Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11)

WASHINGTON, DC — Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) spoke out today against Donald Trump firing at least 17 Inspector Generals. These independent watchdogs serve within federal agencies and are tasked with investigating allegations of fraud, waste, and abuse. Despite being protected under federal law, the President failed to provide Congress a 30-day notice before any dismissal. The amendment would protect the Inspector General oversight at the Department of Defense.

This effort comes after Rep. Sherrill wrote to inspectors general at eight federal agencies demanding investigations into Elon Musk’s conflicts of interest and potential self-dealing.

Click here to listen to Sherrill’s full remarks. 

Full remarks, as delivered:

The Trump’s administration’s immediate firings of Inspectors General — particularly within the DoD — is not only illegal but is also a blatant attempt to silence independent oversight. By removing the IG’s, the administration is ensuring that there is no one left to hold Hegseth and the Department accountable for fraud, waste, and abuse. 

This is not about improving government, this is about eroding transparency and giving Musk and Hegseth free passes to do whatever they want. It’s dangerous for our national security, and it’s dangerous for our service members.

And sadly, this is a pattern across the Trump Administration — reducing oversight so that Trump can line the pockets of his billionaire buddies. We’ve seen it time and again: Trump rigs the system — he installs his campaign donors, like Elon Musk, in top roles; they manufacture a problem; remove IGs and other career officials who may hold them accountable; and then award government contracts to businesses where they have a financial interest. 

It’s self dealing; it’s inappropriate; and it’s illegal. 

That’s why earlier this year, I called on inspectors general at eight federal agencies to investigate Elon Musk and DOGE’s actions, identify his conflicts of interest, and ensure that an unelected billionaire isn’t stealing New Jersey families’ hard earned tax dollars to further enrich himself and his companies. 

For Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and Pete Hegseth, it’s never been about combatting waste, fraud, and abuse. And it’s never been about service to country. Which is why I strongly support this amendment to protect inspector general oversight at the Department of Defense.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative John R Carter (R-TX-31)

Carter Announces 2025 Congressional Art Competition Winner

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Dina Titus (1st District of Nevada)

Congresswoman Dina Titus and Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, Democratic Co-Chairs of the Cannabis Caucus, today introduced the Evidence-Based Drug Policy Act of 2025.

Under current law, the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) is prohibited from spending on or sponsoring any research related to the medical or recreational use of a Schedule 1 substance. Additionally, the Director of the ONDCP must oppose any attempt to legalize a substance that is listed under Schedule 1 and has not been approved for a medical purpose by the Food and Drug Administration.

The Evidence-Based Drug Policy Act removes these restrictions, allowing the executive branch’s drug policy advisor to take actions reflecting the current use of cannabis in the United States. This outdated prohibition is not based on science or reality. Removing this restriction would allow the ONDCP to conduct essential public policy analyses on states’ adult-use and medicinal cannabis programs and sponsor medical research on the benefits of cannabis. A 2024 National Academies study entitled, “Cannabis Policy Impacts Public Health and Health Equity”, specifically recommended Congress remove these restrictions so that ONDCP can support research on the impacts of changes in cannabis policy.

“The Office of National Drug Control Policy and its Director should be free to sponsor research or speak about substances like cannabis based on evidence and research,” said Congresswoman Titus. “Statutory restrictions on what can be studied and a mandate to oppose any attempts to reschedule substances like cannabis make no sense. It’s time to update the law to reflect the current use of cannabis in the United States and its medical benefits. The federal government needs to catch up to the states.”

“Our nation’s drug policies have been shaped by stigma. The American people overwhelmingly support cannabis reform, and yet the federal government continues to tie the hands of its own experts,” said Congresswoman Ilhan Omar. “The Evidence-Based Drug Policy Act is about bringing our laws into the 21st century, ensuring that the Office of National Drug Control Policy can do its job guided by facts, not outdated ideology. We need drug policy to follow the science and reflect the reality on the ground in states across the country.”

The Evidence-Based Drug Policy Act of 2025 is supported by the Drug Policy Alliance, the Nevada Cannabis Association, the National Cannabis Industry Association, the UNLV Cannabis Policy Institute, NORML, the Marijuana Policy Project, the Law Enforcement Action Partnership, the Parabola Center for Law and Policy, Doctors for Drug Policy Reform, the US Cannabis Roundtable, Cannabis Regulators of Color, Students for Sensible Drug Policy, the Minority Cannabis Business Association, and the Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association.

“The Drug Policy Alliance is proud to support the Evidence-Based Drug Policy Reform Act because it removes unnecessary barriers to ensure that the Office of National Drug Control Policy is empowered to develop drug policy based on evidence, not outdated political mandates,” said Cat Packer, Director of Drug Markets & Legal Regulation, Drug Policy Alliance. “To advance policies that support public health, promote fairness, and meet the needs of the American people, ONDCP must be free to study the full range of public policy approaches—including the impacts of cannabis policy changes such as legalization and regulation.”

“The Evidence-Based Drug Policy Act of 2025 is a smart, surgical fix to promote much needed cannabis research. By targeting one deeply flawed provision that blocks scientific research and prevents us from understanding the public health impacts of cannabis legalization, this bill allows the government to study what’s already happening in dozens of states,” said Riana Durrett, Director, UNLV Cannabis Policy Institute. “Representative Titus is championing rational, responsible, and long overdue access to research. This is a commendable effort to prevent our nation from continuing to fall behind other countries that are forging ahead and surpassing the United States in cannabis research.”

“We are proud to endorse this bill that would encourage the federal government to study the impacts of cannabis legalization. Despite the fact that over two-thirds of Americans live in jurisdictions that allow the medical use of cannabis and 24 states have legalized adult-use cannabis, the federal government has maintained restrictions on research aimed at understanding the impacts of these policy changes since their inception,” said Lauren Daly, Marijuana Policy Project Interim Executive Director. “With state-legal cannabis becoming increasingly accessible across the nation, it is imperative for the federal government to enable and support comprehensive research into cannabis legalization, ensuring that future policies are informed by sound evidence.”

“Mandating that a federal agency charged with supporting public health and safety must ignore scientific research and oppose evidence-based policies that have been embraced by dozens of states is simply bad law, and out of step with where the vast majority of Americans stand on cannabis issues,” said Morgan Fox, Political Director for the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML). “The ONDCP should have the liberty to look at all the available information and explore policy solutions free from outdated political restrictions. We commend the sponsors for introducing this long overdue legislation and urge Congress to approve it without delay.”

“On behalf of the Law Enforcement Action Partnership (LEAP), I write in strong support of the Evidence-Based Drug Policy Act,” said Lt. Diana Goldstein (Ret.), Law Enforcement Action Partnership Executive Director. “This legislation would give the Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) the freedom to consider funding research on Schedule I drugs and the ability to endorse any proposals to change the status of Schedule I drugs. As law enforcement professionals, we believe this act is essential for public health and safety.”

“The Cannabis Regulators of Color Coalition supports the Evidence-Based Drug Policy Reform Act because it affirms what communities and cannabis regulators across the country already know: federal drug policy must be guided by evidence, not ideology,” said Dasheeda Dawson, Board Chair, Cannabis Regulators of Color. “For more than a decade, tribal, state, and local governments have taken meaningful steps to repair the harms of criminalization and promote public health and safety through cannabis legalization and regulation. Empowering the Office of National Drug Control Policy to study these reforms is critical to developing federal policies that truly reflect the needs of everyday Americans—especially communities of color disproportionately impacted by prohibition.”

“We strongly support the Evidence-Based Drug Policy Act to ensure researchers have the ability to conduct rigorous research on medical cannabis and cannabis legalization,” said Charlie Bacthell, Acting Chairman, US Cannabis Roundtable. “The Department of Health and Human Services determined in 2023 that cannabis has low abuse potential and accepted medical use, and 80% of states allow some form of legal cannabis. Our nation’s research guidelines should reflect this reality.”

“The Minority Cannabis Business Association Board of Directors supports the Evidence-Based Drug Policy Act of 2025 introduced by Congresswoman Titus and Representative Omar. For too long, antiquated prohibitions have prevented critical research into cannabis, hampering our understanding of potential benefits and impacts,” said Frederika Easley, President, Minority Cannabis Business Association. “By removing these statutory barriers to research funding, this bill represents a crucial step toward creating evidence-based policies that can help address the ongoing harms of the War on Drugs, which have disproportionately affected communities of color. Science, not stigma, should guide our nation’s drug policies, and we applaud this legislation for embracing this principle. We urge Congress to pass this common-sense measure to allow research that will inform more equitable and effective approaches to cannabis regulation.”

“SSDP is proud to stand in support of the Evidence-Based Drug Policy Act of 2025 and commends Rep. Titus for her much-needed leadership on this issue. The science is clear and Americans on both sides of the aisle agree: marijuana does not belong on Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act,” said Kat Muri, Executive Director, Students for Sensible Drug Policy. “By eliminating the ONDCP’s current legal requirement to oppose any efforts towards legalizing a Schedule I substance, this bill removes one of the biggest obstacles to legalizing cannabis at the federal level, and it does it in a very straightforward and clear way. It’s high time the U.S. replaces the disastrous and detrimental War on Drugs with policies rooted in evidence, compassion, and human rights—policies that make sense—and the Evidence-Based Drug Policy Act is an important step in that direction.”

“The Evidence-based Drug Policy Act of 2025 would pave the way for much-needed studies into cannabis, and we firmly believe those studies will show what Indigenous communities have always known—that plant-based medicine is a natural, beneficial way to treat ailments that is far superior to opioids and pharmaceuticals,” said Rob Pero (Bad River), founder of the Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association. “The criminalization of cannabis is doing more harm to our communities than good, and it’s time to take an evidence-based approach to correcting cannabis policy at the federal level.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mark Takano (D-Calif)

April 29, 2025

Washington, D.C. – Congressional Equality Caucus Chair Rep. Mark Takano and U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley teamed up with Wisconsin’s U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin and New Jersey’s U.S. Senator Cory Booker for the bicameral reintroduction of the Equality Act in an effort to push back against escalated attacks from the Trump Administration, MAGA Republicans, and state legislatures on the rights and freedoms of LGBTQ+ Americans nationwide.

In states across the country, over 850 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been filed so far this year—the most in U.S. history. The Equality Act is historic, comprehensive legislation to enshrine civil rights protections for our LGBTQ+ friends and neighbors in federal law.

The Equality Act amends landmark federal anti-discrimination laws to explicitly add sexual orientation and gender identity to longstanding bans on discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations, jury service, access to credit, federal funding, and more. It would also add protections against sex discrimination in parts of anti-discrimination laws where these protections had not been included previously, such as public accommodations and federal funding.

“Across the country, LGBTQI+ and trans Americans are being targeted and attacked, but we refuse to be cowed or intimidated by their hate. Instead, we reintroduce the Equality Act as our declaration that freedom and dignity are the birthright of every American. We will not rest until full equality is the law of the land,” said Congressional Equality Caucus Chair Takano.

“Generations of Americans have marched, voted, organized, and raised their voices to fully realize the vision of America as a land of freedom and equality for all,” said Senator Merkley. “As MAGA extremists attack the rights and freedoms of our LGBTQ+ friends and neighbors, I am fighting to end this hateful discrimination, expand freedom, and open the doors of opportunity for everyone. Back in 2007, I led the fight to secure this vision for Oregonians, and it is way past time for Congress to do the same for all LGBTQ+ Americans by passing my Equality Act.”

“The Equality Act simply puts into law what we all believe: that every American is created equal and should be treated equally under the law. But, for too many LGBTQ+ Americans in states across the country, equality under the law is not the reality, and they are harassed at work, denied a place to live, and discriminated against just for being who they are,” said Senator Baldwin. “The Equality Act makes clear that in the United States, we can live up to our nation’s highest ideals and we will not tolerate discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity – just like religion, race, or ethnicity. Equality is not a privilege, it’s what we’re all owed as American citizens, and I’m committed to making that promise a reality.”

“As the Trump Administration dismantles the civil liberties and legal protections of LGBTQ+ folks nationwide––progress that was hard-won and that we are still fighting to maintain––lawmakers in Congress must act to pass the bicameral Equality Act,” said Senator Booker. “This legislation would finally make clear that LGBTQ+ people in this country cannot be denied entry into a restaurant, be denied federal housing and benefits, or be discriminated against simply because of who they are and who they love. This legislation is long overdue, and I will work tirelessly with my colleagues to ensure the Equality Act becomes the law of the land.”

Despite major advances in equality for LGBTQ+ Americans in recent years, including codifying federal protections for same-sex and interracial marriages, the majority of states still do not have explicit LGBTQ+ non-discrimination protection laws. The Equality Act would finally enshrine protections into federal law under all areas of potential discrimination, protecting the rights and freedoms of all LGBTQ+ Americans for generations to come.

“The Equality Act is necessary, urgent, and long overdue,” said Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY). “As the Trump administration and dangerously conservative Supreme Court threaten the safety and security of LGBTQ+ individuals in the United States, it is the obligation of the Senate to ensure that everyone is treated equally under the law – a standard that the United States has long strived for but failed to perfectly meet. I am honored to help lead the reintroduction of the Equality Act and stand with the LGBTQ+ community as we continue to fight for a more equal, just, and loving world.”

“Across the country, from city councils to Congress, state legislatures to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, freedom is under attack. The Equality Act will make sure that members of the LGBTQ community can live free from discrimination and pursue the American dream in every single zip code. House Democrats will continue to show up, speak up and stand up until this legislation is the law of the land,” said House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY).

“As Republicans across the country continue their assault on LGBTQ+ Americans – particularly the trans community – the fight against bigotry and discrimination remains as urgent as ever,” said Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (D-CA). “The landmark Equality Act – twice passed by the Democratic House but blocked by Senate Republicans – would extend the crucial protections of the Civil Rights Act to all LGBTQ+ Americans, in the workplace and in every place. Today, it was my privilege to join Congressional Democrats in proudly reintroducing our Equality Act to continue our fight for a future of equality and dignity for all.”

“Not only is freedom the birthright of every person; we can only defend ours if we defend everyone’s,” said House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (D-MA). “That’s the basis of the Equality Act. Republicans’ rejection of such a basic truth tells you everything you need to know about the broken state of their party. While they work to strip away equality, freedom, health care, and housing, we are fighting for a future that is worthy of all our children.”

The Equality Act is supported by 47 U.S. Senators and 214 U.S. Representatives. A full list of the 600+ organizations endorsing the Equality Act can be found by clicking here.

“Everyone, no matter who they are or who they love, deserves the right to live free from discrimination and harassment. But LGBTQ+ people, who go to school, run small businesses, raise kids and work hard to put food on the table just like everyone else, still don’t have the federal nondiscrimination protections that others have enjoyed for decades. In some parts of the country, we can still be evicted from our homes, kicked out of a public business, or denied government services simply because of who we are. As the Trump administration works to erode civil rights protections across the board and state legislatures continue their onslaught against equality, it has never been more important to safeguard the basic protections that are a central part of the American Dream. It is time to pass the Equality Act,” said Jay Brown, Human Rights Campaign Chief of Staff.

“This moment demands action. The reintroduction of the Equality Act comes as the Trump administration and state governments across the country launch aggressive attacks on LGBTQIA+ Americans, especially trans youth. These aren’t abstract policy debates – they are coordinated efforts to erode civil rights and protections, criminalize LGBTQIA+ existence, and erase communities. Trans youth deserve to be protected by their governments, they shouldn’t have to be protected from their governments. It’s long past time our federal laws reflect and protect the reality and dignity of all people,” said Olivia Hunt, Director of Federal Policy for Advocates for Trans Equality (A4TE).

“With the LGBTQ+ community under attack from the Trump Administration—and anti-LGBTQ+ bills once again rearing their heads in statehouses across the country—the reintroduction of the Equality Act could not be more prescient. We all deserve to be treated with dignity and respect, regardless of who we are, who we love, or where we call home. The Equality Act provides common sense nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ people—protections that a majority of Americans agree should already be available. We are grateful to Rep. Takano for leading the charge on this critical bill, and look forward to working with him and other members of California’s Congressional delegation throughout the process,” said Tony Hoang, Executive Director of Equality California.

Stories in support of the Equality Act and the protections it would enshrine into federal law can be found by clicking here.

Full text of the Equality Act as introduced in the Senate can be found by clicking here, and here as introduced in the House.

A summary of the Equality Act can be found by clicking here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Johnson (LA-04)

WASHINGTON — This morning, at the weekly House Republican Leadership press conference, Speaker Johnson celebrated the achievements of President Trump’s historic first 100 days in office and addressed Congressional Democrats’ recent political theatrics.

Watch Speaker Johnson’s full remarks here

On President Trump’s First 100 Days:

President Trump has accomplished more in the first 100 days than most presidents do in their entire careers, their entire tenures. The Atlantic, right? I don’t know if there’s an Atlantic reporter here this morning, but they’re not a fan of him, right? Yesterday, they described him this way. “He is the most consequential American leader of the 21st century.” And that’s an understatement.

President Trump has,here’s a list: removed men from women’s sports, ended DEI in the federal government and the US military, expanded oil and gas extraction to lower prices, taken steps to end unfair trade practices, secured trillions of dollars in new investments in American manufacturing, deported criminal illegal aliens, stood up for religious liberty and rooted out anti-Christian bias, and combated virulent antisemitism on college campuses. The list goes on and on and on, and that’s just barely scratching the surface.

On Promises Made, Promises Kept:

Nearly every public opinion survey found that voters in the last election were most concerned about two things: inflation and the wide open border and the crisis that it created. On just these two issues and in 100 days, legal crossings are at an all-time low and inflation has fallen rapidly. President Biden often said that he had exhausted his executive authority, he told me that we needed new laws. He told me this many times himself: we have to stop the border crisis, but Congress has to act. I pleaded with President Biden, do your job, use your executive authority. He claimed he didn’t have it. But as President Trump has just demonstrated, all we needed was a new president. We needed real leadership. We didn’t need new laws.

The Trump administration has stopped illegal border crossings with a 99.9% success rate. The border crisis is solved, more than 100,000 illegal aliens and gang members have been deported, and that makes Americans safer. They feel more secure again. Groups of migrants are actually stopping their journeys and they are turning around. You know why? Because we got a new sheriff in town due to President Trump’s border policies. We now know again that deterrence works. On inflation, President Trump promised to rapidly drive down prices and make American goods affordable again. The Consumer Price Index beat expectations and actually dropped .1% in March. That is the first time that has happened since COVID. Inflation is cooling. Energy prices are down, as we all know, trillions of dollars in US investments have been secured by the Trump administration. And again, we’re just getting started.

On Congressional Democrats political theatrics:

While we’re working to build on President Trump’s successes and codify his agenda into law, the Democrats just still don’t get it. I mean, they just keep demonstrating they don’t get it. It is more than 100 days into the 119th Congress, and the contrast could not be clearer. They don’t have any message. They don’t have a clear leader. They don’t have a clear vision. They don’t they don’t know what to do. Their platform has been repudiated, and they’re turning on themselves.

…In one of the most baffling political displays that we’ve ever seen, Congressional Democrats used their district work period to fly to El Salvador and provide comfort to a wife beating MS-13 gang member who entered the US illegally. I mean, it was a shameful performance, and I hope their constituents do not forget it. We won’t. And we reflect on the first 100 days the Trump administration, it’s very clear which party is fighting for the American people, for a stronger and safer and more prosperous America.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Adam Smith (9th District of Washington)

Today, Rep. Smith (D-Wash.) released the following statement as President Trump reaches the end of his first 100 days in his second presidency.

“The first 100 days of Trump’s second presidency have been marked with illegal firings of federal employees, chaotic tariff policies, unconstitutional deportations without due process, and mindless cuts to essential federal programs.

“As Commander-in-Chief, President Trump should be bringing the country together to face our current economic and global challenges. Instead, he has used the last 100 days in office to further divide the American people, commit retribution, cause more economic uncertainty, and threaten global stability. From firing nuclear safety employees to cutting cancer research funding, his choices have left Americans less safe.

“As this Administration continues down this incompetent and unlawful path, it is incredibly important for citizens to remain engaged and involved in their communities. It will be equally important for Congress to stand against his policies and to build a coalition that fights for the working people. We must advocate for a better path forward and provide a reasonable alternative.”

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BACKGROUND

• More than 280,000 United States federal civil services layoffs have been announced by the Trump Administration across 27 agencies.
  • 99 percent of USAID employees have been let go, reducing American investment in famine prevention, disease prevention, and global development and humanitarian initiatives.
  • More than 2,400 workers were fired from the Department of Veterans Affairs, including staff at the Seattle Veterans Affairs office.
  • The Trump Administration fired the employees who help make sure there are affordable, safe child care options across Washington State.
• The Trump Administration disrupted $430 billion in federal funds from disease research to child care to veterans’ assistance.
  • Additionally, the Administration froze all disbursements of Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding with an executive order. This funding was going to projects to build new roads, fix bridges, replace lead pipes, expand broadband access, strengthen infrastructure against natural disasters.
  • The Trump Administration cut funds to the Head Start program, which provides early child care for more than 15,000 low-income children and their families.
• President Trump boasted he would end the wars in the Middle East and Ukraine on day one, but both conflicts continue to rage on.
• The Trump Administration has defied an order from the Supreme Court of the United States ordering that the Administration facilitate the release of a Maryland man from a mega-prison in El Salvador.
• The Trump Administration faces more than 150 of lawsuits from state and local governments over their illegal firings, removal of promised funds, and illegal deportations.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Gus Bilirakis (FL-12)

Washington, DC:  This week, the House passed the TAKE IT DOWN ACT, a bill Congressman Gus Bilirakis has helped shepherd through the legislative process in the House.  This bill would criminalize the publication of non-consensual, sexually exploitative images—including AI-generated deepfakes—and require platforms to remove images within 48 hours of notice.  To see Congressman Bilirakis speaking on the House Floor in support of this important bill, click here.  This bill will also help address a problem that recently occurred in Pasco County.  The Pasco Sheriff’s Office acted quickly to investigate and arrest an elementary school teacher on child pornography charges.  However, during its investigation, the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office discovered that the teacher was using yearbook photos of his students to create AI-generated child erotica. While the individual was able to be charged for some of the images, there were many more images in his possession that the police were unable to charge him for. The TAKE IT DOWN Act will help to close this loophole.   The TAKE IT DOWN Act will protect and empower victims of real and deepfake NCII while respecting speech by:

1. Criminalizing the publication of NCII in interstate commerce. The bill makes it unlawful for a person to knowingly publish NCII on social media and other online platforms. NCII is defined to include realistic, computer-generated pornographic images and videos that depict identifiable, real people. The bill also clarifies that a victim consenting to the creation of an authentic image does not mean that the victim has consented to its publication.
2. Protecting good faith efforts to assist victims. The bill permits the good faith disclosure of NCII, such as to law enforcement, in narrow cases.
3. Requiring websites to take down NCII upon notice from the victim. Social media and other websites would be required to have in place procedures to remove NCII, pursuant to a valid request from a victim, within 48 hours. Websites must also make reasonable efforts to remove copies of the images. The FTC is charged with enforcement of this section.
4. Protecting lawful speech. The bill is narrowly tailored to criminalize knowingly publishing NCII without chilling lawful speech. The bill conforms to current First Amendment jurisprudence by requiring that computer-generated NCII meet a “reasonable person” test for appearing indistinguishable from an authentic image.

“I am glad we are one step closer to protecting victims of online sexual exploitation. Giving victims rights to flag non-consensual images and requiring social media companies to remove that content quickly is a pivotal and necessary change to the online landscape,” said Congressman Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), who serves as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade. “And by ensuring that AI-generated deep-fake content is included in these protections, Congress is showing its commitment to fighting 21st Century harms that are plaguing our children and grandchildren.  I applaud Representatives María Elvira Salazar (R-FL), Madeleine Dean (D-PA), Vern Buchanan (R-FL), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), August Pfluger (R-TX), and Stacey Plaskett (D-VI)  for their tireless work on this issue, as well as our entire Subcommittee for their efforts to ensure final passage in the House.  I encourage my Senate colleagues to expedite passage so it can be signed into law by President Trump.”

While nearly every state has a law protecting people from non-consensual intimate imagery (NCII), including 30 states with laws explicitly covering sexual deepfakes, these state laws vary in classification of crime and penalty and have uneven criminal prosecution. Further, victims struggle to have images depicting them removed from websites, increasing the likelihood the images are continuously spread and victims are retraumatized.   In 2022, Congress passed legislation creating a civil cause of action for victims to sue individuals responsible for publishing NCII. However, bringing a civil action can be incredibly impractical. It is time-consuming, expensive, and may force victims to relive trauma. Further exacerbating the problem, it is not always clear who is responsible for publishing the NCII.  The TAKE IT DOWN Act has received widespread support from over 100 organizations, including victim advocacy groups, law enforcement, and tech industry leaders.  Leaders from both large and small social media platforms, dating apps, and tech organizations, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and Internet Works, are rallying behind the bipartisan legislation. RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network), the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization, spearheaded a letter with 23 additional groups calling for the swift passage of this bill. The National Fraternal Order of Police has also sent a letter to Senate leadership endorsing the legislation. In November 2024, the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative, Microsoft, and National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) sent a letter to Senate and House leadership urging the passage of the TAKE IT DOWN Act.

 

 

 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Joaquin Castro (20th District of Texas)

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA)

The United States of America recognizes April 29, 2025, as National Fentanyl Awareness Day. U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement:

“Families in Virginia’s Ninth District are far too familiar with the devastating impacts of illicit fentanyl on our communities. I will continue to push for federal policies that help the country tackle the fentanyl epidemic, such as my HALT Fentanyl Act. I would like to thank all local law enforcement officials and first responders who work to protect Virginia communities from the scourge of illicit fentanyl.”

BACKGROUND

Rep. Griffith is a chief sponsor of H.R. 27, the Halt All Lethal Trafficking (HALT) of Fentanyl Act. The HALT Fentanyl Act would permanently classify lethal fentanyl-related substances, also known as analogues, as Schedule I substances, closing a dangerous loophole traffickers are exploiting.

The bill also enables a streamlined registration process for medical research into fentanyl-related substances.

H.R. 27 passed the U.S. House of Representatives on February 6, 2025.

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