Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Hank Johnson (GA-04)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – As a part of his ongoing effort to protect and bolster the U.S. Supreme Court’s independence, impartiality and accountability, Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) – ranking member of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, Artificial Intelligence and the Internet — today re-introduced his Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency (SCERT) Act.

The bill requires justices of the Supreme Court to adopt and follow a binding code of ethics with an enforcement mechanism for resolving ethics or misconduct complaints, creates a process to investigate and enforce violations of the code, mandates improvements to the recusal process, places transparency standards on gifts and travel, and prevents shadow lobbying by litigants and amici curiae by requiring amici to disclose more information about who is funding their amicus briefs.

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (RI) introduced the companion bill in the Senate.

“A judiciary whose members are accountable for their conduct, that is transparent to its citizens, and that is free from bias or partiality is truly independent,” said Ranking Member Johnson. “Americans need to feel confident that when serious concerns arise, the judiciary can diligently investigate and correct judicial misconduct, no matter who might be implicated. That is a judiciary whose judgements will be accepted, observed and respected. An independent judiciary is crucial to our democracy now more than ever.”

“Supreme Court justices have repeatedly gotten caught red-handed receiving extravagant gifts from politically active billionaires and refusing to report the gifts as required by law.  It’s not even clear proper taxes were paid.  Despite these ethical problems, the Court does not allow basic fact-finding regarding the justices’ behavior, or any neutral process to resolve ethics questions,” said Sen. Whitehouse.  “This Court has repeatedly proven that it cannot police itself, so it’s time for fair and transparent guardrails, with clear procedures for receiving, investigating, and resolving ethics complaints. With Trump’s persistent improper pressure on the judiciary, it’s now urgent to get this right.”

As a senior member of the House Judiciary Committee and ranking member of the Subcommittee on Courts, Rep. Johnson has been committed to bringing more independence, accountability and transparency to this nation’s highest court. The SCERT Act will do just that.

Original cosponsors include: Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03); Jennifer L. McClellan (VA-04); Jill Tokuda (HI-02); Lloyd Doggett (TX-37); André Carson (IN-07); Madeleine Dean (PA-04); Julia Brownley (CA-26); Bennie G. Thompson (MS-02); Maxwell Frost (FL-10); Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC); Chellie Pingree (ME-01); Dan Goldman (NY-10); Jerrold Nadler (NY-12); Deborah K. Ross (NC-02); Ted W. Lieu (CA-36); Cleo Fields (LA-06); Summer Lee (PA-12); Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05); Eric Swalwell (CA-14); Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11); Greg Stanton (AZ-04); Juan Vargas (CA-52); Jamie Raskin (MD-08); Dave Min (CA-47); Angie Craig (MN-02); Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) and Joe Neguse (CO-02).

Supporting Groups: Fix the Court, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), Public Citizen, Common Cause, Demand Justice, Accountable.US/Accountable.NOW, End Citizens United/Let America Vote, New York City Bar Association, People’s Parity Project, League of Conservation Voters, Court Accountability Action, Free Law Project, American Governance Institute, Lawyers for Good Government, Stand Up America.    

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING

“Ethics reform for the Supreme Court is long overdue,” said Maggie Jo Buchanan, Interim Executive Director of Demand Justice. “The American people deserve a Court they can trust and respect–not one that is beholden to special interest groups and billionaire donors. Scandal after scandal has shown that the Court is unwilling to hold itself to the ethical standard that all other federal judges are sworn to uphold. Congress can and must act, and this bill is a necessary first step.”

“Nearly 80 percent of voters want Congress to pass a binding code of ethics for the Supreme Court. Congress must prioritize ensuring a Supreme Court free of corruption,” said Brett Edkins, Managing Director of Policy and Political Affairs, Stand Up America. Passing the Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency Act is an essential step toward guaranteeing high ethical standards and restoring trust in our nation’s highest court. Representative Johnson has been a steadfast leader on Supreme Court reform, and we look forward to continuing rallying support around this effort with our two million members across the country.”

“Americans deserve a legal system that isn’t influenced by billionaires, big corporations, and special interest backers advancing an agenda that shifts power away from ordinary families,” said Accountable.US/Accountable.NOW Executive Director Tony Carrk. “But the Supreme Court’s corruption crisis has repeatedly made clear how broken our Courts are and the urgent need for reform. That has been especially clear in recent months, as President Trump’s unconstitutional and self-dealing actions have made the need for public trust in our judiciary even more critical. The SCERT Act would substantially strengthen ethics standards. We applaud Senator Whitehouse and Representative Johnson and their cosponsors for leading the charge to restore credibility and integrity to our highest Court.”

“In a democracy the Supreme Court must be able to issue rulings independently and without misconduct, bias or undue influence,” said Debra Perlin, Vice President for Policy at Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW). “The Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal and Transparency Act (SCERT) helps to achieve this goal.  By establishing a process for filing and investigating misconduct complaints, preventing abuse of those procedures, creating strict requirements for disclosing and accepting gifts and mandating robust transparency and disqualification measures, SCERT ensures that the public has important information about the justices’ activities, eliminates questions about what conflicts might lie behind closed doors and serves to restore the Court’s shaken credibility. CREW applauds Senator Whitehouse and Representative Johnson for reintroducing this critical legislation and urges both houses to pass it expeditiously.”

“There are countless examples across the ages of Congress regulating certain institutional features of the Supreme Court, from its calendar to its funding structure to its financial disclosure responsibilities. Sen. Whitehouse’s and Rep. Johnson’s bill maintains that history and tradition by strengthening the justices’ conflict-of-interest rules, toughening gift and travel rules and instituting real enforceable ethics. It might be a tautology but raising the bar raises the bar, and the Court should welcome this opportunity — thanks to the continued efforts led by Sen. Whitehouse and Rep. Johnson — to reassert some ethical leadership,” said Fix the Court’s Gabe Roth.

“The Supreme Court has been evolving into the most powerful branch of government, dictating what is and is not constitutional, with no oversight and no popular reprieve.  Political partisans who cannot win at the polls have tapped into this and stacked the unaccountable court in their favor.  Public Citizen wholly endorses this legislation that would help restore the balance of power between the three branches of government,” said Craig Holman, Ph.D., Public Citizen.

Read the bill HERE.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jim Costa Representing 16th District of California

WASHINGTON – Congressman Jim Costa (CA-21) released the following statement after House Republicans jammed through their partisan budget bill, which would add $4 trillion to the national deficit, while cutting vital relief for families in the San Joaquin Valley. “Republicans talk about fiscal responsibility, but their actions tell a different story. Trump’s so-called ‘big, beautiful’ budget would add $4 trillion to the deficit by 2034. While my constituents were sleeping, Republicans jammed their partisan bill in the middle of the night, because they know their policies are wildly unpopular.I represent one of the most SNAP and Medicaid-dependent districts in the country. This bill threatens meals for kids, healthcare, and housing stability for thousands of Valley families, all to protect tax breaks for billionaires and big corporations. I call on the Senate to step up to fix this bill. This moment demands bipartisanship and common sense, not political games.”The Republican Budget proposal threatens the healthcare and well-being of the people of California’s 21st Congressional District.

456,532 people on Medicaid are at risk of losing their healthcare, including 133,709 children under 19 years old, and 22,577 seniors over 65 years old.
131,000 people would lose their food stamps/SNAP benefits.
25,000 people who receive coverage through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) would see their average premium go up by $1,870 per year, a 91% increase. 

In total, there are 1.8 million Medicaid recipients across the San Joaquin Valley, including San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Merced, Madera, Fresno, Kings, Tulare, and Kern. 

Source: {United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bobby Scott (3rd District of Virginia)

Headline: Scott Statement on the Passing of Congressman Gerry Connolly

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03), the Dean of the Virginia Congressional Delegation, issued the following statement on the passing of Congressman Gerry Connolly (VA-11):

“It was with immense sadness that I learned of Gerry’s passing. He was a relentless advocate for his constituents and a true public servant who loved America, the Commonwealth of Virginia and his hometown of Fairfax. I will miss our friendship and his infectious energy and humor. This is a true loss for Virginia and our entire nation.  I am praying for his family, his staff and his other loved ones at this time.”

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Source: {United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bobby Scott (3rd District of Virginia)

Headline: Scott Leads House in Honoring Congressman Gerry Connolly

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03), the Dean of the Virginia Congressional Delegation, led a moment of silence on the House floor to honor the passing of Congressman Gerry Connolly (VA-11).

 
“Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to speak out of order for one minute… 

“I gather here with colleagues from the Commonwealth of Virginia, and others, with a heavy heart to announce to the House the passing of our friend and colleague Congressman Gerry Connolly.

“I have had the distinct honor to serve alongside Gerry for many years. Gerry served in this chamber since 2009, and before that he served for 14 years on the Board of Supervisors of Fairfax County, including 5 years as its chairman.

“Gerry was a tireless fighter for his constituents, an unwavering advocate for the federal workforce, and a true steward of our democratic institutions. He loved America, the Commonwealth of Virginia and, of course, his beloved hometown of Fairfax. As the Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, he has spent the last few months on the frontlines as the chief advocate for our federal civil service workers. 

“I deeply valued Gerry’s partnership. We worked together to champion polices that strengthen our communities, protect workers’ rights, and expand opportunities for all Americans.

“As his friend, I know I speak for all of us here, when I say we will miss Gerry’ infectious energy, his humor and his unique ability to connect with people.

“This is a loss for the chamber, the Commonwealth of Virginia and our entire nation. Our condolences go out to his wife Smitty, his daughter Caitlin, his staff and the rest of his family and loved ones.

“Mr. Speaker, I now would like to yield to my colleague from Virginia, Mr. Wittman…”

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Source: {United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bobby Scott (3rd District of Virginia)

Headline: Scott Votes Against GOP’s Big, Bad Billionaires’ Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03), the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Education and Workforce and a member of the House Committee on the Budget, issued the following statement after voting against the Republicans’ Big, Bad Billionaires’ Bill:

“House Republicans have voted to add $3.8 trillion to the national debt in order to shovel massive tax breaks to billionaires and corporations. And they will make America’s middle class and working families pay the price. Under the Republicans’ Big, Bad Billionaire’s Bill, over 4 million students are estimated to have their Pell Grants reduced or eliminated, over 18 million children are estimated to lose access to free school meals, and over 13 million people are set to lose their health care coverage.  

“Specifically, it will cut students’ access to Pell Grants, drastically lower the amount of federal loans students can take out, that will either deny them the opportunity to get a college degree or force students into unaffordable repayment plans with no opportunity for debt relief for thirty years and push them into high-cost, predatory private loans.

“For years, we have heard Congressional Republicans preach about fiscal responsibility and complain about the national debt and deficits. Yet they just voted for a bill that will add trillions of dollars to the national debt. And that comes as no surprise, because Every Republican administration since President Nixon has left for their Democratic successors a worse budget deficit than the one they inherited. And every Democratic administration since President Kennedy has left for their Republican successors a better deficit situation than they one they inherited. All without exception.

“This Big, Bad Billionaires’ Bill is a collection of terrible policies. It kicks millions of people off their health care, threatens food security for millions of families, and makes it harder for students to afford a college education. It does all of this to fund tax breaks for millionaires, billionaires and corporations.  And it makes the national debt and annual deficits worse than it would be if we did nothing. It is no wonder why Republicans rammed this bill through multiple committees in the dead of night.”

 

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Source: {United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bobby Scott (3rd District of Virginia)

Headline: House Democrats’ Litigation Task Force Applauds Successful Effort to Defend Education Department

As originally released by the Committee on Education and Workforce, Democrats

WASHINGTION – RankingMember Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), House Committee on Education and Workforce, House Assistant Minority Leader Joe Neguse (CO-02), Ranking Member Jamie Raskin (MD-08), House Committee on Judiciary, and Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), House Committee on Appropriations issued the following statement after a federal judge blocked the Trump Administration from dismantling the Department of Education. The Court also ordered the immediate rehiring of unlawfully terminated staff—a thinly veiled effort to dismantle the entire department without congressional approval.

“As the Trump Administration escalates its assault on the rule of law, House Democrats’ forceful opposition is helping to vindicate the Constitution and uphold the rights of the people.  Today’s ruling in a lawsuit brought by 21 Democratic State Attorneys General and supported by 192 Members of Congress, shows that this opposition is working every day. 

“As the court made clear today: President Trump doesn’t have the power to unilaterally dismantle the Department of Education.  This is a win for this nation’s kids, students, parents, teachers, and families, and a step forward in the fight to ensure a quality education for all Americans.”

In late April, House Democrats’ Litigation and Rapid Response Task Force filed an amicus brief challenging the Trump Administration’s efforts to close the Department of Education in the matter of the State of New York v. Linda McMahon.   Today’s ruling cited the Member of Congress’s argument multiple times, with the judge noting President Donald Trump cannot make solitary decisions regarding the agency’s organization or function without congressional approval.

Please find additional information on their filing here.

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Source: {United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bobby Scott (3rd District of Virginia)

Headline: House Democrats Reintroduce Legislation to Fulfill Promise of Brown

As originally released by the Committee on Education and Workforce, Democrats

WASHINGTON – Over 70 years after the Supreme Court’s landmark 1954 decision in Brown v. Board of Education, Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), House Committee on Education and Workforce, Ranking Member Jamie Raskin (MD-08), House Committee on the Judiciary and Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) reintroduced two key pieces of legislation aimed at advancing educational equity and addressing modern challenges to school integration and civil rights enforcement.

The Strength in Diversity Act, introduced with Congresswoman Jayapal, and the Equity and Inclusion Enforcement Act, introduced with Ranking Member Raskin, reaffirm Democrats’ commitment to the unfulfilled promise of Brown v. Board of Education.  These efforts come at a time when the Trump administration is actively dismantling federal diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility initiatives and weakening civil rights enforcement, including efforts to eliminate the use of disparate impact in assessing discrimination.

According to a 2022 Government Accountability Office report,  found more than one in three K-12 public school students attends a racially segregated school.  This isolation has created vast resource disparities: in 2016, schools serving predominantly students of color received $23 billion less than predominantly white schools serving the same number of students.  These inequities contribute to lower graduation rates, reduced college access, and long-term impacts on opportunity and mobility for Black and brown students.

Strength in Diversity Act of 2025

Across the country, school districts have developed innovative, community-driven strategies to address persistent segregation, ranging from magnet schools and open enrollment policies to revised feeder patterns.  However, many lack the resources to scale or sustain these efforts. 

The Strength in Diversity Act of 2025 addresses this gap by establishing a federal grant program to support voluntary, local efforts that increase diversity in schools.  It also promotes the development and dissemination of best practices in school integration.

“Seventy-one years after Brown v. Board of Education, which struck down school segregation the promise of equitable education for all children regardless of race remains unmet.  The Strength in Diversity Act would bring us one step closer to delivering on its promise of equity in education,” said Ranking Member Scott.  “This bill provides federal support to help school districts develop, implement, or expand efforts to integrate their local schools.  The legislation will also shield these resources from the whims of changing Administrations and allow communities to compile best practices for tackling segregation.  Addressing America’s legacy of racial discrimination is often uncomfortable and complicated, but we must confront – not ignore – inequities in education if we are to reckon with this legacy and close achievement gaps.” 

“Despite the landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision more than 70 years ago, America’s schools are still incredibly segregated.  Schools that mainly serve students of color receive billions less in funding each year than schools whose students are mostly white,” said Representative Jayapal.  “And as Trump and Republicans work to end Title I funding and destroy the Department of Education, these disparities will only continue to get worse.  The government has a responsibility to ensure that everyone has access to a quality education and a chance to succeed, and we can do that by promoting diversity in our schools, providing the best resources available, and investing in our kids.  The Strength in Diversity Act is a bold and necessary step forward to address America’s school segregation problem and improving our education system.

Read the bill text for the Strength in Diversity Act of 2025 here. 

Read the fact sheet for the Strength in Diversity Act of 2025 here.

Read the section-by-section summary for the Strength in Diversity Act of 2025 here.

Equity and Inclusion Enforcement Act of 2025

For 30 years, victims of federally funded discrimination could use Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to challenge both discriminatory policies and practices that were created with the intent to discriminate and policies and practices that, while neutral on their face, had the effect of discriminating.  However, the Supreme Court invalidated the use of disparate impact theory in Title VI cases for private citizens in 2001, and the Trump Administration is eliminating the use of disparate impact by federal entities, making it significantly harder to challenge policies that disproportionately harm students of color and other marginalized groups.  These rollbacks ignore the ongoing reality that many seemingly neutral policies such as school discipline rules or dress codes can still have deeply discriminatory effects. 

The Equity and Inclusion Enforcement Act of 2025 restores the right of private citizens to bring disparate impact cases, empowering families to challenge policies that result in unequal access to education.  It also requires that every school district and higher education institution designate a Title VI monitor responsible for investigating racial discrimination complaints.

“History has shown that robust civil rights enforcement is critical to protecting students from discrimination and closing persistent achievement gaps,” said Ranking Member Scott.  “The Equity and Inclusion Enforcement Act would restore the private right of action for students and parents to hold schools accountable for policies that have a disparate impact and deny students access to a quality education based on race, color or national origin.  This bill also requires that every school has a Title VI monitor to ensure prompt investigations of complaints of discrimination.  The denial of instructional hours and advance classes or the selective discipline of students of color are often the result of structural inequities in education, rather than expressed bigotry.  This bill allows impacted parents and students the right to seek remedy for these policies and biases that are in fact discriminatory, regardless of intent.”

“Every student in our country deserves an equal opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive in a public school system free from discrimination,” said Ranking Member Raskin.  “The Equity and Inclusion Enforcement Act restores a critical tool for students and families to hold schools accountable for discriminatory policies that violate federal law.  I’m proud to join Ranking Member Scott in advancing this legislation to protect the constitutional guarantee of equal educational opportunity, which is now more important than ever.” 

Read the bill text for the Equity and Inclusion Enforcement Act of 2025 here.

Read the fact sheet for the Equity and Inclusion Enforcement Act of 2025 here.

Read the section-by-section summary for the Equity and Inclusion Enforcement Act of 2025 here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Aumua Amata (Western Samoa)

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata is highlighting Medicaid preservation for American Samoa in the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” which is the name of a budget reconciliation act in Congress, developed by the House Ways and Means Committee, and passed this week by the House. Overall, the bill will renew the 2017 tax cuts, preventing an automatic tax increase for federal taxpayers at the end of this fiscal year when it would expire, if no action was taken. 

Importantly for American Samoa, the bill preserves the federal matching rate for Medicaid, FMAP, which was improved in fiscal year 2020 to 83 percent federal and 17 territory match as a standard rate. While a new work requirement was added to Medicaid in the states, the territories are exempt from that.

Highlights of the bill for U.S. taxpayers include an increase in the child tax credit from $2,000 to $2,500 per child, saving household money for families. In other key changes in the bill, there would be no taxes on tips, no taxes on overtime for workers paid hourly, no taxes on auto-loan interest for American-made cars, and tax relief for seniors through an increase in the amount they can deduct. 

“Our Medicaid is our main priority for this bill, and I’m happy to say those most important policies were preserved for us,” said Congresswoman Amata. “This is a major bill for U.S. taxpayers designed to spur economic growth nationally and keep more money in the pockets of families, seniors, and small businesses. Getting the U.S. economy surging is a necessary step in generating the federal revenue that we depend on for necessary services, as well as securing the future and fiscal health of the country.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Aumua Amata (Western Samoa)

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata is honoring Memorial Day 2025, and the memories of all the U.S. Service Members who gave their lives in service of the country, with the following statement:

See more pictures here

“On Memorial Day, we are forever grateful to those Service Members who sacrificed all in the cause of freedom. As patriots, they answered our country’s urgent call to serve, and gave their lives, never to return to their families. 

“As Vice Chairman of the Veterans’ Committee, I’ve toured battlefields and national cemeteries, the last resting place in honor for America’s Service Members all over the world, including North Africa, France, England, the Philippines, and the national cemetery in Honolulu and Arlington National Cemetery. Memorial Day is our special remembrance of these heroes that served a greater cause.

“American Samoa and our Toa o Samoa have done their part, serving with honor and dedication, and some of them have given their lives, including Iraq and Afghanistan in the years since September 11, 2001. We cherish their honored memories and think of these military families, for whom Memorial Day is a very personal remembrance. On behalf of our many hundreds now serving, we pray for peace, and are grateful for the blessings of freedom that our Armed Forces have secured for us through the years.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Aumua Amata (Western Samoa)

Washington, DC – The staff of the D.C. office of Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata enjoyed the opportunity to host American Samoa’s Close Up student delegation on Wednesday for a home-cooked luncheon at the congressional office, and a guided tour of the U.S. Capitol, while Congresswoman Amata is in American Samoa for ASCC and high school graduations. 

The students are in Washington, D.C. with the Close Up Foundation civic program as part of the program’s yearly extended visit to the nation’s capital area historical and educational sites.

“Speaking for my staff, we always love to see our students for their day at the Capitol during their trip to Washington, D.C.,” said Congresswoman Aumua Amata. “I’m happy to be supportive of this great program for our youth, which makes an investment in our leaders of tomorrow. I know the students always enjoy themselves and the time with friends, but more importantly, they absorb a lot of important history and learning. Thank you to everyone helping with Close Up in American Samoa or in the national program.”

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