NEWS: Pressley, Murray, Duckworth Introduce Bicameral Bill to Help Women with Disabilities Access Reproductive Health Care

Pressley: “With a nationwide assault on reproductive healthcare deeply impacting our siblings with disabilities, this bill is timely, urgent and responsive.”

Bill Text | Bill Summary

WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Co-Chair of the Reproductive Freedom Caucus, along with Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), reintroduced their Reproductive Health Care Accessibility Act, legislation to help women with disabilities—who face discrimination and extra barriers when seeking care—get better access to the timely, informed, and culturally competent reproductive health care they deserve.

“Everyone should have equitable access to healthcare. Disability justice and reproductive justice are connected,” said Congresswoman Pressley, Co-Chair of the Reproductive Freedom Caucus. “With a nationwide assault on reproductive healthcare deeply impacting our siblings with disabilities, this bill is timely, urgent and responsive. I’m grateful to Senator Murray, Senator Duckworth, and our advocates for their ongoing partnership on this legislation.”

“Every single American woman deserves reproductive health care from a provider that understands her unique needs and treats her with dignity and respect as she makes her personal health care decisions—this is especially true for women with disabilities who often face discrimination and additional barriers to receiving basic health care,” said Senator Murray. “While Republicans do all they can to rip away health care, attack our reproductive rights, and try to ban abortion nationwide, I am continuing to fight back and ensure that all women can access high-quality care from providers who understand their unique needs. This bill will help make a big difference in making sure people with disabilities can get the informed and accessible reproductive health care they deserve.”

“Americans with disabilities have long faced barriers to health care services, equipment and providers—and those barriers have only multiplied under the Trump Administration when it comes to reproductive care,” said Senator Duckworth. “Between the fall of Roe and Republicans passing $1 trillion in Medicaid cuts, it’s shameful how Donald Trump has made sure it’s even harder for people with disabilities to access reproductive health care. I’m proud to introduce this bill with Senator Murray to help ensure that Americans with disabilities are not left behind in getting the care we need, when we need it.”

All Americans deserve to decide if, when, and how to start and raise a family—including the roughly one in four adults with disabilities, who report wanting children as much as those without disabilities do. But people with disabilities have long experienced discrimination and barriers when accessing sexual and reproductive health care. They are also less likely to receive contraception counseling and timely prenatal care, experience a higher rate of sterilization, and are at a greater risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes. And they face other barriers to accessing reproductive care, such as a lack of accessibility at health care facilities, accessible medical diagnostic equipment, accessible travel, and health care providers trained on how to treat and address the unique, diverse needs of people with disabilities receiving reproductive health care.

The legislation would provide grant funding for training and education programs for health care professionals focused on the reproductive health needs of people with disabilities, help to increase the representation of people with disabilities in the health care provider workforce, and establish a new technical assistance center to provide recommendations and best practices regarding sexual and reproductive health care for people with disabilities, among other things. The lawmakers first introduced the bill in 2022, and reintroduced it in 2023 as well.

The Reproductive Health Care Accessibility Act would lower barriers to sexual and reproductive care and help ensure disabled people get timely access to culturally competent health care. Specifically, the bill would:

Provide grant funding to carry out training programs for health care professionals providing reproductive health care for individuals with disabilities;

Establish grants to expand the health care provider workforce by increasing the number of people with disabilities in those professions;

Provide grant funding to carry out education programs for entities with a demonstrated expertise in serving individuals with disabilities, focused on the sexual and reproductive health care needs of this population;

Create a new technical assistance center to provide recommendations and best practices regarding sexual and reproductive health care for people with disabilities; and

Direct the Department of Health and Human Services to carry out a study to analyze reproductive health care for people with disabilities.

The legislation is also cosponsored by Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), John Fetterman (D-PA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Edward Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Tina Smith (D-MN), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

The legislation is endorsed by American Civil Liberties Union, All* Above All, Catholics for Choice, Center for American Progress, In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda, National Abortion Federation, National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum, National Council of Jewish Women, National Disability Rights Network, National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association, National Health Law Program, National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice, National Network of Abortion Funds, National Partnership for Women and Families, National Women’s Law Center Action Fund, Physicians for Reproductive Health, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Power to Decide, and Reproductive Freedom for All.

“The barriers disabled people face when trying to access reproductive health care are real, longstanding, and too often ignored. This bill recognizes that accessibility is not optional when it comes to bodily autonomy and reproductive freedom,” said Mia Ives-Rublee, Senior Director of the Disability Justice Initiative at the Center for American Progress. “Everyone deserves the ability to make informed decisions about their own health and future, and that means ensuring care is accessible, inclusive, and responsive to the needs of disabled people.”

“For too long, our health care system has subjected people with disabilities, and especially disabled Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, to discrimination in sexual and reproductive health (SRH) care. And while this discrimination often violates federal civil rights laws, it persists,” said Madeline Morcelle, Senior Attorney at the National Health Law Program. “We are proud to endorse the Reproductive Health Care Accessibility Act because it invests in solutions that will help prevent discrimination before it happens, such as comprehensive provider training and grants to increase disabled representation in the SRH care workforce. Together, these measures will help foster a future in which people with disabilities’ sexual and reproductive autonomy is honored, pain and other symptoms are not dismissed, and SRH care is accessible, trauma-informed, culturally and linguistically appropriate, non-coercive, and delivered with dignity.”

A one-pager on the bill is available here.

The full text of the Reproductive Health Care Accessibility Act is 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.

On the anniversary of the Dobbs decision, Rep. Pressley introduced the Abortion Justice Act, sweeping, intersectional legislation to address access to abortion care and put forth a comprehensive vision of a just America where abortion care is readily available—without stigma, shame or systemic barriers—for all who seek it, regardless of zip code, immigration status, income, or background.

Rep. Pressley is a lead co-sponsor of the Women’s Health Protection Act (WHPA), bicameral federal legislation to guarantee equal access to abortion care, everywhere.

Rep. Pressley is also a lead co-sponsor of the EACH Act, bold legislation to repeal the Hyde Amendment and help guarantee abortion coverage—regardless of how a patient gets their health insurance.

Shortly before the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade, Rep. Pressley led a group of her Black women colleagues in writing to President Biden urging him to declare a public health emergency amid the unprecedented threats to abortion rights nationwide.

Rep. Pressley condemned the Supreme Court’s leaked draft opinion to overturn Roe v. Wade., and implored the Senate to protect abortion rights and slammed the white supremacist roots of anti-abortion efforts.

Rep. Pressley has been outspoken in demanding justice for Adriana Smith, a 30-year-old pregnant mother who was declared brain dead in February and was forced to remain on life support due to Georgia’s abortion ban. In June 2025, Rep. Pressley delivered an impassioned floor speech in which she underscored that Adriana’s case is far too common in the unjust history of denying Black women their dignity, humanity, and right to bodily autonomy – and that GOP abortion bans such as Georgia’s deepen this pain and bar critical healthcare freedom. Rep. Pressley issued a statement after Adriana’s infant son Chance was delivered via emergency Cesarean section and Adriana was taken off life support.

In May 2026, Pressley and her colleagues 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.

On August 18, 2025, Rep. Pressley issued a statement applauding the passage of the updated Shield Act in Massachusetts, signed into law by Governor Maura Healey this month. The expanded Shield Act strengthens legal protections for people seeking reproductive and gender-affirming care in Massachusetts.

On July 3, 2025, Rep. Pressley issued a statement on the final passage of Republicans’ Big, Ugly Bill that will rip healthcare and food assistance away from millions of people, including in Massachusetts, push reproductive healthcare further out of reach nationwide, and fuel Trump’s unlawful mass deportation agenda.

On July 1, 2025, Rep. Pressley filed an amendment to Republicans’ Big, Ugly Bill to protect and expand reproductive healthcare.

On June 26, 2025, Rep. Pressley issued a statement on the harmful Medina v. Planned Parenthood ruling, the Supreme Court’s decision to allow South Carolina to bar Medicaid patients from receiving healthcare services at Planned Parenthood.

On June 24, 2025, Rep. Pressley joined House Democratic Leadership for a press conference to mark the somber anniversary and renew her calls for comprehensive legislation to protect abortion care and expand access to reproductive healthcare.

On June 23, 2025, Rep. Pressley and the women of the Massachusetts delegation, Whip Katherine Clark (MA-05), Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Rep. Lori Trahan (MA-03) joined Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Massachusetts President Dominique Lee for a press conference in solidarity with Planned Parenthood as they collectively fight to stop Republicans’ latest attack on reproductive freedom in the GOP’s Big, Ugly Bill.

On May 29, 2025, Rep. Pressley reintroduced a resolution demanding equitable access to reproductive and sexual healthcare for people with disabilities, and designating a day in May as “Disability Reproductive Equity Day.”

On May 21, 2025, Rep. Pressley delivered a powerful speech on the House Floor in which she slammed Republicans’ reconciliation bill that would slash Medicaid, which is necessary to ensuring safe, healthy reproductive care and maternal health nationwide.

On April 3, 2025, Rep. Pressley, alongside Reps. DeGette, Chu, Leger Fernández, Fletcher, Davids, Williams, sent a letter signed by 162 Members urging Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to restore all appropriated funding for Title X providers and coordinate an urgent meeting on the matter.

On April 2, 2025, Rep. Pressley rallied with Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA), colleagues, and advocates outside the U.S. Supreme Court for Medicaid patients’ ability to access routine care at Planned Parenthood health centers.

On March 5, 2025, Rep. Pressley and the Reproductive Freedom Caucus issued a statement condemning Donald Trump’s plans to drop the U.S. government’s case against Idaho’s violation of Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA) protections for emergency abortion care.

In January 2025, Rep. Pressley gave an impassioned speech condemning H.R. 21, Republicans’ cruel anti-abortion bill that criminalizes providers and denies families care.

In January 2025, Rep. Pressley was announced as Co-Chair of the Reproductive Freedom Caucus for the 119th Congress.

In October 2024, Rep. Pressley issued a statement on Josseli Barnica, who died on Sept. 3, 2021 after being denied emergency abortion care in Texas as she suffered a miscarriage.

In September 2024, in a House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee Hearing, Rep. Pressley highlighted the harmful and deadly impact of abortion bans in America to date, and outlined in detail the shameful circumstances under which Amber Nicole Thurman died after being denied necessary abortion care in Georgia.

In May 2024, Rep. Pressley issued a statement on a Louisiana bill that would classify medication abortion drugs mifepristone and misoprostol as controlled substances.

In April 2024, at a House Oversight Committee hearing, Rep. Pressley played “Fact or Fiction” with Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Robert Califf to emphasize the safety and efficacy of medication abortion drug mifepristone.

Shortly before the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade, Rep. Pressley led a group of her Black women colleagues in writing to President Biden urging him to declare a public health emergency amid the unprecedented threats to abortion rights nationwide.

Rep. Pressley condemned the Supreme Court’s leaked draft opinion to overturn Roe v. Wade., and implored the Senate to protect abortion rights and slammed the white supremacist roots of anti-abortion efforts.

In August 2023, Rep. Pressley issued a statement on the Fifth Circuit Court decision in Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA.

In July 2023, Rep. Pressley, alongside Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Rep. Cori Bush (MO-01), and Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), reintroduced the Reproductive Health Care Accessibility Act, legislation to help people with disabilities—who face discrimination and extra barriers when seeking care—get better access to reproductive health care and the informed care they need to control their own reproductive lives.

In July 2023, Rep. Pressley applauded the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) approval of over-the-counter birth control.

In May 2023, Rep. Pressley applauded the FDA Advisory Committee’s unanimous, 17-0 vote to recommend the approval of the first-ever application for over-the-counter birth control. She and Senator Murray also held a press conference applauding the decision and urging the FDA to approval over-the-counter birth control without delay.

In May 2023, Rep. Pressley, along with Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14) and Ami Bera, MD (CA-06) and Senators Mazie Hirono (D-HI) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), reintroduced their bicameral Affordability is Access Act to ensure that once the FDA determines an over-the-counter birth control option to be safe, insurers fully cover over-the-counter birth control without any fees or out-of-pocket costs.

In April 2023, Rep. Pressley issued a statement condemning the Texas court ruling on mifepristone, and discussed the Texas case in a recent floor speech in which she affirmed medication abortion as routine medical care and access to mifepristone as essential. She later joined Governor Maura Healey, Senator Elizabth Warren (D-MA), and local leaders in announcing action to protect Mifepristone in Massachusetts.

In March 2023, Rep. Pressley, along with Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Reps. Schakowsky, Lee, DeGette, Torres and Strickland, reintroduced the Abortion is Healthcare Everywhere Act harmful and discriminatory Helms Amendment and expand abortion access globally.

In March 2023, Rep. Pressley and Senator Hirono led their colleagues in reintroducing a bicameral congressional resolution honoring abortion providers and clinic staff.

In March 2023, Rep. Pressley delivered a speech in which she discussed the pending court case in Texas, which aims to restrict access to medication abortion across the entire nation. In her remarks, Rep. Pressley affirmed medication abortion as routine medical care, and accessibility to the abortion pill mifepristone as essential.

In September 2021, Rep. Pressley issued a statement condemning the Supreme Court’s inaction on SB-8, Texas’ restrictive abortion law. Later that month, she participated in a House Oversight Committee hearing to examine the threat posed by abortion bans and underscored the urgency of the Senate passing the Women’s Health Protection Act.

In April 2021, Rep. Pressley, along with Congresswomen Barbara Lee (CA-13), Diana DeGette (CO-01) and Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), led a group of 131 Democratic members in reintroducing the Equal Access to Abortion Coverage in Health Insurance Act or the EACH Act, which would repeal the Hyde Amendment and ensure that all people, regardless of income, insurance or zip code, can make personal reproductive health care decisions without interference from politicians. She re-Introduced the legislation In January 2023.

Rep. Pressley has led calls in Congress for the FDA to remove medically unnecessary restrictions on the medication abortion drug mifepristone, and applauded the FDA’s action in January 2023 to allow retail pharmacies to dispense abortion medication pills.

As Chair of the Pro-Choice Caucus’s Abortion Rights and Access Task Force, Congresswoman Pressley led the fight to repeal the Hyde Amendments from annual Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies appropriations bills and in July 2020 published a Medium post on the importance of doing so. She applauded the removal of the Hyde Amendment in President Biden’s FY2022 budget.

In May 2020, she led more than 155 Members of Congress in calling on House Democratic leadership to ensure that any future COVID-19 relief packages rejected Republican efforts to use the public health crisis to diminish abortion access.

In August 2021, Rep. Pressley, Oversight Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney, and Pro-Choice Caucus Co-Chairs Reps. Diana DeGette and Barbara Lee led more than 70 of their House Democratic colleagues in introducing a resolution in support of equitable, science-based policies governing access to medication abortion care.

In January 2023, Rep. Pressley introduced a resolution to condemn all forms of political violence in the U.S., regardless of its target or intent. That same day, she delivered a powerful speech on the House floor slamming Republicans’ harmful, misleading anti-abortion resolution.

In September 2022, Rep. Pressley hosted U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra at the Codman Square Health Center in Dorchester for a convening on their work to address the Black maternal health crisis and the criminalization of abortion care in states across the nation following the harmful U.S. Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health.

In May 2019, she led more than 100 colleagues in introducing H.Con.Res.40, a resolution reaffirming the House of Representative’s support for Roe v. Wade.

In June 2019, Rep. Pressley introduced H.R. 3296, the Affordability is Access Act, to make oral contraception available without a prescription.

In September 2016, as a member of the Boston City Council, Pressley championed a resolution calling on Congress and President Obama to repeal the Hyde Amendment and reinstate insurance coverage for abortion services.

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VIDEO: After Memorial Drive Shooting, Pressley Slams Trump Admin for Fueling Gun Violence, Weakening Accountability for Gun Dealers

Transcript: Pressley Slams Trump Admin for Fueling Gun Violence, Weakening Accountability for Gun Dealers

House Oversight Subcommittee on Federal Law Enforcement

May 14, 2026

REP. PRESSLEY: Director Cekada, gun violence is a public health crisis, and this administration is failing to meet it with the urgency that it demands.

Across our country, including in my district, the Massachusetts 7th, families are bearing the devastating consequences of shootings, trafficking, domestic violence, femicide, suicide and community trauma.

Just this past Monday, a gunman armed with an assault rifle opened fire on random drivers and pedestrians traveling along Memorial Drive in Cambridge, terrorizing people in broad daylight. Constituents in my district and communities across this country should not have to live with the constant fear that their daily commute could become a mass casualty event.

Now, while Massachusetts has some of the strongest gun safety laws in the nation, more than two-thirds of guns recovered from crimes in our Commonwealth originate from out of state. At the same time, communities are demanding accountability.

Director Cekada, your agency has weakened oversight of gun dealers by ending the zero tolerance policy for firearm dealers who violate the law. Mr. Director, yes or no, should gun dealers who willfully sell firearms to prohibited individuals be allowed to continue operating? Yes or No.

DIRECTOR CEKADA: Your statement is a violation of the law, and they should be put out of business if they willfully violate the Gun Control Act.

REP. PRESSLEY: Alright, that’s right. These dealers are breaking the law, and previously would have had their licenses to sell revoked, but your agency repealed that policy.

Accountability should not be a radical concept here. Instead, your agency has chosen to weaken enforcement while simultaneously defending policies that limit access to data that communities need to combat gun violence.

This is bad public policy. This is bad for public safety. This is bad for public health.

Survivors of gun violence carry lifelong trauma, especially our children, increasingly so, a childhood is a privilege instead of a right. Young people are growing up internalizing trauma as a normal part of daily life. Active shooter drills, memorials outside of school, parents afraid to allow their children to walk home alone.

Now, all the data supports that exposure to gun violence has profound and lasting impacts on childhood development, mental and physical health and educational attainment. In the full oversight committee, I convened the first ever Congressional hearing on childhood trauma. It was illuminating and devastating.

Children who witnessed gun violence are more likely to experience anxiety, depression and PTSD well into adulthood. These children and their families are the people you should be centering in your work, Director Sakata.

I believe the people closest to the pain should be the closest to the power. But let’s look at who you are instead holding close to the power. Not the traumatized children, not the grieving mothers, not the classroom educators who everyday wonder, “Is today the day that I will have to shield my student from a shooter.”

Instead, this is a picture from your signing ceremony announcing over 30 changes to end gun safety protections, and standing directly behind you are the leaders of the gun lobby, the NRA, the National Shooting Sports Foundation, the National Association for Gun Rights, and others who have spent decades obstructing commonsense gun safety measures.

The gun lobby is controlling the regulators while our communities are paying the price, burying loved ones and raising children in fear.

The shame and the sham of it all.

I yield back.


Raskin, Garcia and Morelle Unveil Landmark Legislation to Curb Trump Administration’s Historic Abuses of Power, Profiteering from Public Office

Washington, D.C.—Today, Representatives Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Robert Garcia (CA-42) and Joseph Morelle (NY-25) introduced legislation to strengthen the legal infrastructure of our democracy against presidents or other officials who abuse their power for personal gain. The Protecting Our Democracy Act (PODA)would oppose executive corruption, promote transparency and accountability, and reassert the principle that no president is above the law.

Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA) has introduced companion legislation in the Senate.

“President Trump and his cabinet are committing daily shocking violations of the Constitution, putting billions of dollars in personal profit, rampant political corruption and the designs of billionaire oligarchs before the basic needs of the American people,”said Rep. Raskin.“I’m introducing the Protecting Our Democracy Actwith Representatives Garcia and Morelle to reassert the rule of law, revive congressional power and get our democracy back on the growth track.”

“The blatant corruption we've seen from Donald Trump and the Trump Administration is exactly what this bill is going to crack down on,"said Rep. Garcia. “This bill will close glaring loopholes and makes it clear that no president can run a pay-to-play scheme from the Oval Office. No one should be able to buy a pardon, a cabinet seat, or favor from the President of the United States, and this bill will make sure it can't happen.”

“Corruption in government doesn’t start all at once—it grows when leaders believe the rules don’t apply to them,”said Rep. Morelle. “I’m proud to join Ranking Member Raskin and Ranking Member Garcia in introducing theProtecting Our Democracy Act to restore accountability, strengthen oversight, and ensure no president is above the law. At a moment when Donald Trump and his allies continue to test the limits of our democracy for their own political gain, Democrats are fighting to protect the checks and balances that safeguard the American people.”

“Since returning to office, Donald Trump has accelerated the process of tearing down our system of checks and balances and weakening our democracy,”said Senator Schiff. “His presidency at its core has been about consolidating power and eroding the rule of law, to enrich himself, his family and friends. When his tenure in the Oval Office comes to an end, we must reinforce the separation of powers and ensure that no President can again bring us so close to one-man rule. I am proud to have led this legislation as both a member of the U.S. House of Representatives and now in the Senate, and I’m glad to have Congressman Jamie Raskin—a champion of democracy—join me in this effort.”

“Trump’s pay-to-play presidency putting his personal self-enrichment ahead of lowering costs for everyday Americans demands accountability and reform,”said Lisa Gilbert, Co-President, Public Citizen. “The President’s norm-breaking and illegal actions have shown us all that he believes he is unfettered by and above the law. Americans deserve a government bound by law, not enemies lists, as well as constitutional protections that secure justice beyond the reach of any single administration. TheProtecting our Democracy Act—which has been put forth during both Republican and Democratic administrations alike— would reign in an out-of-control executive and begin to rebuild the shattered public trust our democracy requires to function.”

“For too long, Congress has given away too much power to the executive branch and the American people have suffered as a result. We’re currently seeing unprecedented abuses of presidential authority as the Trump Administration uses the vast powers of government to enrich themselves and attack their perceived opponents,”said Justin Vail, Counsel and Head of the Washington Office at Protect Democracy. “The Protecting Our Democracy Act is an important step towards reining in executive overreach and ensuring that government serves the people, regardless of who the president is.”

"We now all know how fragile our democracy really is,"said Debra Perlin, Vice President for Policy at Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW). "President Trump's return to the Oval Office has been marked by unchecked abuses of presidential power and the destruction of the institutions meant to protect American values and security. From the weaponization of the Department of Justice to the destruction of the civil service and manipulation of government functions to line the pocketbooks of this administration's allies, the need for democracy reform has never been greater. That is why CREW is proud to enthusiastically endorse the re-introduction of the Protecting our Democracy Act (PODA). PODA isn't only about the abuses of Donald Trump—it is about ensuring no president, including the current one, can destroy our democracy on a whim. CREW urges Congress to swiftly pass this legislation as a necessary first step to repairing our democracy."

“Now more than ever it is critical to strengthen democratic guardrails and institutions,”said Dylan Hedtler-Gaudette, Acting Vice-President of Policy and Government Affairs at the Project On Government Oversight (POGO).“Corruption and abuse of power are running rampant right now. Gaps and weaknesses in the law are part of the reason for that. The strong, commonsense reforms contained in the Protecting Our Democracy Act are precisely what this country needs at this essential moment in our history. Rep. Raskin and his colleagues should be commended for introducing this vital legislation and congressional leadership should move swiftly to pass it and send it to the president’s desk.”

The Protecting our Democracy Actwill:


During National Police Week, Congresswomen Ross, Foushee, Sykes Introduce Bill To Increase Opportunities for Women in Law Enforcement

Washington, D.C. — Congresswomen Deborah Ross (NC-02), Valerie Foushee (NC-04), and Emilia Sykes (OH-13) introduced the Supporting Women with Career Opportunities in Policing Services (COPS) Act of 2026, which would incentivize more women to join law enforcement by revising biased hiring practices and establishing standards for the retention and promotion of female officers.

About 12% of the nation’s police officers are women, a number that has not changed in more than two decades. Women are often hindered by outdated hiring processes that focus too heavily on physical strength and force. Additionally, research shows that hiring more women can have a positive effect on overall police performance, especially in cases of domestic and sexual violence.

“When more women serve in law enforcement, we see better outcomes for our communities,” said Congresswoman Ross. “We need more law enforcement officers across North Carolina, and we especially need to recruit and retain more female officers. While North Carolina is leading the way with a high number of women police chiefs, police departments cannot do it on their own. Congress must ensure law enforcement agencies have the resources to succeed, and that includes ensuring women can have successful and effective careers in law enforcement.”

“Women are underrepresented in law enforcement, and the Supporting Women COPS Act will help address barriers that too often prevent women from entering and advancing in policing,” said Congresswoman Foushee. “By examining outdated hiring practices and supporting fair, modern standards, this bill will help law enforcement agencies better reflect the communities they serve. As a former administrator for the Chapel Hill Police Department, I am proud to join Congresswomen Ross and Sykes in this effort to expand opportunities for women in law enforcement and make lasting systemic change.”

“Women belong at every level of law enforcement leadership, and we need recruitment and retention standards that reflect the realities officers face on and off the job,” said Rep. Sykes. “The Supporting Women COPS Act takes an important step toward building a stronger, more inclusive public safety workforce by helping departments recruit talented women, support them throughout their careers, and create pathways to leadership. When law enforcement agencies better reflect the communities they serve, our communities are stronger and safer.”

The Supporting Women COPS Act of 2026 would:

• Establish a task force on women in law enforcement, comprised of various stakeholders

• Require this task force to release a report with recommendations on hiring standards for law enforcement officers that do not disadvantage applicants based on sex, for female officer retention, and for female advancement to leadership roles in law enforcement. This report will be delivered within 18 months of enactment.

• Incentivize states to adopt these recommendations by offering them an increase in their normal Byrne JAG totals by 5% per year.

• Authorize such sums as necessary to pay for these incentives.


Rep. Sara Jacobs Introduces War Powers Resolution to End War in Iran; Bring Her Constituents Home

Rep. Sara Jacobs (CA-51), who represents San Diego, the country’s biggest military community, introduced a war powers resolution today to end President Donald Trump’s war in Iran and bring her constituents home safely. Thousands of San Diego-based sailors and Marines have deployed to the region, and thousands more have received 48-hour deployment notices.

Rep. Sara Jacobs said: “Every day this unnecessary, reckless war continues is another day that my constituents who are deployed to Iran are in harm’s way and at risk of losing their lives. Our service members deserve better than to be treated as expendable – and so do the American people who are being forced to pay over $1 billion per day for this military adventurism. That’s why I’m proud to introduce this war powers resolution to help end this war in Iran and bring my constituents safely home. My colleagues who are blindly supporting this war may not have to answer to our troops, but I do, and I will do everything in my power to protect them.”

Rep. Sara Jacobs joins the efforts of Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) members, including Reps. Ro Khanna (CA-17), Jared Huffman (CA-02), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), John Garamendi (CA-08), Chuy Garcia (IL-04), Robert Garcia (CA-42), and Becca Balint (VT-AL), who are working in coordination to force votes on ending the war in Iran. War Powers Resolutions are privileged in the House of Representatives, meaning that this resolution will get a vote on the House floor in the coming weeks.

Rep. Sara Jacobs has been a leading voice in Congress, pushing for a permanent end to the war in Iran and Lebanon. She has voted in support of both bipartisan war powers resolutions, led over half of the House Democratic Caucus in demanding oversight of instances of civilian harm, and vowed to oppose the Pentagon’s imminent supplemental package.


Rep. Simpson Advances Funding for CWI’s River District Project

WASHINGTON—Today, Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson highlighted the inclusion of $2,165,000 in funding for the College of Western Idaho River District Project in Boise, Idaho, at his request through Community Project Funding (CPF) in the Fiscal Year 2027 Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill.

“The College of Western Idaho’s new academic center is an investment in the future of career technical education, cybersecurity, business, and much more,” said Rep. Simpson. “As the new center is set to open next year, this funding will help the college purchase the resources necessary to be ready for classes that fall. I’m proud to support this project because it benefits Idaho students, education, and the workforce.”

“We appreciate Congressman Simpson's support for this important project, which will strengthen CWI's ability to serve more students at our Micron Academic Center in Boise,” said CWI President Gordon Jones. “This investment will expand access to Cybersecurity and Computer Science, Business, and other general education programs, helping more students build skills that lead directly to in-demand careers and support Idaho's workforce needs.”

This funding will help the College of Western Idaho purchase equipment at the new facility and provide students with modern labs, specialized institutional spaces, and advanced network infrastructure to support hands-on training, applied research, and industry-aligned learning environments.

As Idaho’s only appropriator, Rep. Simpson has a unique opportunity to fight for Idaho’s priorities and ensure Idahoans’ hard-earned tax dollars return to Idaho.

The College of Western Idaho River District Project is a part of the Fiscal Year 2027 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill. This measure has been approved by the House Appropriations Committee.


Rep. Simpson Supports Pro-Law Enforcement Legislation During National Police Week

WASHINGTON—This National Police Week, Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson voted in favor of several critical pieces of pro-law-enforcement legislation that highlight support for America’s brave men and women in blue.

“Supporting our brave law enforcement has always been one of my top priorities in Congress,” said Rep. Simpson. “In times of emergencies, the men and women in blue respond. It is vital that they have the resources necessary to perform their jobs safely and efficiently. My House Republican colleagues and I are committed to ensuring this support. I will always stand behind our law enforcement and support efforts to defend these brave individuals, not defund.”

The National Police Week of 2026 legislation includes:


Rep. Sykes Votes Yes on War Powers Resolution for Fourth Time to Reassert Congressional Authority as Iran Conflict Continues

WASHINGTON, D.C. – For the fourth time, U.S. Representative Emilia Sykes (OH-13) voted in favor of a war powers resolution directing the withdrawal of U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities against Iran.

Nearly two weeks ago, President Trump surpassed the 60-day deadline under the War Powers Act after initiating an unnecessary war with Iran without authorization from Congress. This raises urgent constitutional and accountability concerns. Legal experts and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle pointed to the milestone as a key threshold requiring congressional action or an end to unauthorized military operations.

Rep. Sykes said Congress cannot allow any president to ignore the law and continue an open-ended war without the consent of the American people through their elected representatives. Congress must act to reassert its constitutional authority over war powers and ensure that the United States is not drawn further into an open-ended conflict.

“The American people deserve transparency about how and when this war will end,” said Rep. Sykes. “I cannot support extending an open-ended conflict in the Middle East when there is no clear exit strategy. Fourteen American servicemembers have already lost their lives, hundreds more have been injured, and families here at home are facing rising costs every day. Congress should be focused on lowering costs and keeping Americans safe, not writing a blank check for another endless conflict.”

Rep. Sykes will continue pushing for accountability, supporting servicemembers and their families, and making sure Congress does its job on matters of war and peace.


Reps. Sykes, Fong Introduce Surface Transportation Research Development Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Representatives Emilia Sykes (D-OH) and Vince Fong (R-CA) introduced H.R. 8748, the Surface Transportation Research and Development Act of 2026.

The Surface Transportation Research and Development Act would extend and improve critical Department of Transportation (DOT) programs in research, technology, and data through FY2031. It aims to strengthen how transportation data and statistics are collected and coordinated, invest in university partnerships and open research, and focus new attention on emerging technologies and infrastructure resilience.

“I’m proud to lead this important legislation to reauthorize critical transportation research programs that help increase safety, reduce congestion, and bolster resilient building practices. Investing in coordinated research at the Department of Transportation will help us get where we need to go safely and efficiently,” said Rep. Sykes. “As a member of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee and Vice Ranking Member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I am committed to strengthening the research and data used to implement vital transit policies, including safety standards for hazardous materials on freight rail, like those included in my bipartisan bill, the RAIL Act. I look forward to seeing the inclusion of this important legislation in the Surface Transportation Reauthorization.”

“America’s transportation systems must keep pace with the demands of a growing economy and rapidly evolving technology,” said Rep. Fong. “This bill invests in the research, innovation, and advanced technologies needed to modernize our infrastructure, improve safety, and strengthen performance across our transportation network. By embracing innovation and upgrading critical systems, we are helping ensure America remains a global leader in transportation and infrastructure.”

Key Provisions:


Reps. Sykes, Ross, Foushee Introduce Supporting Women COPS Act during National Police Week

WASHINGTON, D.C. – During National Police Week, U.S. Representatives Emilia Sykes (OH-13), Deborah Ross (NC-02), and Valerie Foushee (NC-04) introduced the Supporting Women with Career Opportunities in Policing Services (COPS) Act, legislation to establish a federal task force focused on improving recruitment, retention, and advancement opportunities for women in law enforcement.

The legislation would create a Task Force on Women in Law Enforcement to develop recommendations for equitable national hiring standards, address barriers to retention, including childcare and postpartum physical fitness standards, and expand leadership opportunities for women officers nationwide.

“Women belong at every level of law enforcement leadership, and we need recruitment and retention standards that reflect the realities officers face on and off the job,” said Rep. Sykes. “The Supporting Women COPS Act takes an important step toward building a stronger, more inclusive public safety workforce by helping departments recruit talented women, support them throughout their careers, and create pathways to leadership. When law enforcement agencies better reflect the communities they serve, our communities are stronger and safer.”

“When more women serve in law enforcement, we see better outcomes for our communities,” said Rep. Ross. “We need more law enforcement officers across North Carolina, and we especially need to recruit and retain more female officers. While North Carolina is leading the way with a high number of women police chiefs, police departments cannot do it on their own. Congress must ensure law enforcement agencies have the resources to succeed, and that includes ensuring women can have successful and effective careers in law enforcement.”

“Women are underrepresented in law enforcement, and the Supporting Women COPS Act will help address barriers that too often prevent women from entering and advancing in policing,” said Rep. Foushee. “By examining outdated hiring practices and supporting fair, modern standards, this bill will help law enforcement agencies better reflect the communities they serve. As a former administrator for the Chapel Hill Police Department, I am proud to join Congresswomen Ross and Sykes in this effort to expand opportunities for women in law enforcement and make lasting systemic change.”

Rep. Sykes has consistently worked across party lines to strengthen public safety, support law enforcement officers, and improve community trust. Last month, Rep. Sykes introduced the Critical Operation Oversight of Law Enforcement Intervention and Training (COOL IT) Act to strengthen immigration officer training, improve officer safety, and promote accountability. She also reintroduced the bipartisan Law Enforcement Scenario-Based Training for Safety and De-escalation Act, legislation to expand access to immersive de-escalation and crisis intervention training for officers, and partnered on the Enhancing COPS Hiring Program Grants for Local Law Enforcement Act to help communities hire officers, improve equipment, and strengthen public safety resources.

In addition, Rep. Sykes introduced the Crime Survivor Support and Stability Act to strengthen support services and financial assistance for survivors of violent crime. Rep. Sykes is also a cosponsor of the Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act of 2025, which would expand eligibility for death, disability, and education benefits under the Public Safety Officer’s Benefit (PSOB) program for officers and their families when an officer dies or becomes permanently disabled due to cancer covered under the bill.

Rep. Sykes secured more than $12 million in Community Project Funding for Fiscal Year 2026 projects across Ohio’s 13th Congressional District, including investments in public safety infrastructure and victim services. This includes more than $1 million for technology and security upgrades at the City of Barberton Justice Center to support police operations and public safety. Rep. Sykes also submitted a FY27 Community Project Funding request for $5.5 million for the Stark County Family Justice Center, which would provide coordinated services for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, and abuse.


Tlaib Introduces Resolution Recognizing 78 Years of Ongoing Palestinian Nakba

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (MI-12) re-introduced the resolution Recognizing the Ongoing Nakba and Palestinian Refugees’ Rights.

May 15, 2026, marks the 78th anniversary of the Nakba. The Nakba, which means “catastrophe” in Arabic, refers to the mass expulsion and ethnic cleansing of Palestinians from their homes and homeland during the creation of the state of Israel (1947-49). The Nakba did not end in 1948, but continues to this day as Israeli forces continue to commit genocide in Gaza and dispossess Palestinians across all of Palestine.

“The Nakba never ended. Today, the Israeli apartheid regime is committing genocide in Gaza, violently erasing entire communities across the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem, and bombing Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon. It is a campaign to erase Palestinians from existence,” said Congresswoman Tlaib. “War criminal Netanyahu and his cabinet have repeatedly threatened to ethnically cleanse the entire Palestinian population in Gaza, annex the land, and permanently occupy it. Today, they are extending these same threats towards southern Lebanon. As we mark the 78th anniversary of the Nakba, we honor all of those killed since the ethnic cleansing of Palestine began and all those who have been forced from their homes and violently displaced from their land. This immense trauma, including the loss of their loved ones and connections to the communities they grew up in, needs to be repaired. True peace must be built on justice and the inalienable right of return for Palestinian refugees.”

The Israeli government also continues the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians through illegal settlements and segregated communities in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, the destruction of Palestinian homes and seizure of agricultural land, the revocation of residency rights, and the denial of the internationally recognized legal right of return of millions of Palestinian refugees. The United States is an accomplice in the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians, providing endless funding and weapons.

Congresswoman Tlaib’s resolution commemorates the 78th anniversary of the Nakba and promotes better education and understanding of this well-documented history. The resolution also calls on Congress to reinstate support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), which provides live-saving humanitarian assistance to Palestinian refugees.

“Thank you to Congresswoman Tlaib for her unwavering commitment to the fight for Palestinian liberation, and for representing the voices of Palestinian Americans so well through the introduction of this resolution,” said IMEU Policy Project Executive Director Margaret DeReus. “The Nakba is not just a historical event, but an ongoing horror for Palestinians—and the U.S. has been complicit for decades. This May marks 78 years of Israel’s continuous efforts to erase Palestinians from their homeland. It is the height of cruelty that while so many Americans struggle to pay for a home here in the U.S., our government sends billions to enable Israel to forcibly remove Palestinians from their homes instead.”

This legislation is cosponsored by Representatives André Carson (IN-07), Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04), Al Green (TX-09), Henry “Hank” Johnson, Jr. (GA-04), Summer Lee (PA-12), Betty McCollum (MN-04), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), and Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12).

This legislation is endorsed by IMEU Policy Project, 99 Coalition, Action Corps, Adalah Justice Project, Afghans For A Better Tomorrow, American Friends Service Committee, American Muslims for Palestine, Americans for Justice in Palestine Action (AJP Action), Arab America, Arab American Association of New York, Arab American Civic Council, Arab American Heritage Council, Arab American Institute (AAI), Arab and Muslim Ethnicities and Diasporas Studies Program at San Francisco State University, Arab Caucus of the North Carolina Democratic Party, Arab Resource & Organizing Center Action (AROC Action), Arlington for Palestine, Beyt Tikkun Synagogue, CAIR Action, CAIR-Washington, Center for Constitutional Rights, Center for Islamic Life at Rutgers University, Center for Jewish Nonviolence, CODEPINK, Community Alliance for Peace and Justice, Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), DAWN, Democratic Socialists of America, Detroit & Michigan Chapter of the National Lawyers Guild, Detroit Anti-War Committee, Disability Justice for Palestine, Doctors Against Genocide, DSA International Committee, Emgage MI, Engineers Against Apartheid, Forensic Architecture, FOSNA-Michigan, Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL), Friends of Sabeel North America (FOSNA), Gen-Z for Change, Genesee Valley Citizens for Peace, Global Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and United Church of Christ, Good Trouble Monroe, Hindus for Human Rights Action, Historians for Peace and Democracy, IfNotNow Movement, Indiana Center for Middle East Peace, Indivisible Hill Country, Islamic Society of Central Jersey (ISCJ), Jewish Voice for Peace Action, Justice Is Global, Justice4Palestine – Actions Enablement Network (J4P), MADRE, Maine Coalition for Palestine, Majdal: Arab Community Center of San Diego, MARUF CT (Muslim Advocacy for Rights, Unity and Fairness), Methodist Federation for Social Action, Michigan Coalition Against Genocide, Michigan Democratic Party Progressive Caucus, Middle East Peace Coalition, Migrant Roots Media, Minnesota Peace Project, MPower Change Action Fund, Musicians Against Genocide, Muslim Civic Coalition, Muslim Democratic Caucus of Texas, Muslims for Just Futures, National Priorities Project at the Institute for Policy Studies, New Mexico Alliance for Justice in Palestine, NH Peace Action, Nonviolence International, North Carolina Peace Action, Orange County for Justice in Palestine, Our Revolution, Palestine House of Freedom, Palestine Justice Network of the Presbyterian Church (USA), Pax Christi Metro DC-Baltimore, Pax Christi New York State, Pax Christi USA, Peace Action Montgomery, People for Justice in Palestine, Pittsburgh Palestine Solidarity Committee, Progressive Democrats of America – Central New Mexico, Progressive Jews of St. Louis (ProJoSTL), Queer Folk Inc., Rabbis for Ceasefire, Rachel Corrie Foundation for Peace and Justice, Racine Coalition for Peace and Justice, Ramallah Club of Metro Detroit, ReThinking Foreign Policy, River Valley for Palestine, RootsAction, Southern New Hampshire DSA, Speak Up for Palestine, Stand Up Fight Back Southeastern Michigan, SWIM – State Wide Indivisible Michigan, Sunrise Movement, Sunrise Movement Tucson, Syrian Community Network, Teaching Palestine: Pedagogical Praxis and the Indivisibility of Justice, The American Council for Judaism, The Justice Coalition Action, The People’s Coalition, U.S. Palestinian Community Network (USPCN), United Church of Christ, United Methodists for Kairos Response (UMKR), University Democrats, US Campaign for Palestinian Rights Action, US Palestinian Council, UU Justice For The Middle East Dallas Chapter, Veterans For Peace Chapter 74 Metro Detroit, Washington for Peace and Justice, Western Michigan University’s Students for Justice in Palestine, and World BEYOND War.

The full text of the legislation can be found here.

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Tonko, Bacon Introduce Bipartisan Resolution Supporting Behavioral Health Care for Rare Disease Community

WASHINGTON, DC — Representatives Paul D. Tonko (NY-20) and Don Bacon (NE-2) announced the introduction of a bipartisan resolution recognizing the significant and often overlooked behavioral health needs experienced by individuals and their families affected by rare diseases.

An estimated 1 in 10 Americans are affected by a rare disease, over half of those affected being children, yet 95 percent of rare diseases do not have any FDA-approved treatments. On top of that, access to behavioral health care for rare disease patients and caregivers remains limited due to the shortages of trained clinicians, geographic barriers, low reimbursement rates, and fragmented mental health care.

“Patients, caregivers, and families have often spoken to me about the huge mental toll of living with a rare disease, from delayed diagnoses, to limited treatment options, to the emotional and financial strain of navigating fragmented healthcare systems,” Congressman Tonko said. “For these millions fighting for hope, behavioral health support is not ancillary, but a requirement that cannot be ignored. I’m proud to join Representative Bacon to bring attention to this issue and will push for Congress to address the too often unmet behavioral health needs of our rare disease community.”

“The mental health crisis affecting our communities is one of the most serious challenges of our time, and we cannot overlook the rare disease community,” said Rep. Bacon. “Patients, caregivers, and families often face delayed diagnoses, limited treatment options, and years of uncertainty. I’m pleased to join Rep. Tonko in introducing this bipartisan resolution to recognize these challenges and support better access to mental health care.”

As Co-Chair of the bipartisan Addiction Treatment and Recovery (ATR) Caucus, Rep. Tonko has long worked on issues surrounding mental health parity and access to quality and affordable mental health care. Further, he authored the Helping Experts Accelerate Rare Treatments (HEART) Act, legislation that became law in 2022 and that strengthens the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) review process for drugs that treat rare and ultra-rare diseases by directly involving scientists and doctors with expertise throughout the review process.

The bill is endorsed by NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness), the Caregiver Action Network, the American Psychological Association, and Give an Hour.


Vindman Leads U.S. House Effort to Ban Members of Congress from Using Prediction Markets

Vindman: “Just like we should be banned from trading stocks, Members of Congress should be banned from prediction markets. The American people have zero trust in Congress, and we need to pass common sense measures like this to restore honesty and integrity to the people’s House.”

Washington, D.C. — Congressman Eugene Vindman (Va.-07) today introduced common sense legislation to prohibit Members of Congress and their immediate family members from participating in prediction markets.

“Just like we should be banned from trading stocks, Members of Congress should be banned from prediction markets. The American people have zero trust in Congress, and we need to pass common sense measures like this to restore honesty and integrity to the people’s House,” said Vindman. “We receive sensitive briefings, meet with senior leaders, and know what legislation is coming before anyone else. Allowing lawmakers or their families to use prediction markets, just like allowing them to trade stocks, undermines public trust, endangers America’s national security, and enables the kind of shady behavior the American people have grown sick of. As an ethics lawyer, I believe public service should never be used as an opportunity to profit from insider access, and we need to ban this now.”

BACKGROUND

Vindman has also raised concerns about prediction markets tied to national security matters, warning that markets fueled by insider information could create risks for military operations and American service members.

In April, Vindman led 15 colleagues in a bipartisan letter to Secretary Pete Hegseth urging the Department of Defense to issue a general order prohibiting military personnel from using prediction markets to bet on national security-related events. The request followed the U.S. Department of Justice charging an active-duty Special Operations soldier with using classified information tied to the raid that captured Nicolás Maduro to place bets on Polymarket.

Earlier that month, he sent a letter to Polymarket CEO Shayne Coplan demanding the immediate preservation and disclosure of all records tied to bets on U.S. military actions, following reports that traders have profited from wagers linked to sensitive operations.

Vindman is a cosponsor of the Public Integrity in Financial Prediction Markets Act of 2026 (H.R. 7004). This bill would ban Members of Congress, their immediate families, staff, and the executive branch from using prediction markets.

Vindman is also a cosponsor of the TRUST in Congress Act (H.R. 396) which would require Members of Congress and their immediate family to place investments into a blind trust until 6 months after leaving their role in Congress.

Vindman also has a long track record of supporting legislation that takes on corruption and demands we hold public servants to the highest ethical standard.

He introduced the Accountability Doesn’t Expire Act (H.R. 4210), which would extend oversight and enforcement windows tied to pandemic-era fraud investigations, including misuse of federal relief funds.

He helped introduce the BEACON Act (H.R. 4557) which would create an independent Inspector General for the Executive Office of the President to investigate waste, fraud, abuse, and misconduct inside the White House.

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Statement from Walkinshaw After House Judiciary Republicans Shield the Trump Administration & ICE From Accountability for Their Failure to Keep Americans Safe

“My heart goes out to the Minter family and all those who have lost loved ones to violence. The pain of losing a child is unfathomable, and I hope their faith, family, and community can bring some measure of comfort.

Fairfax County has been the safest large jurisdiction in America because we invest in law enforcement, invest in services, and have built strong partnerships with every community, including immigrant communities. Fairfax County’s already low crime rates fell dramatically in 2025, with homicides down 7%, shootings down 37%, and sex offenses down 11%.

Anyone who is involved in violence and is not in the country lawfully should be prosecuted and deported. Sheriff Kincaid has made clear that when individuals are detained at the Fairfax Adult Detention Center, ICE is treated like any other law enforcement agency and has the lawful opportunity to take custody. In the case of Abdul Jalloh, ICE had many opportunities to detain him — both before and after they released him onto the streets in 2018. Governor Youngkin’s Department of Corrections released him again in 2022.

Once again, the Trump Administration, Congressional Republicans, and ICE are deflecting from their own failures. Their mass deportation agenda has diverted resources away from detaining “the worst of the worst” and toward children, families, and law-abiding immigrants. They’re letting the small number of Abdul Jallohs go free so they can detain 4 year olds like Liam Ramos. It’s shameful.”

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Wasserman Schultz, Fitzpatrick, DeSaulnier, Wilson Introduce Cancer Survivorship Bill

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25), Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick(PA-1), Rep. Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), and Rep. Joe Wilson (SC-2) re-introduced the Lainie Jones Comprehensive Cancer Survivorship Act (CCSA), a critical piece of legislation which will address gaps in survivorship care and develop desperately needed standards to improve the overall patient-centered quality of care and navigation needs of cancer survivors and their families.

This legislation is named for Lainie Jones, who faced adrenal carcinoma, sarcoma, breast cancer, thyroid cancer, melanoma, lung cancer, and recently passed away due to glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. Diagnosed with cancer for the first time at 18 months old, after her third diagnosis in her twenties, Jones found out she had Li-Fraumeni syndrome—a rare genetic condition that predisposes her to multiple cancers. She spent 13 years as an online advocate, encouraging followers to do self-checks and stay up to date with doctor visits.

“As a cancer survivor, confronting it head-on, with an all-hands-on-deck approach, is my personal and professional mission. With the Lainie Jones Comprehensive Cancer Survivorship Act, I am proud to introduce far-reaching legislation that better enables cancer survivors to choose their own path, provides them agency and autonomy over their personal health experiences and decisions, and addresses the entire survivorship continuum of care,” said Wasserman Schultz, Co-Chair of the House Cancer Caucus. “From the point of diagnosis, through active treatment and transitions to primary care, until the end of life, this legislation sets the standards of care that all survivors need and deserve. This bill confronts care planning, transition, navigation, workforce, education, and awareness, and empowers survivors with the best possible resources and care to overcome this terrible disease. No survivor or family should be left in the wilderness to navigate this disease or its aftermath.”

“Cancer survivorship is not an afterthought—it is part of the fight. A diagnosis changes a life in an instant, but for survivors and their families, the challenges often continue long after treatment ends. Our health care system must meet that reality with the same seriousness, coordination, and compassion we bring to fighting the disease itself. The Lainie Jones Comprehensive Cancer Survivorship Act strengthens the continuum of care—from survivorship planning and care navigation to workforce support, education, and long-term follow-up—so survivors are not left to navigate life after cancer alone,” said Fitzpatrick, Co-Chair of the House Cancer Caucus.

“I know from firsthand experience as a cancer survivor the importance of quality care not just to beat cancer, but also to thrive in the years following a diagnosis. I am proud to join Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz and my colleagues in leading this effort to set new standards of care that address the unique needs of cancer patients from diagnosis to treatment to aftercare to ultimately improve their quality of life,” said DeSaulnier

"I am grateful to support all those recovering from breast cancer by joining my colleagues in leading the Lainie Jones Comprehensive Cancer Survivorship Act. Comprehensive postoperative care is critical to supporting patients. I am particularly appreciative of the medical professionals in South Carolina who worked with my daughter-in-law Jennifer Wilson to persevere against aggressive breast cancer. Jennifer's example to the women of South Carolina and elsewhere remains an inspiration,” said Wilson.

"The data is unambiguous: only one in three survivors receive a survivorship care plan, and that number is falling. At the same time, half of all survivors are experiencing financial hardship tied to their diagnosis,” said Shelley Fuld Nasso, Chief Executive Officer of Cancer Nation. “These are not statistics — they are the daily reality of 18 million Americans living with, through, and beyond cancer. The Lainie Jones Comprehensive Cancer Survivorship Act answers that reality with real solutions, from coverage of care planning and coordination to employment assistance to a payment model that rewards quality survivorship care. Cancer Nation has spent 40 years fighting for survivors' right to not just survive but thrive. This bill makes that possible, and we are proud to stand with Representatives Wasserman Schultz, Fitzpatrick, Wilson, and DeSaulnier in demanding it."

“Following active treatment, cancer patients are faced with a transition to survivorship care that can be disjointed and difficult to navigate. There are nearly 19 million cancer survivors across the US. These individuals often face higher healthcare costs for the rest of their lives,” said Lisa Lacasse, President of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN). “The Lainie Jones Comprehensive Cancer Survivor Act creates pathways to address the financial challenges of cancer survivorship and maintain patients’ access to the health services needed to address the long-term effects of cancer, giving them the best chance of remaining cancer-free. We offer our enthusiastic support for this bill and urge Congress to pass it.”

“More than 521,000 childhood cancer survivors face a lifetime of health challenges due to their treatment. Many transition into primary care without a survivorship care plan and are unprepared for the significant health issues they may face, including hearing loss, infertility, and cardiac late effects,” said Steve Woshala, Chief Executive Officer of Children’s Cancer Cause. The Lainie Jones Comprehensive Cancer Survivorship Act helps address the specialized needs of this population through provisions such as Medicaid coverage to ease transitions of care.”

“Over the last 20 years, we have made tremendous strides in the treatment of lymphoma and many other blood cancers, as well as understanding the unique needs of cancer survivors,” said Meghan Gutierrez, Chief Executive Officer of the Lymphoma Research Foundation. "The Lymphoma Research Foundation commends Representatives Wasserman Schultz, Fitzpatrick, DeSaulnier, and Wilson for reintroducing the Lainie Jones Comprehensive Cancer Survivorship Act and recognizing that surviving cancer brings with it a set of physical, psychological, and financial needs that require ongoing attention and support. The Foundation is committed to the continued support of people with lymphoma and their care partners, to ensure that they not only survive but thrive in the face of a diagnosis.”

This legislation addresses:

Care Planning and Transition: Provides coverage to address the transition to primary care to help survivors develop personalized treatment care plans, standardizes processes, and consolidates treatments to guide survivorship monitoring and follow-up care;

Alternative Payment Model: Studies existing reimbursement landscape to develop an alternative payment model to ensure a coordinated approach to survivorship care across an episode of care, including the creation of comprehensive navigation services;

Quality of Care: Establishes grants to promote utilization of navigation, employment of risk-stratification, transition to primary care, utilization of care plans, potential use of at-home care, and better use of information technology for patient experience data;

Employment: Establishes employment assistance grants to help survivors, their families, and caregivers when faced with a range of workforce challenges; and

Education, Awareness: Creates resources for survivors and health professionals to promote early detection, preventive care and help providers provide high-quality services.

It also addresses innovation and technology use, long-term studies on cancer survivorship progress in the U.S., access to fertility and preservation services, and provisions concerning childhood and adolescent cancer.

Over 50 organizations have endorsed the Lainie Jones Comprehensive Cancer Survivorship Act:

Academy of Oncology Nurse & Patient Navigators (AONN+), Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Coalition, Alliance for Fertility Preservation, American Association for Cancer Research, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American Society for Radiation Oncology, Association for Clinical Oncology, Association of American Cancer Institutes, Blood Cancer United, The Brem Foundation to Defeat Breast Cancer, Cactus Cancer Society, Cancer Awareness Network for Children, Inc., CancerCare, Cancer Nation, Cancer Support Community, Cancer Survivorship and Supportive Care Professionals Network (CSPN), Cervivor, Chemo Divas Foundation, Children's Cancer Cause, Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation, Circle of Care for Families of Children with Cancer, Inc., Digestive Disease National Coalition, Emily Whitehead Foundation, Fight Colorectal Cancer, FORCE: Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered, Hadassah, The Women's Zionist Organization of America, Head for the Cure, Hodgkin's International, I'm Not Done Yet Foundation, International Myeloma Foundation, Living Beyond Breast Cancer, LUNGevity Foundation, Lymphoma Research Foundation, Male Breast Cancer Global Alliance, Man Up to Cancer, National Comprehensive Cancer Network, The National Pancreas Foundation, National Patient Advocate Foundation, Nicole Cares Foundation, Nueva Vida, Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance, Patient Empowerment Network, Prevent Cancer Foundation, Project Life, RESOLVE: The National Infertility and Family Building Association, Sharsheret, Sisters Network Inc., Stupid Cancer, Inc., Susan G. Komen, Teen Cancer America, Tigerlily Foundation, Triage Cancer, Unite for HER, Worth the Wait, Young Survival Coalition, and ZERO Prostate Cancer.

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Alsobrooks Votes Yes on CLARITY Act in Banking Committee

May 14, 2026

WASHINGTON, DC – Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) released the following statement after voting to move the CLARITY Act out of the Banking Committee and onto the Senate Floor. The vote was reported favorably by a vote of 15-9.

“The digital revolution is upon us, and it has presented a clear opportunity to support small businesses, generate wealth, spur innovation, and support younger Americans who want to be part of this revolution. And this digital revolution is happening with us or without us—we have a responsibility to regulate it to create rules of the road.

“That is why I’ve been at the table. I’ve been in negotiations for over nine months, working toward regulating digital assets in a way that protects consumers and reduces the risks of deposit flight and deceptive marketing. I have negotiated in good faith with colleagues on both sides of the aisle willing to meet this critical moment. I’ve worked to make this bill better.

“Let me be very clear: my vote today is a vote to keep working in good faith. It does not mean I will be voting for the passage of the CLARITY Act on the floor. We still have work to do.

“We need to find a workable way to address law enforcement’s concerns about financial crimes. I am a former prosecutor and know how important that is. We also need to include an agreement on ethics—that would apply not just to the President and Vice President but to all of us. The American people—especially my constituents—expect that from us.

“I will keep working with my colleagues to get this done. Americans—from every background and every community—deserve to benefit financially from this digital revolution and be protected from the risks that come with it. If we don’t act, we will be left behind. I won’t let that happen.”

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Senator Banks Calls for Strong AI Oversight to Address Emerging National Security Risks

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, Senator Jim Banks (R-Ind.) sent a letter to senior Trump Administration officials urging a focused and strategic approach to potential national security risks posed by advanced artificial intelligence systems and intensifying AI competition with China.

See the full letter here or read below:

Dear Secretary Bessent, Director Cairncross, Director Kratsios, Secretary Lutnick, and Secretary Rubio:

I am writing to commend you for your efforts in managing the novel security threats posed by advanced artificial intelligence (AI) systems, including new considerations raised by Mythos.

The Trump Administration has been clear about the need for the United States to lead the world in understanding and evaluating the national security implications of advanced AI systems. That need has only become more urgent in light of Mythos, an AI system with advanced cyber capabilities. This is an important moment for the country: Mythos underscores that AI will have profound implications for cybersecurity and national security.

As President Trump and administration officials engage with counterparts from the People’s Republic of China (PRC) this week, it is wholly appropriate for AI to be on the agenda. While some have naively argued the U.S. should pursue an AI “grand bargain” or arms control analogue with China, I encourage the administration to consider a less ambitious, narrower range of AI issues to engage with the Chinese.

Importantly, Mythos is only one example of a much broader challenge. While cyber capabilities are the focus today, the conversation must extend well beyond cyber. AI is improving rapidly. Advanced AI systems are expected to develop increasingly consequential capabilities across military, intelligence, biosecurity, and other national security domains. As you know, this is why it is imperative that the United States maintain and extend its lead over the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in advanced AI development.

During the Cold War, atomic weapons introduced a paradigm shift in the geopolitical world order. AI has the potential to do the same. There may be certain critical thresholds in AI development that are imperative to reach before adversaries. One example—potentially the most meaningful threshold articulated thus far—would be AI systems that outperform humans in making new breakthroughs in AI and developing increasingly more powerful AI systems. AI systems with such research and development capabilities would potentially lead to rapid and self-reinforcing improvements: America must reach this threshold before the PRC.

We must also recognize that advanced AI presents serious risks. In the wrong hands, AI can be weaponized against the American people. More broadly, there are unresolved questions about whether we currently have the ability to keep powerful AI systems under our control. These questions are especially salient as companies pursue artificial superintelligence—AI models that can do anything a human can do but much, much better. Our major AI companies believe superintelligence could pose significant risks that our current scientific understanding is not yet capable of addressing.

America must embrace the challenging dual mandate of winning the AI race against the PRC while navigating critical security challenges along the way. This is what makes AI policy a particularly difficult domain. Some have called for a laissez faire approach to AI, which neglects to consider the serious and novel threats posed by technology. Others call for extremely heavy-handed approaches that would cede our lead to the PRC. Still others have called for pursuing bilateral AI arms control agreements with the PRC.

Such calls for bilateral arms control-style agreements ignore the CCP’s long history of deception and non-compliance with its international commitments. They also ignore difficulties in monitoring and compliance compared to nuclear arms control agreements—which our adversaries have frequently violated anyways.

However, there may be limited areas where it does make sense to engage in dialogue with Chinese officials. I would recommend a simple test: if it is in America’s national interest to adopt a given AI policy unilaterally due to security concerns, even if we knew the PRC may cheat, then it is worth engaging the Chinese on the possibility of reciprocal action.

I applaud the Administration for deliberating carefully about AI policy and ensuring that we do not fall into either extreme. Mythos provides an excellent opportunity for the Administration to revisit key questions about AI policy, semiconductor policy, the relationship between the government and the private sector, and the broader U.S-China competition.

With this in mind, I recommend considering the following questions as you continue to focus on AI and national security topics:

Infrastructure and expertise. What infrastructure and expertise are needed to ensure the United States leads in evaluating the national security implications of advanced AI systems? How do we ensure that we have the insight required to assess models not only for cyber capabilities but also in areas like military applications, loss of control to AI systems themselves, automated AI research and development capabilities, and other security domains?

Information-sharing requirements. Under what circumstances should frontier AI companies be expected or mandated to report national security information to the government? Under what circumstances should they be expected or mandated to provide models, the results of model evaluations, or other critical information? What information might be essential for the government to know even before models are publicly or externally deployed?

Incident reporting. What kinds of incidents should frontier AI companies be expected or mandated to report to the U.S. government immediately upon discovering them? For example, how should companies notify the government if the PRC steals the weights of an advanced AI system, if an AI system attempts to exfiltrate its own model weights, or if models engage in unexpected behavior that poses risks to U.S. national security?

Limitations of voluntary agreements.How robust are voluntary agreements around information-sharing and model access? Suppose a company—for financial or political reasons—decided not to share relevant national security information or model access with the United States governments. What kinds of policies are needed to address these gaps?

Policies for PRC engagement.What is the universe of AI policies that we would want to pursue unilaterally due to security concerns, that we should engage with the PRC on—even if we knew they would cheat?

Support from Congress. How can Congress support the Administration as it continues to explore new policy approaches relating to AI and national security?

Mythos presents us with an opportunity to think about the future of AI, its national security implications, the stakes of the AI race with the PRC, and the appropriate relationship between the government and the private sector. To support your work, I request a staff-level briefing within 60 days to discuss these topics.

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Barrasso Honors Wyoming Law Enforcement During National Police Week

“We honor the brave officers all across the country who continue to serve, and truly remember those who gave their lives in the line of duty.”

WASHINGTON, D.C.– U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Senate Majority Whip, today spoke on the Senate Floor to honor Wyoming law enforcement during National Police Week.

During his remarks, Senator Barrasso honored the legacies of Sergeant Nevada Krinkee of the Sheridan Police Department and Marshal Daniel Hansen of the Cokeville Police Department, who were tragically killed in the line of duty.

Senator Barrasso also discussed how the Working Families Tax Cutslaw made a huge investment in local law enforcement and is helping officers fight violent crime.

Click HERE to watch Senator Barrasso’s remarks.

Sen. Barrasso’s remarks as prepared:

“This week is Police Week. We honor the brave officers all across the country who continue to serve, and truly remember those who gave their lives in the line of duty.

“Yesterday, I met with law enforcement officers from Wyoming here in the Capitol. There was a ranger from the Bureau of Land Management. She is from Buffalo, Wyoming.

“There were also two police officers from Sheridan, Wyoming – Part of the same police department that lost Sergeant Nevada Krinkee nearly two years ago. And they are in Washington, D.C. this week to honor Sergeant Krinkee.

“It was an honor to thank these heroes for keeping our communities safe.

“Every year, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial adds names of fallen officers to its memorial wall. It does this for officers who died in the line of duty in the previous year.

“It also adds the names of fallen officers from earlier years who, through extensive research, were recently uncovered. It lists their names on the memorial wall as well.

“This comprehensive roll call of heroes serves as a living memorial to all of the fallen officers in the history of our nation.

“This year, the names of 363 new fallen officers were added. That’s a high number.

“One of the officers is someone who died in the past, but research has disclosed should have been named. And that’s Marshal Daniel Hansen of the Cokeville Police Department in Wyoming. Cokeville is a small town along the western border of our state.

“Marshal Hansen wore the badge over a century ago. In a wild land at the time dotted by small frontier towns, the difference between civilization and lawlessness was a very thin blue line.

“On June 21st of 1912, the wife of a local business owner found a blackmail letter. It was signed by notorious outlaws. The note demanded $1,500, which was a fortune at that time. It also threatened to kill her and her family if police were warned.

“Although any backup was dozens of miles away, Marshal Hansen rode out to investigate. As he did his job, he was shot dead. It is believed that the murder of the Marshal had been targeted.

“More than a century has passed since Marshal Hansen died in the line of duty. Yet, his legacy of service, selflessness, and sacrifice lives on.

“Today, Wyoming officers proudly protect and serve across our state. Officers work double shifts. They answer emergency calls. They stay late into the night. They do all of this to keep their communities safe.

“And I am always going to support the men and women of law enforcement without apology.

“Today, Republicans are putting money back in the pockets of law enforcement.

“Republicans passed the Working Families Tax Cuts law. That new law includes No Taxes on Overtime. For Wyoming officers, No Taxes on Overtime is not extra. It’s essential.

“The average tax deduction from No Taxes on Overtime this year is more than $3,100.

“Republicans are again delivering safer streets. The Working Families Tax Cuts law invests in local law enforcement. It helps officers fight violent crime.

“This year, violent crime is falling across the board. Murders, robberies, rapes, aggravated assaults are all down compared to last year. Clearly, supporting law enforcement makes our communities safer.

“By contrast, Democrats in Congress continue to want to defund the police. Democrats have left Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol officers unfunded since January.

“Tellingly, the Democrat Leader recently said on this floor that ICE and Border Patrol, he said, are two groups ‘nobody respects.’

“Radical Democrats continue to disrespect, to demonize, and to defund the men and women who keep us safe. Republicans are going to ensure ICE and Border Patrol are fully funded.

“And we are going to continue to stand up for the men and women who keep all of our communities safe.”

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Barrasso: Let Wyoming Do What Wyoming Does Best

“Let Wyoming power our country. Let Wyoming feed our country. That is what we do. We’ve done it for generations. We will do it for generations to come.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) today spoke about continuing to fight for policies that expand production of Wyoming’s affordable, reliable energy as well as strengthen markets for safe, high-quality Wyoming beef.

Senator Barrasso discussed his opposition to the House-passed, year-round E15 mandate, which would raise gas prices and hurt small Wyoming refineries.

Click HERE to watch Senator Barrasso’s remarks.

Sen. Barrasso’s remarks as prepared:

“The people of Wyoming ask Washington, D.C. for one simple thing: Let Wyoming do what Wyoming does best. Let Wyoming power our country. Let Wyoming feed our country. That is what we do. We’ve done it for generations.

We will do it for generations to come.

“The American people want energy that is affordable, available, and reliable. Wyoming is America’s energy breadbasket. We produce twelve times the energy we consume.

“Congress is currently discussing new mandates – mandates that would force more and more ethanol into our fuels. The House voted on this just last night. I oppose the year-round E15 mandate. That is what is currently under debate. I oppose it because it hurts small oil refineries and all of the people who work at them.

“In Wyoming, we have several small refineries. They employ thousands of people. Refineries receive hardship exemptions from something called the Renewable Fuel Standard mandate. They depend on these exemptions to survive.

“Small refineries already face higher costs under federal renewable fuel rules. Without additional relief, the new mandate will likely raise gas prices all across the country by up to 35 cents a gallon. Small refineries have been ignored so far in the current E15 debate. It’s time for their voices to be heard.

“Affordable, available, reliable American energy never comes from one-size fits-all government mandates. It comes from regulatory certainty. It comes from permitting reform. It comes from people working hard every day like Wyoming energy workers.

“My message is simple: let Wyoming do what Wyoming does best.

“That same principle applies to our ranchers. Americans want U.S. beef on their tables. Wyoming ranchers produce the best beef in the world. Wyoming beef is safe. It is the highest quality. It is also our state’s #1 cash crop.

“Wyoming ranchers care for the land and support our communities. Ranching is part of Wyoming’s rich history and heritage. It is also part of Wyoming’s bright future.

“Our ranchers do not ask for special treatment. They simply want a fair marketplace. They should not have to compete unfairly against foreign beef. It is Washington’s job to ensure there is a fair playing field.

“The Trump administration recently unveiled a voluntary label. It’s called ‘Product of the USA.’ It means Americans can trust what they’re buying.

“Just this week, the administration rolled back the Biden administration’s disastrous public lands rule. In Wyoming, nearly half of our land is owned by the federal government.

“Federal law has long recognized the value of land that has multiple uses – including for grazing. The Biden rule changed multiple use into no use. It was designed to shut down federal grazing across the West. It was an attack on our Wyoming way of life.

“I aggressively fought back against Biden’s punishing regulation here in the Senate. I am glad the Trump administration overturned it. Our ranchers will now be able to expand their operations and produce more high-quality Wyoming beef.

“I will continue to fight for policies that expand American beef production. It needs to be easier – not harder – for Wyoming ranchers to feed America.

“Let Wyoming do what Wyoming does best.”

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VIDEO: Blackburn Lays Bare Zuckerberg’s ‘Litany of Lies’ to the American People

‘Meta's record when it comes to protecting children online is indefensible.’

‘I doubt we have somebody from Meta in the room today who wants to defend Meta on the lies.’

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology, and the Law, led a hearing examining why landmark social media verdicts demand federal action to protect kids online, where she highlighted Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s long record of lies and deceit. Excerpts of Senator Blackburn’s remarks during the hearing are below, and you can watch the full hearing here.

Click here to download Senator Blackburn’s opening statement.

EXCERPTS OF HEARING REMARKS

Landmark Social Media Verdicts Prove Meta’s Record on Protecting Kids Is Indefensible

“For too long, families who sought justice were turned away at the courthouse doors as Big Tech CEOs hid behind the shield of Section 230.”

“The tide is beginning to turn, and these recent verdicts signal a shift.”

“Meta has done everything in its power to keep Mr. Zuckerberg from the witness stand, and after his testimony in this case, we know why.”

“Meta's record when it comes to protecting children online is indefensible.”

“These court cases alone are not enough, because while courts can punish past harms, it is up to Congress to prevent future harm to our children. That's why Congress must pass my Kids Online Safety Act.”

Zuckerberg Lied About Link Between Social Media Use and Worse Mental Health Outcomes

“When [Zuckerberg] was before this Committee in 2024, he said, ‘The existing body of scientific work has not shown a cause or a link between using social media and young people having worse mental health outcomes.’”

“The truth on this is that Meta had a document called, ‘Known negative effects of Facebook and/or social media in general, on teens.’ Meta’s document even noted some of those negative effects, including increased sleep disruption, anxiety, body image pressure, and depression.”

“Despite what [Zuckerberg] said under oath, he knew this, and he was aware of what their virtual products were doing to children, but they did it anyway.”

“He thought he was going to go in there, and he was going to win. People called out this litany of lies that Mark Zuckerberg has been telling the American people.”

Zuckerberg Lied About Prevalence of Users Under Age 13 on Instagram

“I want to go to another one… Zuckerberg said, ‘We don't allow people under age 13 on our service.’”

“I doubt we have somebody from Meta in the room today who wants to defend Meta on the lies.”

“Compare that with their document that shows they had four million children under the age of 13 on Instagram alone in 2015… That is 30% of all 10- to 12-year-olds in this country in 2015, and we know it is even more than that now.”

“Mr. Zuckerberg's testimony was a blatant lie.”

Zuckerberg Lied About Addictive Nature of Meta’s Products

“When [Zuckerberg] was before us for a congressional hearing, and we were talking about addictive products… his comment was, ‘We certainly do not want our products to be addictive. I don't think the company should be optimizing to just encourage people to spend as much time as possible on them.’”

“He knew he was lying.”

“[In 2015], his own email that he sent out on company goals lists, ‘Time spent increases by 12%.’”

“In 2026, they still had goals for teen time spent.”

RELATED


Blumenthal Calls for IG Investigation into Top Trump Interior Official for Blatant Violations of Conflicts-of-Interest Law

[WASHINGTON, DC] — U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ranking Member of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI), today called for an investigation into U.S. Department of the Interior Associate Deputy Secretary Karen Budd-Falen for obvious conflicts of interests and her failure to fully observe ethical requirements applicable to senior Administration officials. In a letter sent today to Acting Inspector General Dr. Caryl Bryzymialkielher, Blumenthal called for a thorough investigation into Budd-Falen after recent reporting from

“All federal officials are required by law to discharge their official duties in the best interest of the American public—not personal financial interests. Yet, Ms. Budd-Falen’s obvious conflicts of interest and her failure to fully observe the important ethical requirements applicable to a senior position of public trust raise questions about her ability to impartially serve in the third-highest ranking position at the Interior Department,” Blumenthal wrote in a letter to Acting Inspector General Bryzymialkielher.

In a separate letter sent to Budd-Falen, Blumenthal called out Budd-Falen for participating in policy decisions that directly benefit her personal financial interests and failing to disclose her family’s interest in a lithium mine whose viability depended on an Interior Department permit. Blumenthal urged her to fully disclose any benefit she or her family may have received as a result of her involvement in regulatory decisions at the Interior Department.

“Your failure to observe the important ethical requirements applicable to a senior position of public trust appears to be part of a longstanding pattern. During your service in the Interior Department under the first Trump Administration, you failed to disclose your husband’s sale of water rights to the largest lithium mine in the country for $3.5 million. Notably, the sale was contingent on Lithium Nevada Corp.’s ability to obtain a permit from the Interior Department, where you served as deputy solicitor for wildlife from 2018 to 2021,” Blumenthal wrote in a letter to Budd-Falen.

The full text of Blumenthal’s letter to Bryzymialkielher is available here and below. The full text of Blumenthal’s letter to Budd-Falen is available here.

Dear Ms. Brzymialkiewcz:

I write to request that you thoroughly investigate the apparent impermissible conflicts of interest faced by U.S. Department of the Interior (“Interior Department”) Associate Deputy Secretary Karen Budd-Falen. Recent reporting and Ms. Budd-Falen’s public comments indicate that she directly participates in livestock grazing policy decisions that directly and predictably benefit her family’s multi-million-dollar ranch interests, potentially violating conflict-of-interest law.[1] Additionally, Ms. Budd-Falen previously failed to disclose her husband’s $3.5 million sale of water rights to a lithium mine whose viability depended on a Department of Interior permit.[2]

All federal officials are required by law to discharge their official duties in the best interest of the American public—not personal financial interests. Yet, Ms. Budd-Falen’s obvious conflicts of interest and her failure to fully observe the important ethical requirements applicable to a senior position of public trust raise questions about her ability to impartially serve in the third-highest ranking position at the Interior Department. Accordingly, I ask that you promptly conduct a thorough investigation of and issue public findings and recommendations addressing Ms. Budd-Falen’s participation in policy decisions that directly benefit her financial interest and her adherence to all applicable financial disclosure obligations. At minimum, your investigation should address the following important questions.

Whether and the extent to which Ms. Budd-Falen or her family have directly benefitted from policy decisions in which she participated during her Interior Department tenure.

The extent to which Ms. Budd-Falen’s participation in policy decisions that benefit her financial interests occurred before or after March 11, 2026, or both.

Whether Ms. Budd-Falen’s participation in policy decisions that benefit her financial interests violated any law, regulations, or policies applicable to federal government employees or Interior Department personnel.

Regardless of whether Ms. Budd-Falen had or maintains an actual conflict of interest, whether her participation in policy decisions that benefit her financial interests impermissibly creates the appearance of a conflict.

Whether the Office of the Solicitor’s March 11, 2026 “limited waiver” adequately evaluates and determines that Ms. Budd-Falen’s financial “interest is not so substantial as to be deemed likely to affect the integrity of the services which the Government may expect” from her.[3]

The extent to which Ms. Budd-Falen has fully and timely disclosed all financial interests required to be disclosed on OGE Form 278e, to the Office of the Solicitor, or otherwise.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

Sincerely,

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