Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07)

WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Co-Chair of the Reproductive Freedom Caucus, issued the following statement marking the first 100 days of Donald Trump’s second occupancy of the White House.

“Donald Trump’s first 100 days have been a damning masterclass of cruelty, callousness, chaos, and corruption. From slashing essential services and attacking reproductive freedom to terrorizing immigrants and firing thousands of dedicated federal workers—Trump has governed with a reckless disregard for the Constitution and contempt for everyone who calls America home.

“In just 100 days, Trump has launched a full-scale assault on workers, families, and our most vulnerable communities. He is gutting Medicaid, slashing funding for Head Start, defunding life-saving scientific and medical research, and ending critical programs that put food on the table and keep our families safely housed. He has torn immigrant families apart through mass deportations and unlawful detentions—including the abduction and detention of my constituent Rümeysa Öztürk—and pushed through policies that would rip away healthcare, threaten access to abortion care, and restrict our bodily autonomy. And he has consistently sought to erase Black history, resegregate society, and roll back decades of civil rights progress—all while enacting tariffs that will raise the cost of groceries, housing, and other essentials.

“Trump has attacked everyone and everything except the rising cost of living, and now Republicans are marking the 100-day milestone by advancing a reconciliation bill that would end Medicaid as we know it and make the largest cuts to food assistance and other essential programs in American history. The cruelty is the point.

“As Congresswoman for the Massachusetts 7^th, I will not be silent, and I refuse to be complicit. I will continue using every tool at my disposal—legislation, litigation, and mobilization—to stand in the gap and fight for the dignity, safety, and economic wellbeing of my constituents and communities across this country.”

Congresswoman Pressley has been a leading voice in Congress speaking out against Elon Musk and Donald Trump’s unprecedented assault on our democracy, and she has been a steadfast advocate for protecting the essential services that federal workers and agencies provide.

• On April 25, 2025, Rep. Pressley issued a statement on the Trump Administration’s abrupt reinstatement of international student visas. 
• On April 25, 2025, Rep. Pressley, along with Senator Markey and Rep. McGovern, published an op-ed in the New York Times in which they discussed their meeting with Rümeysa Öztürk in detention and warned the American people of the dangers posed by the Trump administration’s unlawful attacks on our constitutional rights to freedom of speech and due process.
• On April 24, 2025, Rep. Pressley joined Senator Elizabeth Warren and Massachusetts lawmakers sounding the alarm on the Trump Administration’s cuts to the National Endowment for the Humanities staff and grants.
• On April 23, 2025, Rep. Pressley and her colleagues visited the ICE detention facilities in Basile and Jena, Louisiana with her colleagues, where Rümeysa Öztürk and Mahmoud Khalil are being unlawfully detained, respectively.
• On April 22, 2025, Rep. Pressley and Senators Markey and Warren demanded answers about the Trump Administration’s concerning pattern of ripping individuals from their communities and shipping them to jurisdictions more favorable to the Trump administration’s deportation agenda.
• On April 18, 2025, Rep. Pressley and Senators Warren and Markey demanded the State Department release a memo and documents related to Rumeysa Ozturk’s arrest after a recent report indicated that an internal State Department memo concluded that the key premise underlying her arrest was false.
• On April 14, 2025, Rep. Pressley joined Senator Ed Markey and the Massachusetts congressional delegation demanding answers on the sudden termination of the federal staff responsible for administering the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.
• On April 11, 2025, Rep. Pressley delivered a floor speech in which she slammed Trump’s Executive Order attacking Smithsonian museums – namely the National Museum of African American History and Culture, or Blacksonian – and his blatant attempt to erase Black history. 
• On April 9, 2025, Rep. Pressley joined the Massachusetts delegation in sending a letter to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. demanding answers after the abrupt shuttering of the entire HHS Regional Office in Boston.
• On April 9, 2025, Rep. Pressley led lawmakers in sending a letter to Trump’s trade official demanding he resign from holding multiple positions with clear conflicts of interest that would further harm federal workers.
• On April 3, 2025, Rep. Pressley and Senators Warren and Markey sounded the alarm on Rumeysa Ozturk’s medical neglect in ICE custody and renewed their urgent calls for her release.
• On March 28, 2025, Rep. Pressley and Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey led over 30 lawmakers demanding information from DHS about the arrest and detention of Tufts University student Rumeysa Ozturk and similar incidents across the country.
• On March 28, 2025, Rep. Pressley issued a statement slamming Trump’s executive order to end collective bargaining rights for hundreds of thousands of federal employees.
• On March 26, 2025, Rep. Pressley issued a statement on reports that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested and detained Rumeysa Ozturk, an international student with legal status in a graduate program at Tufts University. 
• On March 25, 2025, Rep. Pressley issued a statement condemning reports of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity in Boston and other municipalities in Massachusetts.
• On March 21, 2025, Rep. Pressley led Massachusetts lawmakers in a letter to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) sharply criticizing and demanding answers about the impact of the Musk-Trump Administration’s mass firings of federal workers in Massachusetts.
• On March 11, 2025, Rep. Pressley spoke out against the U.S. Department of Education’s mass layoffs of over 1,300 workers, which effectively guts the agency.
• On March 11, 2025, Rep. Pressley voted against Republicans’ shameful government budget bill, which would harm vulnerable families and provide a blank check for Elon Musk and Donald Trump to continue their unprecedented assault on our democracy. She later issued a statement condemning its final passage in the Senate.
• On March 11, 2025, Rep. Pressley joined 13 of her colleagues on a letter to the Department of Homeland Security demanding answers and the immediate release of Columbia student Mahmoud Khalil, whose illegal abduction is an attack on his constitutional right to free speech and due process.
• On March 4, 2025, Rep. Pressley walked out of the House chamber in protest during Donald Trump’s presidential joint address to Congress.
• On March 4, 2025, Rep. Pressley welcomed Claire Bergstresser, an Everett constituent, dedicated public servant, AFGE union member, and former HUD worker who was unjustly terminated as part of Musk and Trump’s assault on federal agencies as her guest to the presidential joint address to Congress.
• On February 28, 2025, Rep. Pressley led 85 lawmakers in a letter urging the Office of Special Counsel to immediate reinstate and expand protections for all unfairly fired federal workers.
• On February 28, 2025, Rep. Pressley joined over 200 Democrats in filing an amicus brief defending the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau before a U.S. District Court.
• On February 26, 2025, in a House Oversight Committee hearing, Rep. Pressley discussed what true government efficiency looks like and denounced Elon Musk and Donald Trump for utilizing DOGE to gut the essential services that keep people safe, fed, and housed.
• On February 25, 2025, in a House Oversight Committee hearing, Rep. Pressley condemned Elon Musk’s abuse of government efficiency through the fraudulent Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
• On February 25, 2025, Rep. Pressley delivered a floor speech in which she railed against Republicans’ cruel budget resolution that would slash Medicaid by nearly $1 trillion.
• On February 20, 2025, Rep. Pressley and her Haiti Caucus Co-Chairs issued a statement condemning the Trump Administration’s decision to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti.
• On February 13, 2025, in a House Financial Services Committee hearing, Rep. Pressley emphasized the critical role of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) in safeguarding consumers and sharply criticized Donald Trump and Elon Musk for halting the critical work of the agency.
• On February 10, 2025, Rep. Pressley rallied with Senator Elizabeth Warren, Ranking Member Maxine Waters, and advocates to protest Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s unlawful takeover of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)
• On February 11, 2025, in a House Financial Services Committee hearing, Rep. Pressley criticized the Trump-Musk administration for halting the critical work of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) with crypto scams on the rise.
• On February 10, 2025, Rep. Pressley issued a statement slamming the Trump Administration’s harmful cuts to National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding to support hospitals, universities, and research institutions conducting lifesaving research.
• On February 10, 2025, as Trump and Musk threaten to dismantle the essential work of the U.S. Department of Education, Rep.  Pressley delivered a powerful floor speech to affirm the role of public education in American democracy.
• On February 6, 2025, in a House Oversight Committee hearing, Rep. Pressley delivered a powerful rebuke of Republicans’ efforts to gut diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and eliminate essential services for vulnerable communities.
• On February 5, 2025, Rep. Pressley rallied outside the U.S. Department of Treasury to protest Elon Musk’s unlawful assault on federal agencies and our democracy.
• On January 30, 2025, Rep. Pressley slammed Donald Trump for blaming the tragic plane crash at Reagan National Airport, which killed over 60 people, including some families from Massachusetts, on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
• In January 2025, Rep. Pressley issued a statement slamming Trump’s illegal freeze on federal grants and loans and its harmful impact on vulnerable communities.
• On January 23, 2025, Rep. Pressley delivered an impassioned floor speech condemning Republicans’ cruel anti-abortion bill that criminalizes providers and denies families care.
• On January 23, 2025, Rep. Pressley joined her colleagues to reintroduce the Neighbors Not Enemies Act, a bill to repeal an outdated law that has been used to target innocent immigrants without due process rights.
• On January 22, 2025, Rep. Pressley issued a statement condemning the Trump Administration’s harmful executive actions on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).

###

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Norma Torres (35th District of California)

April 30, 2025

Amid Rising Threats to Immigrant Communities, Legislators Demand Comprehensive Solutions to Protect Due Process and Preserve Family Unity

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Norma Torres, alongside her colleagues Congresswoman Grace Meng, Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, and Congressman Robert Garcia introduced the Fairness to Freedom Act—legislation aimed at ensuring the right to federal legal representation for all immigrants facing deportation.

The stakes for immigrant communities have never been higher, as the Trump Administration is making it harder to get a fair process during immigration proceedings. The need for legal representation and the safeguarding of due process rights is more urgent than ever as anti-immigrant policies intensify under the Trump administration. Immigrant families are facing an increasingly harsh immigration detention system. President Trump’s threats of mass deportations are stoking fear and uncertainty, further escalating the anxiety within immigrant communities.

Despite these challenges, a clear solution is on the table: universal representation for immigrants. From voters to lawmakers and advocates, there is a shared vision for a dignified immigration system that upholds the values of fairness, freedom, and justice. Universal representation would ensure that immigrants are not left to navigate complex deportation proceedings alone, protecting their right to stay united with their families, keep their jobs, and remain rooted in their communities.

“No one should have to go through immigration proceedings alone. Unfortunately, under President Trump’s rhetoric and policies, the protection of due process rights has been undermined, and in some cases, denied entirely,” said Congresswoman Norma Torres. “ That’s why I introduced the Fairness to Freedom Act—to ensure that everyone has their fair day in court, fully understands their rights’ and can communicate with their loved ones. My constituents, and communities across the country, deserve to live with dignity, raise their families, access opportunities, and contribute to society. Universal representation is the key to making that a reality, standing as a safeguard against policies that threaten our shared values.”

“We are seeing an all out assault on immigrants and immigration in this country, and it has never been more important to ensure that immigrants have access to legal representation,” said Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement. “Due process and the right to an attorney are fundamental cornerstones of our legal system – and should be for all who have cases before it. By ensuring universal access to representation for all immigrants, we can take a major step to protect immigrants from the cruel and inhumane actions of the Trump administration.”

“As someone who has navigated our country’s immigration system, I know how overwhelming and complex it can be, especially when the consequences are deportation,” said Congressman Robert Garcia. “Under the Trump Administration, countless individuals have been wrongfully deported without due process, and people facing removal proceedings are not guaranteed legal representation in the courtroom. I’m proud to co-sponsor the Fairness to Freedom Act because we must protect people’s fundamental rights and ensure that immigration proceedings are fair for all.”

“There is currently a backlog of more than 3 million deportation cases pending in our immigration court system. Most of these people—men, women, and children—do not have access to an attorney. This is not only inefficient, but inhumane,” said Congresswoman Grace Meng. “The Fairness to Freedom Act guarantees that everyone appearing before an immigration court has access to legal representation, understands their rights, and can communicate with loved ones throughout the process. I’m joining my colleagues in calling on Congress to pass this legislation to uphold due process-a fundamental right in our democracy-and ensure fairness in all courts throughout the United States.”

Nicole Melaku, executive director of the National Partnership for New Americans, said: “Since Day One of his second term, President Trump has been causing harm through a chaotic and misguided attempt to govern. Instead of championing social and economic solutions, he has recklessly targeted immigrants, separated families, and brought chaos and uncertainty to people across the country. In the face of this, we need Congress to push back with solutions that bring safety and stability to everyone who calls the United States home. Congresswoman Norma Torres is doing just that—bringing forward legislation that upholds the right to due process and ensures that no one stands alone in defense of their freedom. We are proud to endorse the Fairness to Freedom Act that gives people their fair day in court, and we urge all members of Congress who oppose Trump’s lawless deportation agenda to support this urgently-needed legislation.”

Shayna Kessler, director of the Advancing Universal Representation initiative at the Vera Institute of Justice, said: “Across the country, horrifying stories emerge daily of ICE detaining people without giving them any chance to defend themselves in court. This is a violation of due process—a right guaranteed to everyone under the U.S. Constitution. But due process means more than just advance notice and a hearing. Unlike in criminal court, people in immigration court aren’t guaranteed a lawyer if they can’t afford one. The Fairness to Freedom Act would change that. No one should have to face the devastating consequences of detention and deportation without access to a lawyer to defend their rights and freedom. In defense of due process, keeping families together, and the integrity of our democracy, we urge Congress to pass this bill.”

###

La Congresista Torres Lidera La Introducción de la Ley de Equidad Para la Libertad: Un Llamado a La Representación Legal Universal Para Las Personas Que Enfrentan La Deportación

Ante las amenazas a las comunidades de inmigrantes, Legisladores exigen soluciones integrales para proteger las libertades judiciales y preservar la unidad de familias

Washington, D.C. – Hoy, la Congresista Norma Torres, junto Congresista Grace Meng, la Congresista Pramila Jayapal, y el Congresista Robert García introdujeron la Ley de Equidad a la Libertad-legislación destinada a garantizar el derecho a la representación legal federal para todos los inmigrantes que enfrentan la deportación.

Lo que está en juego para las comunidades de inmigrantes nunca ha sido más importante, ya que la Administración Trump está haciendo más difícil conseguir un proceso justo durante los procedimientos de inmigración. La necesidad de representación legal y la salvaguarda de los derechos del debido proceso es más urgente que nunca a medida que las políticas antiinmigrantes se intensifican bajo la administración Trump. Las familias inmigrantes se enfrentan a un sistema de detención de inmigrantes cada vez más duro. Las amenazas del presidente Trump de deportaciones masivas están avivando el miedo y aumentando aún más la ansiedad dentro de las comunidades de inmigrantes.

A pesar de estos retos, hay una solución clara sobre la mesa: la representación universal para los inmigrantes. Desde los electores hasta los legisladores y defensores, existe una visión compartida de un sistema de inmigración que defienda los valores de equidad, libertad y justicia. La representación universal aseguraría que los inmigrantes no tuvieran que enfrentarse solos a los complejos procedimientos de deportación, protegiendo su derecho a permanecer unidos a sus familias, mantener sus empleos y seguir en sus comunidades.

###

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Earl L Buddy Carter (GA-01)

Headline: Carter introduces bill streamlining critical minerals permitting process

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA) today announced the introduction of his Streamlining Critical Minerals Permitting Act, a bill that will speed up the permitting process for facilities that process or refine critical minerals here in the United States without sacrificing environmental protections.

About 70 percent of U.S. rare earth minerals currently come from China. This bill will give a facility that processes or refines a critical energy resource an interim status permit under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act until the final administrative disposition of its permit application or it is proven that the facility failed to provide information needed to process the permit application, ensuring timely and efficient approvals for vital projects.

“It’s time that we start building in America again. We are too reliant on China for key energy resources, which poses a threat not just to our supply chains, but to our national security. By quickly approving permits for projects that produce critical materials, we will move towards energy dominance, uplift the American worker, and reduce global emissions while making our nation more resilient,” said Rep. Carter.

Read the full bill text here.

Read Rep. Carter’s Washington Times op-ed discussing the bill here.

###

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (1st District of Maine)

Javascript must be enabled for the correct page display

Skip to Content

Back to top

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Rick Larsen (2nd Congressional District Washington)

Today, Rep. Rick Larsen released a statement about the passing of his mother, Yolanda Larsen:

“It is a sad day for me, my seven brothers and sisters, and mom’s friends and family. Our mom, Yolanda Jean Larsen (neé Rosenbach) died on April 29th. She just celebrated her 88th birthday this month. 

“Mom was the center of our lives as kids and as adults. Our house on South French Avenue in Arlington was the center of activity for our friends. Dinner was at 5pm every night except Sunday, no exceptions without approval. Cookies were always available to anyone who would stop by. The door was always open or, at a minimum, unlocked, so friends could come and go as they pleased knowing Mom would always welcome them. 

“When she wasn’t holding the fort down while Dad was at work, Mom was active in the local community, setting an example for her children to be part of the place where we would live. She was a participant and not just a spectator in Arlington and its surrounding communities.

“She valued education first and pushed us to do well in school and be active in school sports and clubs. Although she never served on the five-member local school board, Mom was an unofficial sixth member since there was a Larsen kid in Arlington schools for 26 straight years.

“We are still sifting through her 88 years of life and will have a further announcement on services soon. Until then, bake a batch of chocolate chip cookies, cheer for your kid to do well in school or make sure they are at the dinner table each weekday night to hear how their day went. That would be a great way to honor her.”

###

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (21st District of New York)

Stefanik Reintroduces Bipartisan Bill to Enhance Veterans’ Access to VA Benefits | Press Releases | Congresswoman Elise Stefanik

Facebook Icon

Google Plus Icon

Instagram Icon

LinkedIn Icon

Twitter Icon

YouTube Icon

Vimeo Icon

Clients Icon

Email icon

Map Icon

Print Icon

Quote Icon

icon_share

Carousel Arrow – Left

Carousel Arrow – Right

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Donald Norcross (1st District of New Jersey)

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Congressman Donald Norcross (NJ-01), a member of the Education and Workforce Committee, released a statement on Republicans plan to raise costs for students and make it harder for them to find good-paying jobs.

“Not only are Trump and his Republican friends in Congress trying to take away Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security, they are now making draconian cuts to grants that support education for low-income and middle-class students. Families are struggling to make ends meet, and Trump’s only solution is to take funding away from working families and give their hard-earned money to his billionaire friends,” said Congressman Donald Norcross. “By cutting the Pell Grant program that helps lower-income students afford college, eliminating an income-driven repayment program for student loans, and repealing regulations that are designed to protect students, Trump and House Republicans are doing everything they can to make education and good-paying jobs less accessible for American families.”

Republicans plan to raise costs for students and make it harder for them to find good-paying jobs includes:

• Cuts to Pell Grant eligibility by setting full-time attendance as 30 credits per year instead of 12 per semester – which would decrease the average Pell awards by 20%.
• Eliminating an income-driven student loan repayment program.
• Repealing regulations designed to protect students, including:
• The bipartisan 90/10 regulation, which prevents for-profit colleges from duping veterans out of their hard fought GI bill benefits.
• The Borrower Defense regulation, which provides student loan relief for millions of borrowers defrauded by their schools.
• The Closed School Discharge regulation, which provides loan relief for students whose institutions closed before they completed their programs. 

###

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Diana DeGette (First District of Colorado)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Diana DeGette (CO-01) released the following statement after Donald Trump signed executive actions targeting sanctuary cities and his continued illegal attacks on migrants communities. 

“Donald Trump promised to secure our border and make our country safer. Instead, he has launched an illegal and unconstitutional campaign of fear that targets families, violates due process, and undermines our Constitution. 

“In recent weeks, Trump has defied Court orders to return Mr. Kilmar Abrego Garcia to his wife and family in Maryland after the Administration wrongfully deported him. Without due process, Trump has detained students, like Mr. Mahmoud Khalil, for exercising their First Amendment rights. Trump is cruelly separating U.S.-born children, some of whom are sick with cancer, from their parents.

“Here in Denver, Trump has authorized ICE raids that terrorize neighborhoods and deportation proceedings that target my constituents like Ms. Jeanette Vizguerra, a mother and longtime immigration rights leader who was detained by this Administration, again without due process, weeks ago. 

“And just this week, Trump took executive action threatening to strip federal funds from sanctuary cities like ours that refuse to be complicit in his callous immigration agenda. 

“Denver is a proud, welcoming city, where we comply with the law and show compassion to our neighbors. In contrast, these latest executive actions are a continuation of Trump’s cruel campaign to stoke fear and division in our community, while shamefully targeting immigrants. 

“This is not justice — it is cruelty masquerading as policy. Not only do I forcefully condemn the Trump Administration’s bigoted, unjust immigration policies, I will fight this illegal and unconstitutional power grab with every fiber of my being.” 

 

### 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green Ohio)

Latta Washington Times Op-Ed: A Plan for American Energy Dominance

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lori Trahan (D-MA-03)

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed Congresswoman Lori Trahan’s (D-MA-03) Youth Poisoning Protection Act, bipartisan legislation that would ban the consumer sale of products containing high concentrations of sodium nitrite, a meat-curing chemical that can be lethal when ingested. The legislation was introduced earlier this year alongside Congressmen Joe Neguse (D-CO-02) and Mike Carey (R-OH-15) as well as U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), John Curtis (R-UT), and Bernie Moreno (R-OH). 
“Most Americans have never heard of Sodium Nitrite, but for families who’ve lost loved ones, it’s something they’ll never forget,” Congresswoman Trahan said. “The Youth Poisoning Protection Act would restrict sales of Sodium Nitrite above 10 percent concentration to businesses with verified industrial or commercial use.”
CLICK HERE or the image below to view Trahan’s speech during the House’s consideration of the legislation. A transcript is embedded below.

A 2021 New York Times investigation into an online suicide forum found that sodium nitrite was being popularized and encouraged as an easily accessible method to die by suicide. The forum, which is disguised as a safe place to discuss suicidal ideation, hosts threads where anonymous users provide detailed instructions and real-time guidance on how to die by suicide using sodium nitrite. A 2021 toxicology publication based on data from the National Poison Data System (NPDS), one of the data sources used by the CDC, points to a rise in self-poisonings using sodium nitrite in the United States since 2017.
There is no known recreational use for highly concentrated amounts of sodium nitrite, but at the time of the Times’ investigation, highly concentrated amounts of the poison were widely available on multiple e-commerce platforms, including with free two-day shipping on Amazon. Following outcry from lawmakers and victims’ families, Amazon and a number of other online marketplaces began removing sodium nitrite listings. In May 2023, a Canadian citizen was arrested and charged for shipping packages containing lethal amounts of sodium nitrite to over 40 countries, including 272 sales to individuals in the United Kingdom, of whom at least 88 people died.
The Youth Poisoning Protection Act bans the sale of consumer products with a concentration of sodium nitrite greater than 10 percent. The bipartisan legislation passed in the House with overwhelming bipartisan support last May.
If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, feeling at risk of suicide, or experiencing a state of distress, it is crucial to find help immediately. There are many resources available, including the 988 Suicide & Crisis Hotline which provides free, confidential support 24/7, and the Crisis Text Line which offers free crisis counseling 24/7. Dial 988 or text HOME to 741741 to connect with these services.
——————————————–
Congresswoman Lori Trahan
Remarks As Delivered
Floor Speech on The Youth Poisoning Protection Act
April 28, 2025

I thank the gentleman for yielding as well as his leadership and Chair Bilirakis on this important issue.
Mr. Speaker, I introduced the Youth Poisoning Protection Act alongside Representative Mike Carey because we are facing an urgent and deeply troubling trend: The promotion of Sodium Nitrite, a toxic chemical, as a method to die by suicide.
In 2022, the New York Times revealed the existence of online suicide forums that don’t just discuss suicide – they promote it. Anonymous users on these platforms encourage vulnerable children and young adults to end their lives, and they often suggest using this chemical to do it.
Now, most Americans have never heard of Sodium Nitrite, but for families who’ve lost loved ones, it’s something they’ll never forget. In lower concentrations, it’s a chemical used safely to cure meats and fish, but in higher concentrations, it’s deadly. And for the few who have survived attempts to end their lives using Sodium Nitrite, they report agonizing pain as the chemical deprives their body of oxygen.
After learning how easy it is to purchase high-concentration Sodium Nitrite, my office worked with retailers to limit access to businesses with a proven use for the chemical, but some sites still openly market it as part of so-called “suicide kits” to people in crisis. There is no federal law that allows us to stop this.
That’s where this bipartisan legislation comes in. The Youth Poisoning Protection Act would restrict sales of Sodium Nitrite above 10 percent concentration to businesses with verified industrial or commercial use. That threshold is based on expert recommendations for safe handling and won’t interfere with legitimate industries like food processing.
This bill is focused and reasonable. It targets bad actors who are exploiting a loophole to profit off tragedy, and it does so without burdening responsible businesses.
That’s why, last Congress, this bill passed the Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously before passing it here on the floor with overwhelming support. Now, we must finish the job. I urge my colleagues to support the Youth Poisoning Protection Act, and I yield back the balance of my time.
###