximately 4,300 firms were required to submit years of financial records in a sweeping data call. Over 1,000 were suspended for missing the compliance deadline, and more than 600 are now being terminated. In 2025, only 65 businesses were admitted to the program—down from more than 700 the year prior.

In October 2025, Trump gutted the Department of Transportation’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program, which served as the primary pathway for minority- and women-owned firms to access airport contracting opportunities that had been closed to them.

In March 2025, Trump signed an executive order to eliminate the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), the only federal agency created specifically to support the growth of minority-owned businesses.

The Members wrote:

“For decades, the federal government has recognized a simple truth: equal opportunity cannot exist where equal access has never been granted. From the Small Business Act of 1953 to the establishment of the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program in 1983, this nation made a sustained commitment to ensuring that minority-owned small businesses could compete, contribute, and thrive in the American economy. That commitment was not charity, rather, these investments in economic opportunity sprang from an acknowledgment that centuries of exclusion will not self-correct without deliberate policy changes.”

“Let us be clear about what is happening here. Your administration is not protecting civil rights; rather it’s weaponizing the language of civil rights to dismantle the very infrastructure built to make them real. We are not fooled and we reject that framing entirely.”

“We call on you to rescind the March 26, 2026 Executive Order, to direct Secretary Sean Duffy to restore the DOT’s DBE and ACDBE programs with race-conscious eligibility intact, direct Administrator Kelly Loeffler to reinstate the SBA 8(a) program’s original mission, and fully restore the Minority Business Development Agency.”

“Entrepreneurs of color built their businesses despite every barrier this country placed in front of them, and they will continue to thrive, despite these discriminatory policies.”

The letter was signed by: Rep. Joyce Beatty (OH-03), Rep. Wesley Bell (MO-01), Rep. Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Rep. Andre Carson (IN-07), Rep. Ed Case (HI-01), Rep. Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Rep. Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Rep. Al Green (TX-09), Rep. Jonathan Jackson (IL-01), Rep. Timothy Kennedy (NY-26), Rep. Robin Kelly (IL-02), Rep. Stephen Lynch (MA-08), Rep. LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), Rep. Seth Moulton (MA-06), Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC At-Large), Rep. Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Rep. Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07), Rep. Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Rep. Bennie Thompson (MS-02), and Rep. Dina Titus (NV-01).


After Oversight Visit, Pingree, House Dems Call for Release of Their Constituents, Closure of Dilley Detention Facility

Pingree met with Olivia Andre, an asylum seeker from Portland who remains detained in Dilley despite her family being released last month

Maine Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) is once again calling for the release of her constituent, Olivia Andre, from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) processing center in Dilley, Texas following an official Congressional oversight visit on Tuesday. Pingree—along with colleagues U.S. Representatives Joaquin Castro (D-Texas), Henry Cuellar (D-Texas), Sylvia Garcia (D-Texas), Adelita Grijalva (D-Ariz.), Christian Menefee (D-Texas.), and Mark Takano (D-Calif.)—held a press conference where they detailed what they witnessed at the Dilley facility and shared stories of those they met with.

“I came here today for one specific reason and one specific constituent. [But] I want to validate all of the things that my colleagues have been saying, and everything you’re hearing is true: We need to close Dilley, we need to close these facilities, there was nothing about the conditions that were humane—and it’s done with our tax dollars, in our name, and it has to stop,” Pingree said during the press conference.

In April, Pingree called on ICE to immediately release Olivia Andre, a 19-year-old student who has been detained in the Dilley Immigration Processing Center in Texas since November. In a letter to ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons, Pingree questioned the legal basis for Olivia’s continued detention, as no explanation has been given to Andre or her legal counsel.

Olivia and her family are asylum seekers from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and have been living in Portland, where Olivia was a first-year nursing student. The rest of her family—mother Carine Balenda Mbizi; brother Joel Andre, 16; and sister Estafania Andre, 14—were released from the Dilley Processing Center in March.

Pingree previously conducted oversight visits of the ICE field office in Scarborough, Maine and the ICE facility in Burlington, Mass.

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Related News


NEWS: Following Emergency Stay, Pressley, 250+ Dems Demand SCOTUS Protect Mifepristone Access, Health Care

Congresswoman and Colleagues File Amicus Brief Urging Court to Overturn Lower Court Decision That Restricted Access to Medication Abortion

Pressley Has Led Efforts to Expand Access to Medication Abortion, Including at Retail Pharmacies

Amicus Brief Text

WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Co-Chair of the Reproductive Freedom Caucus—along with House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY); and Representatives Katherine Clark (D-MA), Frank Pallone Jr. (D-NJ), Diana DeGette (D-CO), Jamie Raskin (D-MD), and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY); Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Dick Durbin (D-IL), and Ron Wyden (D-OR)—led 250 House and Senate Democrats in filing an amicus brief to the Supreme Court urging them to overturn a Fifth Circuit decision that would upend the FDA approval process and restrict access to mifepristone. This brief follows emergency appeals from the manufacturers of mifepristone, the Supreme Court issuing a temporary stay of the decision Monday morning until next Monday, May 11, and the announcement that the Court has ordered briefing on the stay by this Thursday, May 7.

Rep. Pressley, lead sponsor of the Abortion Justice Act and a lead co-sponsor of the Women’s Health Protection Act, has led calls in Congress for the FDA to remove medically unnecessary restrictions on mifepristone, and applauded the FDA’s action in January 2023 to allow retail pharmacies to dispense abortion medication pills.

“Our amicus brief makes it plain: mifepristone is safe, effective, and must remain accessible,” said Congresswoman Pressley, Co-Chair of the Reproductive Freedom Caucus. “While Trump and his co-conspirators continue their all-out assault on our fundamental rights, we’re calling on the Supreme Court to uphold the law and preserve access to this essential drug. Abortion care is basic, essential healthcare and we must use every tool available to protect our reproductive freedom.”

In the amicus brief, the lawmakers argued that mifepristone already undergoes a rigorous FDA approval process, and the medication has repeatedly been found to be safe and effective. For a court to overturn this decision not only limits who is able to receive this vital and life-saving medication, putting lives at risk, but it also undermines the longstanding, congressionally mandated, and evidence-based decision-making process at the FDA.

“For more than a quarter century, FDA has repeatedly and consistently affirmed that mifepristone is safe. Over seven million patients in the U.S. have safely used mifepristone. And as with other drugs, FDA continues to monitor the post-marketing safety data on mifepristone—data confirming that mifepristone is safe without regard to how it is dispensed,” the members wrote.

The lawmakers also argued that the Fifth Circuit ruling was clearly not based on the merit of the distribution method of mifepristone, or the scientific backing of the medication, but rather a desire to limit the ability of many to receive abortion medication. The emergency stay is necessary to ensure that Louisiana is not able to deny medically appropriate care to patients far beyond the state’s borders.

“Decades after FDA’s initial approval of mifepristone and years after the in-person dispensing requirement was eliminated, the Fifth Circuit on an ‘emergency’ basis ordered FDA to re-impose this onerous nationwide restriction on all Americans. Allowing that decision to remain in place undermines the science-based statutory framework Congress commands and threatens patient access to reproductive health care,” the members continued. “As has been well publicized, many U.S. residents in states where abortion is legal live far from any reproductive health care provider. Reinstating an in-person dispensing requirement for mifepristone exacerbates an already significant reproductive health crisis by limiting access to the most common method of early abortion.”

“Preserving evidence-based access to mifepristone, including when dispensed by mail or retail pharmacy, is necessary to mitigate the imminent harm facing members of the public. Women deserve access to mifepristone for reproductive health care, and all Americans deserve integrity in the congressionally mandated, evidence-based process for FDA’s drug regulatory decisions,” the members concluded.

In the House, the brief was signed by 212 Democratic U.S. Representatives. In the Senate, the amicus brief was signed by all 47 Democratic U.S. Senators.

The lawmakers’ amicus brief to the Supreme Court can be read in full here.

In her time serving in Congress, Rep. Pressley has fought persistently to protect and advance reproductive justice and ensure fundamental life-saving reproductive health care for all.


Rep. Simpson Cosponsors Resolution to Designate May 5th as National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls

WASHINGTON—Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson cosponsored a resolution to designate May 5th, 2026, as the “National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.” May 5th is the date of remembrance selected each year in honor of the birth date of Hanna Harris, a member of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe, who was murdered after being reported missing in Lame Deer, Montana. This bipartisan resolution is sponsored by Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA).

“The number of Indigenous women and girls who have been murdered or gone missing every year is staggering,” said Rep. Simpson. “I have been raising awareness about this disproportionate rate, and will continue to use my role as Chairman of the House Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee to support the federal agencies working to address this crisis. This is an important resolution, and I'm proud to sign on as a cosponsor.”


Strickland Announces 2026 Congressional Art Competition Winner

Lacey, WA – Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10) announced Camille Franco, a junior at the Schools of the Arts in Tacoma, Washington as the 2026 Congressional Art Competition winner for Washington’s 10th Congressional District. Franco was selected by a panel of judges for her painting featuring her herself as a child and her grandmother. Franco’s painting will be displayed in the United States Capitol for one year.

“I want to congratulate Camille Franco from Tacoma for winning the Congressional Art Competition,” said Strickland. “This emotional painting represents love, beauty, and family. I look forward to seeing the artwork on display as I walk around the Capitol, and I want to thank our judges and all the students who participated.”

“This piece was inspired by my grandmother, Mama Vero and my baby brother Luke,” said Camille Franco, the winning artist. “These two individuals are extremely dear to me and were the first people I thought of when I heard the prompt “Natural Beauty”. My grandmother specifically, as she is not only my inspiration, but she also represents love, strength, and courage. However, she often times feels unconfident as her features age. It honestly pains me to see her become insecure when I know how truly beautiful she is inside and out. I intended to depict the beauty of aging, as well as beauty in all ages with this piece; so that maybe she could see how I see her.

“Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland invited High School Students to explore the theme of “Natural Beauty” for the Congressional Art Competition this year,” said Dr. Jennifer Olson, competition judge. “The artists responded with creative images of family, nature, a self-portrait, still-lifes, and others in a range of media and styles. This competition is a wonderful opportunity for area students, and it highlights the educational accomplishments of the teachers in the district.”

“In addition to displaying technical prowess, the winning piece skillfully captures the tenderness, beauty, joy, and reciprocity of familial connection and the natural outpouring of love,” said Assistant Professor Linda Lucía Santana, competition judge.

“I was so very impressed by this year’s travel award winner,” said Professor Dave Roholt, competition judge. “Not only the spot-on response to the theme and strong narrative, also the fine technique and skills needed when working in a challenging format of oil paint. The edge control and brushwork stood out with a very mature vibe for being such a young and obviously gifted artist. This year it was a challenge to narrow down a winner with so many powerful renderings, yet as a committee, we are very pleased with the award winners gusto and heartwarming painting. It will represent our district and state proudly.”

This year’s panel of judges for Washington’s 10th Congressional District included Jennifer Olson, Faculty at Tacoma Community College; Charles Bloomfield, a local artist and educator; Linda Lucía Santana, Assistant Professor of Art at Pierce College; and Dave Roholt, Professor of Art at Pierce College.

The Congressional Art Competition was launched in 1982 to encourage and recognize the artistic talents of young constituents from across the country with the chance to display their art in the United States Capitol.

Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10) serves on the House Armed Services Committee and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. She is Whip of the New Democrat Coalition, Secretary of the Congressional Black Caucus, and is one of the first Korean-American women elected to Congress.

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Joint Statement from Reps. Emilia Sykes and Jennifer McClellan on Mifepristone Ruling and Ongoing Legal Uncertainty

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representatives Emilia Sykes (OH-13), Chair of the Reproductive Justice Task Force of the Reproductive Freedom Caucus, and Jennifer McClellan (VA-04), Chair of the Abortion Rights and Access Task Force of the Reproductive Freedom Caucus, released the following joint statement:

“As chairs of task forces within the Reproductive Freedom Caucus, we are closely monitoring the case Louisiana v. FDA. Regardless of what lies in the fine print, let us be clear about one thing: mifepristone was safe and effective when the FDA first approved it over 25 years ago, and it has remained safe and effective for the millions of people who have used it to end their pregnancies and manage their miscarriages since. This is true in health care settings, and it is true at home.

Though the Supreme Court has temporarily reinstated access to mifepristone, questions remain about how long this decision will stand and what might change going forward. We cannot allow this uncertainty to continue.


Valadao, Dingell Reaffirm Support for Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month

WASHINGTON – Today, on World Asthma Day, Congressman David Valadao (CA-22) and Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-06), co-chairs of the House Asthma and Allergy Caucus, reaffirmed support for their bipartisan resolution designating the month of May as National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month.

“In the Central Valley, more than half a million people are living with asthma, and many more struggle with allergies that make daily life harder than it should be,” said Congressman Valadao. “For many families, managing these conditions means juggling doctor’s visits, covering the cost of medications, and staying ahead of potential emergencies. That’s why I’m proud to recognize May as Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month to support those facing these difficult conditions. I look forward to continuing to work with my Asthma and Allergy Caucus co-chair, Rep. Dingell, to ensure families across the country can breathe a little easier and live healthier lives.”

“Allergies and asthma impact Americans from every corner of the country, including my home state of Michigan, which has some of the highest rates of asthma in the country,” said Congresswoman Dingell. “I’m proud to designate May as Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month to support increased education and efforts to improve the quality of life for Americans living with these conditions.”

“On behalf of the more than 28 million people in the U.S. with asthma, we thank Reps. Dingell and Valadao for their leadership in raising awareness about the burden of asthma. Untreated asthma increases healthcare costs, results in lost productivity, and risks lives. Between 9 and 11 people die each day from asthma, and nearly all of those deaths are preventable with access to effective treatment. On this World Asthma Day, we call on policymakers to join with key stakeholders to ensure everyone with asthma can access and afford the care they need,” said Kenneth Mendez, President and CEO, Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA).

Read the full resolution here.

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Congressman Valadao Joins Bipartisan Delegation to Raise Awareness for Suicide Prevention Resources

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman David Valadao (CA-22) joined Reps. Erin Houchin (IN-09), Lori Trahan (MA-03), and Mark Pocan (WI-02) to introduce the Campus Lifeline Act of 2026. This bipartisan bill would mandate the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline be printed on new driver’s licenses and student ID cards to help connect teens and young adults with mental health resources. It would also expand Garrett Lee Smith (GLS) Memorial Grants to include peer-to-peer early intervention activities by student groups.

“Young adults are facing a growing mental health crisis, but too many still don’t know where to turn for help,” said Congressman Valadao. “While California law requires the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline be printed on student ID cards, access to this lifesaving resource shouldn’t depend on your zip code. By expanding existing Garrett Lee Smith (GLS) Memorial Grants and ensuring 988 is added to new IDs nationwide, we can raise awareness for mental health care, connect more people to support, and help prevent tragedies before they happen."

“We have a responsibility to make sure young people know where to turn in a moment of crisis,” said Rep. Houchin. “During Youth Mental Health Awareness Week, I’m proud to introduce the Campus Lifeline Act to expand access to the 988 Lifeline and strengthen support on campuses. This bill promotes early intervention, student engagement, and life-saving mental health resources. It’s our goal to make sure every young person knows help is available.”

“Every young person deserves access to compassionate, lifesaving mental health care when they need it most,” said Rep. Trahan. “I was proud to lead the Garrett Lee Smith Reauthorization Act to strengthen and expand suicide prevention programs for young people, and this bipartisan legislation builds on that work by increasing awareness of and access to these vital services. By leveraging the reach of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, we can connect more teens and young adults with the support they need, ensure they know help is available, and reach more young people before a crisis becomes a tragedy.”

"The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline has saved lives. There’s no question about it," said Rep. Pocan. "The more awareness we can raise about 988, especially among our young people, the better. I’m glad to help lead this effort with Reps. Houchin, Trahan, and Valadao.”

“Youth-informed policy is not only powerful, it’s necessary. The best policies and laws are shaped by those with firsthand experience who understand both the challenges and the solutions. We are grateful to Representatives Houchin (R-IN), Trahan (D-MA), Valadao (R-CA), and Pocan (D-WI) for recognizing the importance of youth-led solutions and for their bipartisan leadership on the Campus Lifeline Act. What began as a youth-led initiative to place 988 on the back of student ID cards on campuses has now grown into the introduction of federal legislation with the potential to create nationwide change. Awareness and education around mental health resources are vital, and when young people lead, they help create solutions that are practical and accessible,” said Anika Rahman, Director of Policy, Active Minds.

The Campus Lifeline Act of 2026 would:

Clarify existing statute to allow the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline to be printed on new drivers’ licenses and student campus IDs.

Expand existing Garrett Lee Smith (GLS) Memorial Grants' allowable use to include early intervention activities by student groups and prioritize this use in future grantmaking.

Clarify existing application requirements on stakeholder input and outreach strategies to include meaningful student involvement.

Read the full bill here.

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Van Duyne Leads Request to Trump Administration Cabinet Officials to Initiate Investigations into North Texas H-1B Visa Fraud

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Beth Van Duyne (R-TX-24), U.S. Representative Pat Fallon (R-TX-04), U.S. Representative Ronny Jackson (R-TX-13), and U.S. Representative Brandon Gill (R-TX-26) sent a letter to urge Vice President Vance, Secretary Rubio, Acting Secretary Sonderling, and Secretary Mullin to “conduct a coordinated, interagency investigation into reported H-1B fraud activities in North Texas”.

The North Texas Members of Congress note: “The concentration of these activities in North Texas—a major economic hub for our nation—raises additional concerns about localized exploitation of the system. When bad actors are able to manipulate visa pathways at scale, it distorts local labor markets, suppresses wages, and erodes trust in lawful immigration processes."

“I’m thankful for my fellow North Texas Members in joining me to urge the Administration to take immediate action to investigate and prosecute these egregious violations of our immigration laws. Much like we saw with the Nick Shirley investigative journalism which exposed Somali welfare fraud in Minnesota and rampant hospice fraud in Los Angeles, California, North Texas independent journalists have repeatedly uncovered flagrant abuse of the H-1B visa program concentrated in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and specifically in Collin, Dallas, Denton, and Tarrant Counties,” said Rep. Van Duyne. “H-1B visa abuse is an affront to our country, it harms American workers, depresses wages, leaves graduating university students without job prospects in their area of study, and it must be stamped out for economic and national security reasons.”

Both Governor Abbott and Texas Attorney General, Ken Paxton, initiated investigations earlier this year to root out bad actors and scammers who are abusing the H-1B visa program and displacing Texas workers. The Governor and Attorney General call out past instances of businesses firing highly qualified Texas workers only to be replaced by lower wage H-1B workers or instances of sham companies setting up non-existent businesses at residential addresses or empty unfinished buildings.

In their letter, the Members call on the relevant Departments to take the following specific actions:

Conduct a coordinated, interagency investigation into reported H-1B fraud activities in North Texas, including the role of employers, third-party agents, and any associated entities.

Review current H-1B adjudication and verification processes to identify vulnerabilities that allow for fraudulent job offers, wage misrepresentation, or improper labor condition applications.

Strengthen enforcement mechanisms, including increased audits of H-1B sponsors and enhanced penalties for entities found to be engaging in fraudulent or deceptive practices.

Improve data sharing and coordination between the Departments of Homeland Security, Labor, and State to ensure real-time verification of employment legitimacy and visa compliance.

Provide recommendations to Congress, if necessary, on statutory or regulatory changes to close loopholes and restore integrity to the H-1B program.

EXCLUSIVE: The Bottom Line on Fox Business first reported on this story. Watch the interview HERE.

Click HERE to read the letter.


Rep. Van Epps Celebrates Passage of Amendment to Strengthen Quantum Technologies out of the SST Committee

Washington, D.C.—Today, Rep.Van Epps (TN07) introduced an amendment in the Space, Science and Technology Committee’s markup to reauthorize the National Quantum Initiative Act.

This proposal amends the National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act to include reviews of the National Quantum Initiative program. Specifically, the amendment directs the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and the National Academies to assess the progress made by the National Quantum Initiative program in meeting its stated goals, including facilitating private sector development. The amendment also directs the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to review impediments to collaboration between Multidisciplinary Centers for Quantum Research and Education, National Quantum Information Science Research Centers, industry, and academia.

You can watch or read Rep. Van Epps’ remarks during the markup below.

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“Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

American researchers have made significant advancements in quantum over the last several years.

Yet it is crucial we continue to rapidly move beyond scientific research into commercially deployable applications, including our military capabilities. For example, quantum sensing supports a wide range of battlefield applications such as navigation in GPS-denied environments and detection of electronic warfare systems.

Bringing quantum from the lab into the field can empower American warfighters for mission success. However, these capabilities have not yet fully matured into operational systems for routine use.

That’s why the National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act is a step in the right direction – updating quantum programs to move from lab development into real-world deployment and creating quantum testbeds to translate research into private sector quantum development.

These updates align with the exciting contributions Tennessee's 7th district has made in quantum. Recently, Vanderbilt University partnered with EPB of Chattanooga to launch the Institute for Quantum Innovation. This institute will provide Vanderbilt’s leading quantum research programs access to the EPB Quantum Center, the nation’s first facility to provide commercial access to a trapped-ion quantum computer and a photonics-based local quantum network.

Vanderbilt’s efforts prove the U.S. is ready to move from the lab to real work application for quantum, and with Tennessee leading the way.

My amendment ensures the important updates in this reauthorization bill are effectively implemented to bring quantum technologies into real-world use.

The amendment directs OSTP and the National Academies to assess the National Quantum Initiative program to ensure it is meeting its goals, particularly as it relates to the development of quantum applications.

In addition, the amendment directs NIST to conduct a study and produce a report to this committee on impediments to collaboration between federally backed research centers, industry, and academia.

For the U.S. to sustain its quantum leadership, it is essential that any gaps between American researchers and private industry are decisively identified and tactically remediated.

By passing this amendment, this committee clearly demonstrates that the updated policy priorities made in the reauthorization bill will translate into effective policy delivery.

I urge my colleagues to support this amendment, and I yield back.”


Banks Urges Honduras to Restore Diplomatic Recognition of Taiwan, Back Away from China

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Jim Banks (R-Ind.) sent a letter to Honduras President Nasry Asfura congratulating the newly inaugurated President and urged the President to strengthen diplomatic relations with Taiwan.

See the full letter here or read below:

Dear President Asfura:

I write to offer my congratulations on your November election and your recent inauguration. The people of Honduras have entrusted you with an important responsibility, and I wish you success in advancing the prosperity and security of your nation.

I commend your leadership in commencing a review of Honduras’ relations with the People’s Republic of China (PRC). I know that you have long maintained a sober-minded understanding of the tradeoffs involved with partnering with the PRC, and I could not agree more with your statement that Honduras was “100 times better off with Taiwan.”[1] I recently returned from Taipei, where I witnessed firsthand Taiwan’s vibrant democracy, strong economy, and commitment to being a force for good around the world.

Taiwan has consistently demonstrated its reliability, offering genuine economic opportunity while upholding democratic values and contributing to stability. At a time of expanding authoritarian influence, decisions about diplomatic alignment carry significant implications for sovereignty and long-term development.

Your decision to revisit Honduras’ diplomatic recognition of Taiwan is significant, and I respectfully encourage you to return Honduras’ diplomatic posture to its historic and natural pro-Taiwan leanings. Renewing diplomatic relations with Taiwan would strengthen democratic solidarity and create meaningful opportunities for expanded economic cooperation and investment. It would also send a clear signal about Honduras’ commitment to principled and transparent partnerships.

Once again, I offer my congratulations on your victory. I wish you success in the important work ahead and look forward to continued engagement on these shared priorities.

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Bennet Leads 14 Colleagues to Demand Trump Administration Resume Russian Oil Sanctions

Denver — Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, and 14 Senate colleagues urged Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent to fully resume sanctions on Russian oil and use every available tool to cut into Russia’s war windfall profits.

In their letter, the Senators note that these steps are crucial to depriving Russian President Vladimir Putin of the revenue he needs to continue waging his war of aggression against Ukraine. Additionally, they point out that pausing these sanctions has not and will not noticeably bring down domestic energy prices – which are spiking because of President Donald Trump’s reckless war with Iran.

Senator Bennet was joined on this letter by Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Ranking Member on the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Andy Kim (D.-N.J.), Ranking Member on the Senate Budget Committee Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member on the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee Gary C. Peters (D-Mich.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Ranking Member on the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ranking Member on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Peter Welch (D-Vt.).

“We urge the Trump Administration to resume the Russia oil sanctions your Department recently paused by issuing and then extending a General License on deliveries of Russian oil. We also urge the Administration and your Department to take immediate, additional steps to limit the windfall profits Russia and its intermediaries continue to earn due to elevated energy prices stemming from President Trump’s unauthorized war with Iran. These steps are crucial to depriving Russian President Vladimir Putin of the revenue he needs to continue waging his war of aggression against Ukraine,” began the Senators.

“Despite warnings from U.S. government and outside experts, the Trump Administration failed to anticipate or plan for the likelihood that an open-ended war with Iran would spike global energy prices – especially if Iran were to effectively close the Strait of Hormuz, through which around 20 percent of the world’s oil and gas transits,” the Senators wrote. “The President’s self-made global energy crisis has predictably increased average national gasoline prices by over 85 cents a gallon and also raised the price of Russian oil, risking the replenishment of funding for Putin’s war machine. Putin has openly spoken of using the crisis to reestablish export markets for Russian oil. Estimates suggest that Russia’s oil revenue has doubled in April.”

“You described the Administration’s sanctions pause as necessary while noting it was ‘unfortunate’ that Russia stood to benefit financially from the decision. Pausing these sanctions has had and will continue to have, at best, a limited effect on domestic gasoline costs or global oil prices, which remain elevated. Doing so instead removed the stigma that had been driving discounted prices for Russian oil and allowed Russia to sell or resell cargoes to buyers now willing to pay higher prices – giving Putin a financial boon to ease the budgetary challenges resulting from his war on Ukraine. This provides additional funding to the Kremlin and its oil traders even as reports indicate that Russia has helped Iran target Americans,” they continued.

“Continuing to pause these sanctions is a mistake that President Trump must reverse immediately. In addition, he must use every tool at his disposal to cut into Russia’s war windfall profits, instead of enabling their additional revenue. He has options that he can and must use to reimpose the stigma on and dissuade purchases of Russian oil,” the Senators urged.

“Failure to put more pressure on the Kremlin – particularly as the Trump Administration pulls resources necessary to deter Russia and China away from those theaters into the Middle East – would embolden Putin to continue waging his war against Ukraine, aiding Iran’s attacks on U.S. troops, and threatening our NATO allies,” concluded the Senators.

The text of the letter is available HERE and below.

Dear Secretary Bessent:

We urge the Trump Administration to resume the Russia oil sanctions your Department recently paused by issuing and then extending a General License on deliveries of Russian oil. We also urge the Administration and your Department to take immediate, additional steps to limit the windfall profits Russia and its intermediaries continue to earn due to elevated energy prices stemming from President Trump’s unauthorized war with Iran. These steps are crucial to depriving Russian President Vladimir Putin of the revenue he needs to continue waging his war of aggression against Ukraine.

Before President Trump launched his war with Iran, Russia was suffering battlefield losses and facing financial pressures due to declining global oil prices and fewer buyers willing to purchase Russian oil. Reports from before the Iran war indicated that Russia lost oil and gas revenue in 2024 and 2025. Russia was reportedly struggling to sustain its ever-growing military spending with these declining revenues.

Russia continues evading existing sanctions and other measures through numerous front companies, traders, and “shadow fleet” vessels. Yet the Trump Administration has halted regular counter-evasion sanctions for 14 months now, an unprecedented pause. U.S. allies and partners, however, continue to act against hundreds of vessels and entities in Russia’s oil sales ecosystem. The European Union also banned imports of refined oil products derived from Russian crude oil, an action that India’s largest oil refiner cited when the firm began reducing its crude imports from Russia.

Despite warnings from U.S. government and outside experts, the Trump Administration failed to anticipate or plan for the likelihood that an open-ended war with Iran would spike global energy prices – especially if Iran were to effectively close the Strait of Hormuz, through which around 20 percent of the world’s oil and gas transits. The President’s self-made global energy crisis has predictably increased average national gasoline prices by over 85 cents a gallon and also raised the price of Russian oil, risking the replenishment of funding for Putin’s war machine. Putin has openly spoken of using the crisis to reestablish export markets for Russian oil. Estimates suggest that Russia’s oil revenue has doubled in April.

President Trump has failed to develop approaches to limit Russia’s windfall. Instead, he has responded to recent oil price increases with the reckless decision, in March 2026, to temporarily lift some sanctions on Russian oil, allowing the purchase of Russian oil and petroleum products already at sea. This move, a licensing action affecting large quantities of Russia’s most important export, flies in the face of a requirement under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) to notify Congress 30 days before taking such an action. The Senate overwhelmingly passed CAATSA, which President Trump signed into law in 2017.

You described the Administration’s sanctions pause as necessary while noting it was “unfortunate” that Russia stood to benefit financially from the decision. Pausing these sanctions has had and will continue to have, at best, a limited effect on domestic gasoline costs or global oil prices, which remain elevated. Doing so instead removed the stigma that had been driving discounted prices for Russian oil and allowed Russia to sell or resell cargoes to buyers now willing to pay higher prices – giving Putin a financial boon to ease the budgetary challenges resulting from his war on Ukraine. This provides additional funding to the Kremlin and its oil traders even as reports indicate that Russia has helped Iran target Americans.

Your Department described the sanctions pause as a temporary tool. When the initial sanctions pause expired after 30 days, you stated publicly that the Administration would not seek further extension. Despite this, just days later in late April, the Administration extended the pause for another 30-day period without explanation on the reversal of policy.

Yet the Trump Administration did not just extend its March sanctions pause, which allowed for the sale of oil already at sea as of mid-March. The renewal now also allows the sale of oil on ships that had been loaded as of mid-April. This rewarded Putin’s enablers who loaded oil after the Trump Administration issued the initial pause – betting correctly that this Administration would give them another payday in a misguided attempt to address the consequences of President Trump’s reckless war. Now, the private sector likely believes that the Trump Administration will continue extending this broad license.

Continuing to pause these sanctions is a mistake that President Trump must reverse immediately. In addition, he must use every tool at his disposal to cut into Russia’s war windfall profits, instead of enabling their additional revenue. He has options that he can and must use to reimpose the stigma on and dissuade purchases of Russian oil.

Now is the time to strengthen, not weaken, enforcement of restrictions on Russia’s oil and gas revenues. Yet as Congress has repeatedly raised, the Trump Administration has paused all Russia counter-evasion sanctions, including on those entities circumventing sanctions that the Administration itself imposed on Rosneft and Lukoil, for more than a year now.

Failure to put more pressure on the Kremlin – particularly as the Trump Administration pulls resources necessary to deter Russia and China away from those theaters into the Middle East – would embolden Putin to continue waging his war against Ukraine, aiding Iran’s attacks on U.S. troops, and threatening our NATO allies.

Thank you for your attention.

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Blumenthal Joins Democratic Senate Colleagues to Kill Trump's Executive Order Restricting Vote by Mail & Press USPS on Unconstitutional EO

[Hartford, CT] — Today, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) joined his Democratic Senate Colleagues to introduce the Absentee and Mail Voter Protection Act (Absentee MVP Act), legislation to protect the integrity of American elections, and Americans’ right to vote by mail, by blocking President Trump’s illegal and unconstitutional executive order attacking mail and absentee ballots.

The Absentee MVP Act would nullify Trump’s unlawful March 31 executive order that aims to illegally re-write federal election rules by ordering the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to build state-by-state rosters of voting-age American citizens and granting USPS sweeping new authority to decide which of those voters may cast ballots by mail. Under the order, U.S. Postal Service (USPS) can reject and refuse delivery of lawful ballots unless states comply with newly established federal eligibility lists. Those who do not comply with these restrictions would face serious consequences: election officials, mail carriers, and others who send or deliver ballots to voters the administration considers ineligible could face criminal charges and states and local governments risk forfeiting federal funding.

The Absentee MVP Act would stop Trump’s blatant elections power grab by prohibiting the USPS, DHS and any other executive agency from spending funds to implement the directives in the President’s unconstitutional executive order.

“President Trump’s Executive Order is yet another power grab to take control of our elections illegally,” said Blumenthal. “By manipulating the U.S. Postal Service to restrict mail-in ballots, this administration is undermining the Constitutional framework that protects free and fair elections. I am proud to support this legislation to stop this illegal overreach and ensure every eligible voter can cast a ballot without interference.”

“The Constitution is clear. Elections belong to Congress and the states, not the President. You do not protect them by building federal lists out of flawed data,” said Roman Palomares, LULAC National President and Board Chairman.

“President Trump was transparent when he issued an executive order clearly intended to disenfranchise a large bloc of voters from the voting rolls. By making it more difficult for voters to cast ballots, he hopes to increase the odds for Republican election victories. His anti-voting obstacle is unfair, un-American, and must be repealed. Public Citizen strongly supports Senator Padilla's legislation to do precisely that,” said Lisa Gilbert, Co-President, Public Citizen.

“Every American deserves to have their voice heard and their vote counted. The Constitution gives States and Congress — not the President — authority over federal elections,” said Andrew Warren, Deputy Legal Director of Democracy Defenders Action. “We commend Senator Padilla for his leadership in introducing the Absentee and Mail Voter Protection Act, and we urge Congress to pass this important legislation to prevent the President from interfering in our elections.”

“No president — Trump or any to come — should be able to change the rules of an election in order to keep power and disenfranchise eligible voters. This bill pushes back on the Trump Administration’s illegal executive order that attempts to do just that. It is a strong, forward-looking step to protect the integrity of our elections and ensure voters decide elections, not politicians,” said Cole Leiter, Executive Director, Americans Against Government Censorship.

“For generations, service members have relied on mail and absentee ballots to exercise the rights they serve to defend. This legislation protects that lifeline and makes clear that no administration should be able to undermine access to the ballot for political gain. Our democracy is strongest when every eligible voter can participate without fear or interference,” said Janessa Goldbeck, Marine Corps Veteran and CEO, Vet Voice Foundation.

“Vote by mail works so well it’s how President Trump chose to vote this very year,” said Common Cause’s President & CEO Virginia Kase Solomón. “That’s why President Trump’s mail voting executive order is absurd. What this order is really designed to do is give him the power to handpick voters based on who supports his agenda in an effort to shield his party from accountability at the ballot box. Common Cause and our more than 1 million members urge Congress to pass Senator Padilla’s Absentee MVP Act now so every voter can cast a ballot freely and fairly.”

“NALC appreciates Sens. Peters, Padilla and Durbin's leadership in fighting to protect Americans' access to mail-in ballots,” NALC President Brian L. Renfroe said. “Voting by mail is safe, secure and makes it easier for tens of millions of Americans to participate in our democracy. As this executive order is considered in the courts, NALC supports this legislation that focuses on protecting Americans’ right to vote by mail.”

In addition to Blumenthal, the legislation is co-sponsored by U.S. Senators Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Angus King (I-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Ed Markey (D-MA), Patty Murray (D-WA), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark Warner (D-VA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

Full text for the Absentee MVP Act is available here.

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Blumenthal Statement on $18 Million Contract for Sikorsky to Produce Parts for Helicopters

[Hartford, CT] — U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today released a statement following the announcement that Sikorsky will receive $18 million from the U.S. Navy to produce rotary rudder blades for H60 aircraft.

“This significant $18 million contract to produce essential parts for military helicopters is great news for Sikorsky and their supply chain. The talented men and women working in Stratford build the finest helicopters in the world and this contract ensures they will be busy for years to come, boosting our local economy and strengthening our national security. I am proud to support our state’s defense manufacturers and will keep fighting for more work to be brought to Connecticut,” Blumenthal said.

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Cantwell Joins Colleagues to Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Resolution Recognizing May as Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and senior member of the Finance Committee, joined Sen. Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Representative Grace Meng (D-NY), and 28 senators in introducing a resolution marking May 2026 as Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month.

The resolution celebrates the many contributions AANHPI communities have made to the nation. As the Trump Administration and congressional Republicans continue to cut initiatives designed to support minorities in the name of “combatting discrimination,” this resolution emphasizes the importance of celebrating diversity.

Joining Sens. Cantwell and Hirono on the resolution are Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Susan Collins (R-ME), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Chris Coons (D-DE), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Dick Durbin (D-IL), John Fetterman (D-PA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ed Markey (D-MA), Patty Murray (D-WA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark Warner (D-VA), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

Companion legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives by Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) Chair Grace Meng (D-NY).

The full text of the resolution is available HERE.

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PHOTOS: Capito Celebrates Career of Outgoing Shepherd University President Dr. Mary Hendrix

SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. – Today, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) celebrated the career of Shepherd University’s outgoing president, Dr. Mary Hendrix, at Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, W.Va.

Dr. Hendrix, who will retire in June, dedicated 10 years of her life to the service of West Virginia and Shepherd University, where she oversaw landmark transformation, including upgrades to technology, renovations to Shepherd’s campus and buildings, expanded housing, dining and athletics facilities, and new centers and institutes.

“Dr. Mary Hendrix’s leadership has left a lasting impact on Shepherd University and the state of West Virginia. I’ve had the privilege of working with Dr. Hendrix for many years, and I have been able to see firsthand her deep commitment to Shepherd’s mission and to the success of its students. As a Shepherdstown native and proud Shepherd graduate, Dr. Hendrix is the definition of a homegrown president, bringing a true personal dedication to her role. Over the past decade, she has guided transformative improvements across campus and her commitment to Shepherd’s mission and to the success of its students will be remembered for years to come. I thank Dr. Hendrix for her dedicated service to our state,” Senator Capito said.

“We are deeply honored that Senator Capito took the time from her demanding congressional schedule to offer kind remarks at my farewell reception,” President Mary J.C. Hendrix said. “Her steadfast support of Shepherd University means a great deal to our campus community, and we are grateful for her continued commitment to higher education and to the success of our students.”

Photos from the event are below:

U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) delivers remarks at an event celebrating the career and legacy of outgoing Shepherd University President, Dr. Mary Hendrix, in Shepherdstown, W.Va. on Tuesday, May 5, 2026.

Dr. Mary Hendrix, President of Shepherd University delivers remarks at an event celebrating her career and legacy in Shepherdstown, W.Va. on Tuesday, May 5, 2026.

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Senators Collins, Durbin Lead Call Urging FDA to Strengthen Efforts to Reduce Youth Vaping

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Dick Durbin (D-IL) sent a bipartisan letter to U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Marty Makary urging the agency to reconsider its recently issued draft guidance document, Flavored Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) Premarket Applications – Considerations Related to Youth Risk. The Senators warned that this guidance could increase the number of flavored e-cigarettes or electronic nicotine delivery systems authorized by FDA, jeopardizing recent progress in reducing youth e-cigarette use.

Their letter follows reports that indicate that President Trump has pressed FDA Commissioner Marty Makary to move more quickly to approve flavored vapes and nicotine products that Commissioner Makary previously declined to authorize amid concerns about the public health risks and potential appeal to children.

“FDA must be careful to avoid changes that could jeopardize recent progress in reducing the number of youth who use e-cigarettes,” the Senators wrote. “Tobacco use often begins during adolescence, when people are more vulnerable to nicotine addiction and less aware of the risks of tobacco use. Nicotine can harm the parts of the adolescent brain responsible for attention, learning, mood, and impulse control and can prime the brain for addiction to other drugs.”

“We appreciate FDA’s recognition that the products that most egregiously target kids would face a ‘correspondingly high evidentiary burden to demonstrate that the benefits to adult smokers…outweigh the risks of youth initiation,’” they continued. “As sponsors of the ‘Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act’ (P.L. 111-31), we intended FDA’s premarket review of new tobacco products to be utilized as an important tool to prevent new products from entering the market that are likely to increase youth use of tobacco. This draft guidance will increase the number of flavored e-cigarettes that FDA authorizes.”

“Given the importance of preventing youth use of all tobacco products and the strong evidence that flavors increase the appeal and use of e-cigarettes by youth, FDA should not ignore the basic reality that kids are drawn to what flavors are most available to them, particularly since FDA recognizes the underlying risk of flavors to youth… We request a timely response that addresses the concerns we have about the new draft guidance,” the Senators concluded.

Click here to read the complete text of their letter.

Senators Collins and Durbin have repeatedly worked together to crack down on youth vaping and hold e-cigarette manufacturers accountable. In 2020, they introduced the bipartisan Resources to Prevent Youth Vaping Act to force e-cigarette manufacturers to pay FDA user fees to strengthen oversight and youth vaping prevention efforts. In 2022, they co-led the successful effort to close the synthetic nicotine loophole, ending an industry tactic that allowed kid-friendly, flavored e-cigarettes to evade FDA regulation. In 2024, Senators Collins and Durbin pressed the Department of Justice and FDA interagency task force to crack down on the illicit sale and distribution of unauthorized e-cigarettes, warning that thousands of kid-friendly flavored products remained readily available for purchase.

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Senator Coons investigates Commerce Secretary Lutnick’s statements on Nvidia H200 chip exports in new letter

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) sent a letter to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, pressing him for clearer answers on whether Nvidia H200 semiconductors have been licensed for export or shipped to the People’s Republic of China following a hearing where Secretary Lutnick claimed none of these chips had been exported to China.

The letter follows Secretary Lutnick’s testimony last month before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies. At the hearing, Senator Coons asked Secretary Lutnick whether any Nvidia H200 semiconductors had been exported to China. Lutnick said they had not, noting that while the Department of Commerce had licensed the export of the chips, the Chinese government had not allowed the sale. However, on March 17, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang commented that Nvidia had received necessary approvals from both the United States and Chinese governments and was restarting manufacturing to serve the Chinese market.

“These chips are among the most powerful processors on the market today and are typically used to develop highly capable artificial intelligence systems. In light of the control that the Chinese Communist Party and the People’s Liberation Army exert over the private sector in China, I believe that allowing any companies in China to purchase these products presents a serious risk to our national security and economic leadership,” wrote Senator Coons.

Senator Coons requested that Secretary Lutnick respond within one week and provide the number of H200 processors licensed for export to China, how many more the Department of Commerce plans to license, and how many H200 processors have been shipped to China as of April 30.

Full text of the letter available below:

Dear Secretary Lutnick,

I write to follow up on your testimony before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies on April 22, 2026. At that hearing, I asked you whether any Nvidia H200 semiconductors have been exported to the People’s Republic of China (PRC); you responded in the negative, noting that while your department has licensed the export of these semiconductors to China, the PRC government has not allowed the sale.

However, on March 17, 2026, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang told a group of reporters that Nvidia had received necessary approvals from both the United States and PRC governments and was in the process of restarting manufacturing to serve the Chinese market. Your statements before the committee appear to contradict Huang’s comments.

I remain deeply concerned about the export of Nvidia H200 semiconductors to the PRC. These chips are among the most powerful processors on the market today and are typically used to develop highly capable artificial intelligence systems. In light of the control that the Chinese Communist Party and the People’s Liberation Army exert over the private sector in China, I believe that allowing any companies in China to purchase these products presents a serious risk to our national security and economic leadership.

Please reply within one week to clarify the facts. In your reply, please share the number of H200 processors that have been licensed for export to China, how many more you plan to license, and how many H200 processors have been shipped to China as of today, if any.

Sincerely,

Christopher A. Coons

United States Senator


Cortez Masto, Las Vegas Locals Discuss Trump’s Attempts to Make it Harder for Nevadans to Vote

Las Vegas, Nev. – – Today, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined Kerry Durmick, State Director of All Voting is Local Action Nevada, and two Nevada voters to discuss the Trump Administration’s efforts to make it harder for Nevadans to cast their ballots in a manner that is safe and secure for them. According to President Trump himself, these efforts to restrict Americans’ right to vote are an attempt to maintain control of government after the midterm elections.

Congressional Republicans, at President Trump’s urging, recently tried to force the passage of the SAVE America Act, which would require Americans to show a passport or birth certificate when registering and order states to turn over voter information to the Department of Homeland Security. Senator Cortez Masto and her Democratic colleagues successfully blocked the SAVE America Act from moving ahead in the Senate. Now, President Trump is again attacking the right to vote, this time by signing an illegal Executive Order that would make it much harder to vote by mail.

“President Trump knows his policies are unpopular – prices are up and we’re in a war in Iran that has no end in sight,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “Republicans are trying to make it harder to vote because they’re afraid Nevadans will use their voices at the ballot box to hold them accountable. But it’s not going to work. My Democratic colleagues and I are going to keep standing up to stop voter suppression.”

“President Trump and his administration have escalated their efforts to interfere ahead of the 2026 midterms by attempting to pass the Voter Elimination Act (otherwise known as the SAVE Act) and signing a second blatantly unconstitutional Executive Order aimed at undermining vote-by-mail. We need to be clear about what these attacks are: The Trump administration is trying to keep people from voting and votes from counting to control who wins the 2026 midterms. Let’s start with the Voter Elimination Act. This legislation is part of a broader push for ‘show-your-papers’ requirements for voters across the country, and if it passes, the bill’s requirements would go into effect immediately, causing chaos for Nevada’s voters and election officials alike, in the middle of a midterm election year. But it’s not just the chaos that implementation in the middle of an election year would cause; the bill would also keep millions of Americans from voting. Did you know that half of American citizens, 146 million people, do not have a passport? There are also 69 million women in this country who don’t have a birth certificate that matches their current legal name, and there are more than 21 million American citizens who don’t have either of these documents readily available. The harm to everyday Nevadans of a law like this cannot be understated, especially when you take into account the Trump administration’s second attempt to seize our elections through executive order. This executive order is an illegal attempt to dismantle a trusted voting method available to Americans for more than 150 years that tens of millions of Americans rely on while holding down multiple jobs, taking care of their families, and serving our country. This is a clear effort to keep people from voting, and once again, find another way to misuse sensitive, private voter information, all while threatening to withhold federal funding from states that don’t comply. Whether it’s through legislation, attempts to restrict vote-by-mail, or the weaponization of the Department of Justice and Homeland Security against states in the pursuit of sensitive voter information, we must hold strong. Voters pick their leaders, and Nevadans will not allow these abuses of power to stand in the way of their freedom to vote. What happens now is up to us. Our elections are strongest when all of us show up, speak out, and refuse to be intimidated. Every voter deserves a fair shot, an equal vote, and the confidence that their voice counts,” said Kerry Durmick, All Voting is Local Nevada State Director.

“I’m a stay-at-home mom and a student. My days are busy, just like millions of women across Nevada. That is why vote by mail is not just convenient, it is essential. It is how I am able to take part in our democracy. Right now, President Donald Trump & Congressional Republicans are pushing policies that would make it harder for people like me to vote. The SAVE Act would require documents like a passport or birth certificate just to register. Even a Nevada Real ID would not count. Now there is also an effort to restrict vote by mail, which is what allows moms, students, and working women to actually make our voices heard. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto helped stop this bill, but the attacks aren’t over. This is about real people, women who are balancing school, their family, and anything else that might be on their plates, but still need a way to make their voices heard. We should be making it easier to vote, not harder!,” said Alaina Morrow, a Nevada resident.

“I am here to talk about my father. He was a proud man. He strongly believed in service. Service to friends, church, community, and nation. He was a proud veteran of the United States Air Force. To him, voting was part of his service. President Trump’s recent executive order on mail ballots may have prevented my father from fulfilling what he considered his duty to our country. During the last 10 years of his life, my father slowly diminished both physically and mentally. Towards the end of his life, he found it extremely difficult to go anywhere. However, what was very important to him was being able to vote. So he filled out his mail-in ballot, and I dropped it off when I dropped off mine. If President Trump’s executive order had been in effect, my father may not have been able to make his voice heard — and neither would innumerable seniors across the country. My father passed away last year, and this year I will continue to do my civic duty of casting my vote in our elections. The SAVE America Act and President Trump’s mail ballot executive order would take away my voice and my ability to vote in our elections. I am grateful that Sen. Cortez Masto is standing up against President Trump’s attempts to take over our elections and standing against the SAVE America Act. The election suppression efforts being dressed up as “election integrity” efforts are unnecessary, irrelevant, and dangerous,” said Lisa Lynn Chapman, Battle Born Progress Research Manager.

Senator Cortez Masto has consistently stood up to President Trump’s illegal attempts to take away Americans’ voting rights. She helped Democrats defeat the SAVE America Act and called attention to the impact it and other so-called “election integrity” measures by the Trump Administration would have on voting access for Tribal communities. Cortez Masto has introduced legislation to invalidate Trump’s executive order restricting mail voting and has fought to protect election workers from being targets of political violence. She has introduced bipartisan legislation to ensure that mail is processed locally, ensuring the timely delivery of mail ballots.

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Duckworth Joins Durbin, Kelly in Push to Increase Access to Broadband Service for Americans

[WASHINGTON D.C.] –U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth joined U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Robin Kelly (D-IL-02) in demanding increased access to broadband service for low-income urban and rural Americans. The Promoting Access to Broadband Act would help states increase awareness and enrollment in the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Lifeline program, which provides a monthly subsidy to help low-income households pay for their broadband and telephone service. Specifically, the legislation would establish a competitive grant program through the FCC that would allow states to inform eligible recipients of the Lifeline program.

“With the cost of living skyrocketing for families, making broadband access more affordable and reliable for rural Americans is critical,” Duckworth said. “Reliable internet access is crucial for public health, the success of small businesses, educating our children and improving quality of life. I’m proud to join Senator Durbin and Congresswoman Kelly in introducing this legislation to help families better access and bring awareness to the Lifeline program.”

“Access to affordable and reliable internet is no longer a luxury but a necessity. Americans rely on broadband connection to complete school assignments, see their medical professionals, and talk to their loved ones, but for many families, the cost of internet access is just too high,” said Durbin. “The Promoting Access to Broadband Act would increase awareness and enrollment in the FCC’s Lifeline program, giving more Americans access to the internet.”

“Families are facing higher costs for gas, groceries, rent, and basic necessities. The Lifeline program can alleviate some of the burden and cover internet costs for families,” said Kelly. “I’m proud to introduce this bill with Senator Durbin to help families cut through the red tape and increase enrollment in the Lifeline program. My district covers urban, suburban, and rural areas, and they all deserve to have access to the internet, which is a necessity in this day and age.”

In addition to Duckworth, Durbin and Kelly, the Promoting Access to Broadband Act is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ed Markey (D-MA) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN).

In 2021, the federal government took bold, bipartisan action to invest in our nation’s broadband infrastructure through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021. Yet, with the expiration of the Affordable Connectivity Program and delays in investment, there is still much progress to be made in connecting families to broadband. According to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, as many as 25 million Americans lack access to broadband. A 2023 survey from Consumer Reports found that 27 percent of broadband users found it difficult to afford their monthly internet costs.

Further, participation in the Lifeline program remains extremely low nationwide. The Universal Service Administrative Company estimates the number of eligible households participating in Lifeline nationwide is just 22 percent, and only 14 percent in Illinois.

The Promoting Access to Broadband Act would:

Award grants to at least 25 percent of states;

Direct the FCC to consider several factors in evaluating applications, including states with a higher number of covered individuals, states with plans with the potential to reach a higher percentage of eligible-but-not-enrolled households, and geographic diversity;

Allow states to use the funds to inform eligible individuals that are not enrolled, provide information on how to apply for Lifeline, and partner with non-profit and community-based organizations with a proven track record of implementing digital inclusion initiatives to assist individuals applying for Lifeline; and

Require the FCC to issue a report to Congress within a year of establishing the grant program evaluating the grant’s effectiveness.

To be eligible for these programs, an individual must have an income at or below 135 percent of the federal poverty guidelines for the Lifeline program. Enrollees also are eligible if they qualify for a needs-based program, such as Medicaid or SNAP, or receive Supplemental Security Income, federal public housing assistance or Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefits.

The bill has earned endorsements from National Digital Inclusion Alliance, Public Knowledge, Third Way and ACLU.

Full text of the bill is available on the Senator’s website.

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Duckworth Joins Warren, Schumer in Pressing Head of Employment Protections Commission on Attacks on Workers Undergoing IVF

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] — U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) in leading 12 of their Democratic Senate colleagues in pressing Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Chair Andrea Lucas on the Commission’s efforts to weaken a rule affirming employment protections for workers undergoing fertility treatments, including in-vitro fertilization (IVF). By law, the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) requires employers to grant employees reasonable accommodations and in 2024, the EEOC set forth PWFA regulations explicitly affirming that these protections apply to workers undergoing IVF treatments. After President Trump appointed Lucas as Acting Chair, she announced the EEOC would be “reconsidering” the PWFA regulations to cut those workers out.

“(Removing workers undergoing IVF from the rule would) mak(e) it more likely that employers could deny accommodations to workers undergoing fertility treatment—or force them to work in conditions that could undermine their health or their treatment’s success. We write to request that you abandon your efforts to weaken this rule,” wrote the lawmakers.

Fertility treatments are intensive medical processes that have serious impacts on women’s lives. IVF involves several daily needle injections, which can cause side effects like nausea, vomiting, bloating and fatigue. The fertility procedures themselves do not allow for flexible scheduling and can require intravenous sedation.

During his 2024 campaign, President Trump repeatedly claimed he was a supporter of fertility treatment, calling himself the “father of IVF” and even going as far as to promise that he would make fertilization treatments free. Yet, President Trump’s Executive Order aiming to expand access to IVF, the implementation of which the Senators describe as “weak,” “fail(s) to address the larger expense of IVF cycles.” In particular, President Trump’s attempt to get drug manufacturers to lower prices for IVF drugs only applies to a “narrow subset of drugs within the broader IVF regimen,” leaving patients on the hook for the costs of other medications used, embryo storage and embryo transfers.

The Senators asked Chair Lucas to provide clarity on her attacks on workers undergoing fertility treatments by May 13, 2026.

In addition to Duckworth, Warren and Schumer, the letter was co-signed by U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Tina Smith (D-MN).

The full text of the Senators’ letter is available below and on the Senator’s website.

Dear Ms. Lucas:

We write regarding a statement you issued last year indicating that you intend to modify your agency’s rule that affirms the strong protections that the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) grants workers undergoing fertility treatments. President Trump has claimed he wants to increase Americans’ access to fertility treatments—even going as far as to dub himself “the Fertilization President.” But modifying the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)’s PWFA regulations to remove individuals undergoing fertility treatments would break President Trump’s promise, making it more likely that employers could deny accommodations to workers undergoing fertility treatment—or force them to work in conditions that could undermine their health or their treatment’s success. We write to request that you abandon your efforts to weaken this rule.

President Trump has repeatedly held himself out as an ardent supporter of fertility treatment, especially in vitro fertilization (IVF). On the campaign trail, President Trump said: “We’re totally in favor of IVF,” “we really are the party for IVF,” and “I’m the father of IVF.” Once in office, President Trump dubbed himself “the fertilization president.” He even claimed he would make fertilization treatments free, which he described as “tremendous goodies in the bag for women.” This has not come to pass. President Trump has set forth an Executive Order purportedly aimed at expanding access to IVF, but its implementation has been weak. In particular, President Trump’s attempt to get drug manufacturers to lower prices for IVF drugs only applies to a “narrow subset of drugs within the broader IVF regimen,” failing to address the larger expense of IVF cycles, including the costs of all the medications used, embryo storage, and embryo transfers. And his proposed fertility benefits amount to little more than a voluntary invitation to employers to offer benefits if they want to, with no requirements or incentives to do so. At the same time, President Trump signed into law the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which will kick 14.2 million people off their insurance by 203411—dashing the hopes of would-be parents who can no longer afford even the most basic of health care, let alone expensive fertility treatments. Now, his EEOC appointees are taking this betrayal a step further by undermining critical protections for workers undergoing fertility treatments.

In 2022, Congress passed—and President Biden signed into law—the PWFA, which requires employers to grant their employees reasonable accommodations for “known limitations” arising from “pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions.” In many cases, this will boil down to (in your words) “water, a place to sit, fitting attire, increased access to the bathroom, and the like.” The law directed the EEOC to issue legally binding regulations “provid[ing] examples of reasonable accommodations addressing known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions.” The Commission issued its final rule in 202, over your protests. The final rule, which reflects the clear meaning and intent of PWFA’s statutory text, explicitly affirms that the PWFA protects women undergoing fertility treatment.

At the time, you objected to how the Commission interpreted the phrase “pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions.” In your view, this phase should not include a worker undergoing fertility treatments, even though infertility is a medical condition related to pregnancy and childbirth. You were also hostile to the inclusion of menstruation, “hormone issues,” and even lactation as medical conditions related to pregnancy and childbirth.

After you became Acting Chair, you announced your intention to rewrite the PWFA regulations to exclude these workers, indicating that you “remain[] opposed to the Commission’s construction of the phrase “pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions” described in the Final Rule . . . [and] intend[] for the Commission to reconsider portions of the Final Rule.” Now that the Commission has a quorum again, you appear to be in a position to initiate the required notice-and-comment process to change the rule.

Fertility treatments are intensive medical processes that have serious impacts on women’s lives. IVF involves several daily needle injections of medicines that can cause side effects like nausea, vomiting, bloating, and fatigue. To get the doses dialed in, patients must often visit their fertility clinic every 1-2 days over a two-week period for morning monitoring appointments, meaning frequent blood draws and transvaginal ultrasounds. And then there are the procedures themselves—egg retrieval and embryo transfer—one of which requires intravenous sedation and neither of which allows for flexible scheduling.

The PWFA protects workers’ rights to accommodations for a wide range of medical conditions related to pregnancy—including IVF and other fertility treatments—and the EEOC’s rule affirms those protections. The current regulation explicitly protects the right of workers undergoing IVF to request reasonable accommodations like short breaks to take medication, a schedule that accommodates daily monitoring appointments and medical procedures, or even access to a chair. These are exactly the kind of “small adjustments” that would allow these workers to continue to perform their jobs during their treatments and that, as you have pointed out, “should be expected from common decency and good manners, but sadly, sometimes [are] denied.” This is why it is so important that the PWFA protects these workers—and that the relevant regulations make that clear. Yet, you have stated that you “intend[]” to remove these workers from the rule. Removing them from this rule does not change the fact that these workers are owed these protections, but it does make it more likely that employers will illegally deny women undergoing IVF their rights under PWFA.

President Trump designated you Acting Chair of the EEOC on January 20, 2025, and he renominated you to serve as Chair several months later. Your plan to remove workers undergoing fertility treatments from the rule reveals that President Trump’s promise to “expand[] access” to IVF was entirely hollow. As one legal scholar put it, “[i]f a worker can’t take time off for appointments, then cheaper treatment and greater health-care options are moot.” Since you have taken over as Chair and announced your intention to change the EEOC’s rule, workers undergoing IVF or other fertility treatments—or who plan to do so—cannot be certain that they will have access to reasonable accommodations for their treatments. And you have made this situation even worse by shrouding the EEOC’s decision-making in secrecy. On January 14, 2026, you rescinded the Commission’s voting procedures, placing all decisions to call public meetings and schedule Commission votes in your sole discretion. You should not make major decisions affecting the agency and the American people behind closed doors and without input from the public. The people who will be affected by your rewriting of the regulations deserve to know more about your intentions and your process.

We ask that you halt any further efforts to weaken EEOC rules that protect workers undergoing fertility treatments. And to provide the public with clarity about your intentions concerning the PWFA regulations and your consistency in enforcing the nation’s employment civil rights laws, please answer the following questions by May 13, 2026:

1. Do you intend to change the EEOC’s PWFA regulations to eliminate language explaining the PWFA’s protections for workers undergoing IVF and other fertility treatments?

a. If so, please answer the following questions:

i. What is your timeline for removing this language?

ii. Will the comment period for the required notice-and-comment rulemaking process be of the same length as it was for the original rule (60 days)?

iii. Have you considered that removing IVF protections is inconsistent with the administration’s policy, expressed in an executive order, to expand access to IVF?

iv. Have you consulted the White House on your intended course of action?

b. If not, please explain your change in position.

2. Do you intend to change the EEOC’s PWFA regulations to eliminate language explaining the PWFA’s protections related to menstruation, changes in hormone levels, or lactation?

a. If so, please answer the following questions:

i. What is your timeline for removing this language?

ii. Will the comment period for the required notice-and-comment rulemaking process be of the same length as it was for the original rule (60 days)?

b. If not, please explain your change in position.

3. Are you considering any other changes to the EEOC’s current PWFA regulation, and if so, what are they?

Sincerely,

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