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Rep. Neguse Recognized Nationally for Having 2nd Most Laws Enacted in Entire House of Representatives

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Joe Neguse (D-Co 2)

Lafayette, CO — In case you missed it, in their annual report released last week by GovTrack.us, House Assistant Minority Leader Joe Neguse (CO-02) was recognized for writing the 2nd most laws of any member of the U.S. House of Representatives during the 118th Congress, building on his legacy of legislative effectiveness. 

Neguse was also listed as the overall Member of Congress with the most amount of bipartisan support on his proposals and laws enacted within the Colorado delegation. See his complete 2024 Report Card HERE. 

“The twelve counties that make up Colorado’s 2nd District — from the Western Slope to the Wyoming border — truly represent the essence of our great state. And in our communities, we do things a bit differently than other places. We listen to each other. We respectfully exchange views. And we know when it’s time to roll up our sleeves and work together to find solutions that will benefit our people, our cities, our state, and our nation. I’m deeply proud that in adopting this mindset in the last Congress, our office was able to accomplish many legislative goals from the last two years—collaborating with lawmakers from across the political spectrum and advancing locally driven initiatives,” said Assistant Leader Neguse. 

The 12 bills Assistant Leader Neguse had signed into law include the Disaster Assistance Deadlines Alignment Act, Federal Data Center Enhancement Act, Military Families Mental Health Services Act, NACIE Improvement Act, Upper Colorado and San Juan River Basins Endangered Fish Recovery Programs Reauthorization Act, Drought Preparedness Act, Water Data Improvement Act, BOLT Act, Improving Outdoor Recreation Coordination Act (FICOR), Forest Service Flexible Housing Partnerships Act, Stop the Spread of Invasive Mussels Act, and the Women’s Suffrage National Monument Location Act. Over the last two years, Neguse introduced more than 100 bills and resolutions. 

In case you missed it, here’s what they’re saying: 

“U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse finished in second place on a report released this week ranking House members by how many of their bills were signed into law in the last Congress — a feat even more remarkable because the Lafayette Democrat, serving just his third term, was in the minority in the Republican-controlled chamber.” 

About Congressman Neguse:

Congressman Joe Neguse has represented Colorado’s 2nd Congressional District since 2019. He is currently a senior member of House Leadership, having been elected by his colleagues to serve as House Assistant Minority Leader in March 2024.

Last year, in just his second term in Congress, Congressman Neguse was recognized for having more bills signed into law than any other member of the U.S. House—a distinction he has carried through to his third term. He is also a recipient of the JFK “New Frontier Award,” given in acknowledgment of his work to build bipartisan legislative coalitions and establish service town halls—the first of which was at Rocky Mountain National Park. 

The 40-year-old former attorney is a dedicated public servant and a national leader on public policy concerning drought and wildfires in the West, as well as gun-violence prevention.

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Rep. Neguse Cosponsors the PRO Act, Continues Fight to Protect Workers’ Right to Organize

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Joe Neguse (D-Co 2)

Washington, D.C. — Today, House Assistant Minority Leader Joe Neguse (CO-02) joined H.R. 20, the Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act of 2025, as an original cosponsor. The PRO Act is a comprehensive bill to protect workers’ right to unionize and bargain for better wages, benefits, and working conditions. The bill strengthens federal laws that support working-class Americans by protecting hardworking families, individuals, and the unions that help them secure higher wages, safer working conditions, and bolster a more resilient economy.  

Assistant Leader Neguse, a member of the Congressional Labor Caucus, has been a staunch advocate for workers’ rights throughout his time in Congress. He has also been an original cosponsor of the PRO Act every Congress since he was elected.

Currently in Colorado, workers face difficult barriers to union security, and federal law makes it difficult for workers to organize and secure fair contracts.  As workers across the state seeking to unionize continue to face barriers in doing so, the PRO Act would ameliorate these by holding employers accountable for violating workers’ rights, closing loopholes that allow employers to misclassify their employees as supervisors and independent contractors, and protecting the right to strike, among other reforms.

“I will always champion working families in Colorado, and it is clear that serious reforms are necessary at the state and Federal level to ensure that the rights of workers are protected. That is why I am proud to support the PRO Act, and will continue to push for its passage,” said Assistant Leader Neguse. “If enacted, the PRO Act would be the most significant pro-worker law implemented in decades, advancing critical protections and improving the livelihoods of hardworking Americans across the country and throughout the state of Colorado.”

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Assistant Leader Neguse on Partisan Continuing Resolution: “I will not support legislation that cuts healthcare and veterans benefits for countless Coloradans”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Joe Neguse (D-Co 2)

Washington, D.C. — House Assistant Minority Leader Joe Neguse (CO-02) issued the following statement after voting “No” on House Republicans’ continuing resolution: 

“Republican Leadership just put forth a bill on the House Floor that abandons bipartisanship and fails to meet the needs of Coloradans across our great state. As the Trump Administration continues to dismantle federal agencies, purge core federal agencies like the Forest Service, and pursue reckless policies that are causing chaos across our economy, this legislation will only exacerbate the situation. Families in my home state of Colorado are suffering as a result of the directives issued by the Trump Administration, and I will not support legislation that seeks to expand the very same policies causing such harm.” 

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Assistant Leader Neguse, House Democrats Host Hearing on Fight to Save Medicaid

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Joe Neguse (D-Co 2)

Washington,  D.C. — Yesterday, House Assistant Minority Leader Joe Neguse (CO-02) joined fellow members of Democratic Leadership for a Steering & Policy Committee hearing on saving Medicaid. The lawmakers were joined by panelists with expertise on the subject matter, including Kody H. Kinsley, North Carolina’s 18th Secretary of Health and Human Services, and American storytellers Chris Dunham, Christina Otero, and Nancy Hagans. Democrats’ hearing follows House Republicans’ passage of a budget betrayal, which lays the foundation for at least $880 billion in Medicaid cuts, eliminating coverage for nearly 16 million Americans. 

According to estimates, the proposed Medicaid cuts would cost Colorado’s 2nd Congressional District, which Neguse has represented since 2019, $1.12 billion and eliminate coverage for approximately 89,445 individuals. Across the state of Colorado, Medicaid programs cover 44% of births and ensures care for nearly 40% of children ages 18 and younger.  

During the hearing, Assistant Leader Neguse directed his questions to Secretary Kinsley, seeking insight into the disastrous impacts that cuts to Medicaid will have on families, seniors, and America’s most vulnerable individuals. A transcript of their exchange is available below. 

NEGUSE: Thank you, Secretary Kinsley, for your leadership and your testimony today. I want to focus my questions on two broader impacts of these Medicaid cuts. If Republicans succeed in imposing a nearly $1 trillion cut to Medicaid, can you help us understand what will that mean for state budgets, like your own? And what options will states have, like North Carolina, for absorbing that large of a cut?  

KINSLEY: Well unfortunately there won’t be many options. Medicaid brings $28—at least $28 billion dollars—into the state of North Carolina. Our portion of that is a third. Any cut is going to create billions of dollars of a gap that the state of North Carolina, and I would imagine pretty much every other state, simply can’t cover. And it’s important to remember that 98% of every dollar that comes into North Carolina from Medicaid goes to services and providers. There’s no wiggle room to pull dollars out without people experiencing the harm immediately.  

NEGUSE: I share your concern, Secretary Kinsley. I know we all do. And I wonder if you might expand upon that in further detail. So, who might lose benefits? What kind of services may ultimately be curtailed? 

KINSLEY: First and foremost, I think of our seniors. Many individuals forget—you know—that as they exhaust their personal resources Medicaid is the only program in the country that will cover skilled nursing facilities for these individuals. When we think about the chronic disease burden in our communities, many folks will end up in that need. We know that major providers that provide nursing home care, rely pretty much exclusively on Medicaid as one of their primary sources. And so, pulling dollars out of the Medicaid program will negatively impact those seniors. I also think in North Carolina, that 50% of births are covered by Medicaid. When we think about the importance of a healthy start to life— 

NEGUSE: Can you just repeat that, Secretary Kinsley?  

KINSLEY: One out of two — 

NEGUSE: One out of two. 50%.  

KINSLEY: 50% of births covered by Medicaid. And, and so, making sure that those babies are born healthy with a strongest start in life. In North Carolina, again thanks to Congress, made quick advantage of extending coverage for postpartum women, so that those women could also be healthy. We know healthy families lead to healthy children, and it’s a smart investment. 

You can view the complete Democratic Leadership hearing on saving Medicaid HERE. 

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Casten Introduces New CO2 Cap-And-Trade Bill

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Sean Casten (IL-06)

March 19, 2025

Washington, D.C.  — Today, U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) introduced the Tradeable Energy Performance Standards (TEPS) Act, legislation to eliminate the net emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) from power plants and large industrial thermal energy users by 2048 in the most economically-efficient way possible.

“Carbon dioxide emissions from power plants and large industrial users of thermal energy make up nearly 40% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions,” said Rep. Sean Casten. “I spent 16 years building companies that had a mission of profitably reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The Tradeable Energy Performance Standards Act accelerates private companies’ ability to do just that and puts us one step closer to achieving our goal of a net-zero economy by 2050.”

The TEPS Act uses a market-based cap-and-trade program that covers the CO2 emissions of power plants and large industrial thermal energy users. The program will be administered, tracked and overseen by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Under the Act, each year, each covered facility will receive from the EPA a certain number of allowances to emit CO2 based on the amount of electricity or useful thermal energy produced that year. This output-based allowance allocation method will ratchet down each year so that by 2048, 20 years after the beginning of the program, no more allowances will be distributed.

The allowances will be fully tradeable. A facility that has more allowances to emit CO2 than it actually emits will be able to sell those additional allowances to a facility with emissions in excess of its allowances. The pricing and terms of those sales will be determined on a bilateral basis, and the allowances will ultimately be submitted to the EPA to ensure that no facility emits in excess of its allowed level. 

A one-page summary of the bill can be found here.

A section-by-section of the bill can be found here.

Text of the bill can be found here.

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Casten Announced as Vice Ranking Member of House Financial Services Committee

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Sean Casten (IL-06)

March 18, 2025

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), the top Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee, announced Congressman Sean Casten (D-IL), as the Vice Ranking Member on the Committee.

“I am pleased to announce that Congressman Sean Casten will serve as Vice Ranking Member on the House Financial Services Committee for the 119thCongress. For many years, Committee Democrats have benefited greatly from Congressman Casten’s extensive expertise and unwavering commitment to establishing strong guardrails for our economy and protecting our nation’s consumers,” said Congresswoman Waters. “Not only that, Congressman Casten has led the way in addressing the existential threat climate change poses to America’s financial ecosystem. As Trump and his unelected co-President, Elon Musk continue their reckless and illegal efforts to dismantle our nation’s pro-consumer agencies and destabilize the economy to enrich their billionaire friends, Congressman Casten will be a key player in the fight to combat these attacks.”

“The House Financial Services Committee is at the center of the fight for investor protection, consumer advocacy, affordable housing, and combating climate-related financial risk,” said Congressman Casten. “I’m honored to be named Vice Ranking Member of this committee and look forward to working with Ranking Member Waters and our colleagues on both sides of the aisle to find bipartisan solutions to address our nation’s most pressing needs.”

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Casten, 109 House Democrats Demand GAO Track Federal Fund Disbursement Delays

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Sean Casten (IL-06)

March 18, 2025

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Representative Sean Casten led 109 House Democrats in a letter to Comptroller General Gene Dodaro of the Government Accountability Office (GAO) demanding the GAO develop and maintain a database to systematically track delays in disbursing appropriated and obligated funds to American communities.

“The freezing of IRA and IIJA funds has already had immediate and measurable consequences, jeopardizing national and state climate initiatives and harming communities that rely on this funding,” the lawmakers wrote. “…The lack of transparency around the executive order’s implementation has made it difficult for impacted communities, businesses, and state governments to plan effectively, creating unnecessary uncertainty, financial hardship, and disruption to critical infrastructure projects.”

In January 2025, the White House implemented a freeze on federal funds from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), even though most of these funds had already been congressionally appropriated and obligated. Although multiple court rulings have struck down these freezes, the Trump administration has been slow to comply, leaving many grant and funding recipients unable to access the funds they were promised.

In addition to Rep. Casten, the letter was signed by Reps. Ansari, Yassamin; Balint, Becca; Barragán, Nanette; Beatty, Joyce; Beyer, Donald; Bishop, Sanford; Boyle, Brendan; Brownley, Julia; Brown, Shontel; Budzinski, Nikki; Carbajal, Salud; Case, Ed; Casten, Sean; Cherfilus-McCormick, Sheila; Cisneros, Gilbert; Clarke, Yvette; Cleaver, Emanuel; Cohen, Steve; Correa, J.; Costa, Jim; Crockett, Jasmine; Davis, Danny; DeGette, Diana; Deluzio, Christopher; DeSaulnier, Mark; Espaillat, Adriano; Evans, Dwight; Fields, Cleo; Figures, Shomari; Foster, Bill; Friedman, Laura; Frost, Maxwell; Garamendi, John; García, Jesús; Garcia, Robert; Garcia, Sylvia; Goldman, Daniel; Goodlander, Maggie; Himes, James; Houlahan, Chrissy; Hoyle, Val; Huffman, Jared; Ivey, Glenn; Jackson, Jonathan; Jacobs, Sara; Jayapal, Pramila; Johnson, Julie; Kaptur, Marcy; Kelly, Robin; Kennedy, Timothy; Khanna, Ro; Krishnamoorthi, Raja; Landsman, Greg; Larsen, Rick; Latimer, George; Lee, Susie; Leger Fernandez, Teresa; Levin, Mike; Lieu, Ted; Lofgren, Zoe; Matsui, Doris; McBath, Lucy; McClain Delaney, April; McCollum, Betty; McGovern, James; McIver, LaMonica; Meeks, Gregory; Moore, Gwen; Moskowitz, Jared; Moulton, Seth; Mullin, Kevin; Nadler, Jerrold; Neguse, Joe; Norton, Eleanor; Olszewski, Johnny; Panetta, Jimmy; Peters, Scott; Pettersen, Brittany; Pocan, Mark; Quigley, Mike; Ramirez, Delia; Randall, Emily; Raskin, Jamie; Ross, Deborah; Salinas, Andrea; Scanlon, Mary Gay; Scott, Robert; Smith, Adam; Sorensen, Eric; Soto, Darren; Stansbury, Melanie; Stanton, Greg; Stevens, Haley; Strickland, Marilyn; Subramanyam, Suhas; Takano, Mark; Thanedar, Shri; Thompson, Bennie; Thompson, Mike; Titus, Dina; Tokuda, Jill; Torres, Ritchie; Trahan, Lori; Underwood, Lauren; Vargas, Juan; Velázquez, Nydia; Wasserman Schultz, Debbie; Waters, Maxine; and Williams, Nikema.

A copy of the letter can be found here. Text of the letter can be found below.

Dear Mr. Dodaro:

We write to request that the Government Accountability Office (GAO), with support from its Federal Budget, Grants, and Contracting and National Security Acquisitions teams, among others, establish an accessible database to systematically track disbursement of funds appropriated through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). The Trump Administration’s disruptive January 20, 2025 Executive Order 14154 sowed chaos and confusion across the country for Federal funding recipients, and the Administration’s subsequent actions, such as the clarifying guidance issued by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in memorandum M-25-11 on January 21, 2025, the notice of court order distributed by the Department of Justice on February 3, 2025, and many of the Administration’s subsequent actions have been insufficient to provide certainty for our constituents.

Many of the aforementioned executive actions have caused Federal agencies to halt the disbursement of funds for a wide range of energy and environmental programs, including initiatives that support clean energy deployment, grid modernization, electric vehicle infrastructure, and energy efficiency upgrades for low-income communities.

The freezing of IRA and IIJA funds has already had immediate and measurable consequences, jeopardizing national and state climate initiatives and harming communities that rely on this funding. Some real-world examples of the impact that the funding pause has had are:

  • School districts in Illinois that received $15 million in funding from the Department of Energy could not access funds to deploy zero-emission school buses that are integrated with on-site battery systems to help school buildings keep the lights on during power outages and improve air pollution.
  • States have been denied access to funding intended to help low-income communities install residential solar panels, reducing energy costs for vulnerable households. 
  • A Missouri school district has been blocked from accessing a $9.45 million Environmental Protection Agency grant intended to transition its school bus fleet to electric vehicles, a move that would reduce refueling costs and lower student exposure to harmful air emissions.
  • Grid modernization projects in Georgia are at risk, threatening regional energy reliability and increasing costs for ratepayers.

These are only a few examples of the widespread impact of this funding freeze. The lack of transparency around the executive order’s implementation has made it difficult for impacted communities, businesses, and state governments to plan effectively, creating unnecessary uncertainty, financial hardship, and disruption to critical infrastructure projects.

Federal courts have weighed in on this matter. On January 31 and February 3, 2025, two separate Federal court rulings found that the funding freeze raises constitutional concerns and issued temporary injunctions blocking any efforts to “pause, freeze, impede, block, cancel, or terminate” these appropriated funds. Despite these rulings, on February 10, 2025, a judge in Federal court found that the Trump administration had defied its order to release Federal grant money, directly disobeying a judicial mandate. Grant recipients have also reported continued difficulties with payments. In addition, Members of Congress have received little clarity on how Federal agencies are responding and whether funding is now flowing as required by law, with many agencies even preventing building access.

While there is anecdotal and journalistic evidence of these funding disruptions, no comprehensive, publicly accessible database currently exists to track these potential violations systematically. As Members of Congress, we cannot effectively serve our constituents if we cannot see the full extent of the problem. Without transparency, we lack the tools necessary to advocate for communities that depend on these funds. The currently available public reporting on awards and disbursements is insufficient and outdated, making it difficult for us to provide effective and timely information to our constituents – especially those who are most vulnerable and may be afraid to speak out. 

We urge the appropriate officers within the GAO to establish a publicly accessible database that tracks the status of IRA and IIJA funds, in particular a database that provides details on the awards, obligations, and disbursements of those funds. To the extent practicable, this database should also delineate any funds, awards, obligations, or disbursements affected by the aforementioned or similar Executive Orders and administrative actions. This database would help Congress effectively monitor the status of these historic investments and communicate with our constituents to better navigate a complicated and opaque budget execution process.

We appreciate your prompt attention to this matter and look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

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Casten, Klobuchar, Johnson, Peters Introduce Bill to Combat Use of Dangerous Gun Modifications

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Sean Casten (IL-06)

March 17, 2025

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Representatives Sean Casten (D-IL-06) and Hank Johnson (D-GA-04), and Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Gary Peters (D-MI), introduced legislation to combat the increased use and proliferation of dangerous gun conversion devices. 

The Preventing Illegal Weapons Trafficking Act would help tackle the ongoing gun violence epidemic by requiring federal law enforcement to coordinate efforts to prevent the importation and trafficking of ‘auto-sears’—illegal gun modification devices that can convert semi-automatic weapons into fully-automatic weapons—and seize all profits that come from the illegal trafficking of these devices.

“Congress has an obligation to do everything we can to make our communities safer from gun violence,” said Rep. Casten. “This epidemic needs to be addressed head-on and that includes the proliferation of illegal gun conversion. Devices that allow semi-automatic weapons to be easily converted into fully automatic weapons should not be readily accessible. I’m proud to introduce this bill with Rep. Johnson, Sen. Klobuchar, and Sen. Peters to prevent the importation and trafficking of these dangerous modifications.”

“We must address the alarming prevalence of gun conversion devices that can turn ordinary hand guns into automatic weapons. These devices that can be easily 3-D printed or cheaply purchased online have devastating consequences for public safety,” said Sen. Klobuchar. “By preventing the importation and trafficking of these deadly devices and by stopping traffickers from profiting from illegal sales, this legislation will help keep our communities safe and save lives.”

“Law enforcement must do more to protect our communities from gun violence by stopping the flow of illegal gun modification devices into and throughout our country,” said Sen. Peters. “This bill will enhance coordination across law enforcement agencies to prevent these dangerous and deadly devices from being used.”

“Auto-sears and other gun conversion devices are making the gun violence epidemic in the U.S. that much worse,” said Rep. Johnson. “The dramatic rise in the use of conversion devices and 3-D printed guns in crimes must be addressed. The Preventing Illegal Weapons Trafficking Act will give law enforcement the tools they need to crack down on and confiscate these dangerous devices. We in Congress must do what we can to keep our communities safe, and this bill helps us address this growing menace.”

“Auto sears and other machine gun conversion devices make deadly weapons more lethal,” said Emma Brown, Executive Director at GIFFORDS. “These illegal devices, which are increasingly recovered by law enforcement at crime scenes, pose an urgent public safety risk that Congress must address. Representative Casten’s bill helps to intercept these devices before they fall into the hands of those who wish to do harm, and drives attention to a developing issue for communities and law enforcement. We urge Congress to take action to help keep these dangerous weapons off the streets.”

“Conversion devices are an all too common means of illegally converting semiautomatic firearms into machine guns,” said Mark Collins, Director of Federal Policy at Brady: United Against Gun Violence. “Such firearms are being recovered by law enforcement at a staggering rate, with a nearly 570% increase between 2011 and 2021. Providing law enforcement with the resources to stem the flow of illegally trafficked machine gun conversion devices must be a top priority for Congress. The Preventing Illegal Weapons Trafficking Act will help law enforcement agencies coordinate efforts to crack down on these dangerous, and illegal devices. Brady is proud to endorse this bill and thanks Rep. Casten for his dedication to protecting Americans and communities across the country from the proliferation of illegal machine guns.”

The Preventing Illegal Weapons Trafficking Act of 2025 would: 

  • Direct the Department of Justice, Department of Homeland Security, and Department of the Treasury to develop a coordinated national strategy to prevent or intercept the importation and trafficking of automatic gun conversion devices;
  • Ensure that proceeds from the illegal trafficking of automatic gun devices are subject to forfeiture; and 
  • Require that the Attorney General include data and information about illegal gun modification devices in the Justice Department’s annual firearms trafficking report.

Auto-sears and other gun conversion devices can be installed in about a minute, and 3-D printed or purchased online for less than $20. A 2022 investigation by The Trace and VICE News found that federal prosecutions involving gun conversion devices have increased over eight-fold from 2017-2021. Additionally, the investigation reported that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) seized 1,500 weapons modified with auto sears in 2021, a five-fold increase from the year before.

This bill has been endorsed by GIFFORDS and Brady: United Against Gun Violence.

Text of the legislation can be found here.

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Casten, Foushee Lead 100 Members in Letter to EPA Administrator Opposing Proposed Cuts to EPA

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Sean Casten (IL-06)

March 13, 2025

WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. Representatives Sean Casten (IL-06) and Valerie Foushee (NC-04) led 100 House Democrats in a letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin opposing the drastic proposed cuts to staffing and funding at the agency, and called for an immediate reversal of any planned cuts at the EPA. 

“The EPA is not just a regulatory body; it is a frontline defender of public health, environmental safety, and economic stability,” wrote the lawmakers. “Gutting the agency through drastic budget cuts would cripple its ability to respond to emerging threats, dismantle decades of scientific progress, and put millions of lives at risk. At a time when climate change and pollution are intensifying, weakening the EPA by cutting its budget and firing its invaluable civil servants is not just irresponsible. It is a direct threat to the well-being of every American.” 

The proposed 65% cut would undermine the agency’s ability to protect the public health of all Americans through research, regulation, education, and enforcement. Any large-scale cuts would also exacerbate staffing issues, dissuade future potential civil servants from joining the agency, and severely impact the agency’s vital work in safeguarding public health and the environment. 

“In addition to the damage proposed cuts would have on Americans, the current uncertainty and instability poses a direct threat to the integrity of the scientific community, which could reverberate for years to come,” continued the lawmakers. “Slashing the EPA’s funding would cripple its ability to provide essential protections, drive innovations in environmental science, and respond to emerging threats. Beyond the immediate damage, this instability discourages top scientists and experts from joining or remaining at the agency, jeopardizing its ability to safeguard public health and the environment for future generations.” 

The letter was signed by 102 lawmakers, including Reps. Alma Adams (NC-12), Jake Auchincloss (MA-04), Becca Balint (VT-At Large), Nanette Barragán (CA-44), Donald Beyer (VA-08), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Julia Brownley (CA-26), Shontel Brown (OH-11), Nikki Budzinski (IL-13), André Carson (IN-07), Ed Case (HI-01), Sean Casten (IL-06), Kathy Castor (FL-14), Judy Chu (CA-28), Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Emanuel Cleaver (MO-05), Steve Cohen (TN-09), Gerald Connolly (VA-11), Jason Crow (CO-06), Diana DeGette (CO-01), Chris Deluzio (PA-17), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), Debbie Dingell (MI-06), Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), Sarah Elfreth (MD-03), Dwight Evans (PA-03), Shomari Figures (AL-02), Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07), Bill Foster (IL-11), Valerie Foushee (NC-04), Laura Friedman (CA-30), John Garamendi (CA-08), Jesús García (IL-04), Robert Garcia (CA-42), Daniel Goldman (NY-10), Raúl Grijalva (AZ-07), Val Hoyle (OR-04), Jared Huffman (CA-02), Glenn Ivey (MD-04), Jonathan Jackson (IL-01), Sara Jacobs (CA-51), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Hank Johnson (GA-04), Ro Khanna (CA-17), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), Greg Landsman (OH-01), John Larson (CT-01), George Latimer (NY-16), Summer Lee (PA-12), Mike Levin (CA-49), Stephen Lynch (MA-08), Seth Magaziner (RI-02), Lucy McBath (GA-07), Sarah McBride (DE-At Large), Jennifer McClellan (VA-04), Betty McCollum (MN-04), Morgan McGarvey (KY-03), Jim McGovern (MA-02), LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), Robert Menendez (NJ-08), Kweisi Mfume (MD-07), Kelly Morrison (MN-03), Jerrold Nadler (NY-12), Joe Neguse (CO-02), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-At Large), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), Scott Peters (CA-50), Brittany Pettersen (CO-07), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Mike Quigley (IL-05), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Deborah Ross (NC-02), Raul Ruiz (CA-25), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Linda Sánchez (CA-38), Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Terri Sewell (AL-07), Brad Sherman (CA-32), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Adam Smith (WA-09), Eric Sorensen (IL-17), Haley Stevens (MI-11), Marilyn Strickland (WA-10), Mark Takano (CA-39), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Bennie Thompson (MS-02), Dina Titus (NV-01), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Jill Tokuda (HI-02), Paul Tonko (NY-20), Ritchie Torres (NY-15), Juan Vargas (CA-52), Nydia Velázquez (NY-07), Maxine Waters (CA-43), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), George Whitesides (CA-27), Nikema Williams (GA-05), and Frederica Wilson (FL-24). 

A copy of the letter can be found here. Text of the letter can be found below.

Dear Administrator Zeldin: 

We are writing to demand clarification on your intended budget and personnel reductions at the Environmental Protection Agency. We collectively represent thousands of the over 15,000 civil servants across the country currently employed at the Environmental Protection Agency, and millions of constituents who rely on the EPA to ensure their water is safe to drink, their air is safe to breathe, and their health is protected. We are outraged at the credible reports suggesting that you and the President have discussed cutting up to 65% of spending at the EPA. This comes after the President said during a February 26th cabinet meeting, “He thinks he’s going to be cutting 65% or so percent of people from Environmental” and had to be corrected by a White House official. This anecdote is another example of the chaotic and unorganized nature of this Administration, and is leaving our civil servants, constituents, and environmental protections in a state of disarray.  

The EPA is not just a regulatory body; it is a frontline defender of public health, environmental safety, and economic stability. Its science-driven programs ensure that the water we drink is free from harmful contaminants like PFAS and lead, that the air we breathe is not laced with toxic pollutants, and that hazardous chemicals are controlled before they endanger human health. The EPA holds polluters accountable, cleans up toxic waste left by negligent actors, and safeguards our food from dangerous pesticides. Every community, from urban to rural, industrial to agricultural, depends on the EPA’s expertise to prevent environmental crises before they spiral into public health disasters. Gutting the agency through drastic budget cuts would cripple its ability to respond to emerging threats, dismantle decades of scientific progress, and put millions of lives at risk. At a time when climate change and pollution are intensifying, weakening the EPA by cutting its budget and firing its invaluable civil servants is not just irresponsible. It is a direct threat to the well-being of every American. The value of the work conducted by the civil servants at EPA cannot be overstated, and Americans agree. Recent polling found that 86% of voters oppose attempts to weaken the EPA, including 76% of Trump voters. Significant cuts to this vital agency are in direct opposition to what this country wants. 

In addition to the damage proposed cuts would have on Americans, the current uncertainty and instability poses a direct threat to the integrity of the scientific community, which could reverberate for years to come. Slashing the EPA’s funding would cripple its ability to provide essential protections, drive innovations in environmental science, and respond to emerging threats. Beyond the immediate damage, this instability discourages top scientists and experts from joining or remaining at the agency, jeopardizing its ability to safeguard public health and the environment for future generations. 

We strongly urge you to faithfully fulfill your duties as Administrator and uphold the mission of the Environmental Protection Agency to protect human health and the environment by maintaining funding and personnel levels at your agency, thereby enabling the EPA to continue its vital work in safeguarding public health and the environment. 

Consequently, we respectfully request responses to the following questions clarifying your plans by March 26, 2025: 

  1. Does the Administration plan to reduce EPA funding or staffing by 65%, as has been reported?  
  2. If significant funding or staffing cuts are intended, which specific programs, projects, and offices within the agency will be affected by these cuts, and what criteria will be employed to make that determination? 
  3. How many EPA employees across the country are expected to be fired as a result of these proposed cuts, and what criteria will be used to determine which individuals lose their jobs? 
  4. What EPA functions are expected to be disrupted due to these budget cuts? Can you guarantee that the disruptions caused by cuts to the EPA budget will not compromise drinking water quality, air quality, or public health? 
  5. Has EPA conducted a risk assessment to evaluate the short- and long-term risks to the environment, human health, and the economy that would result from these proposed cuts? 
  6. What is the expected timeline for implementing these budgetary and staffing cuts? 

Thank you for your immediate attention to this matter, and we look forward to your response. 

Sincerely, 

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Congressman Aderholt Meets with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to Discuss Agency Priorities and FY26 Budget

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Robert Aderholt (AL-04)

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Robert Aderholt (AL-04), Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies, released the following statement after attending a breakfast meeting with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.:

“I appreciated the opportunity to join Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. for breakfast this morning at the HHS Headquarters. It was a productive conversation and a valuable chance for the Secretary to hear directly from Congressional leaders on healthcare about our priorities for the upcoming fiscal year.

“As we begin work on the FY26 budget, I look forward to collaborating with Secretary Kennedy and these other Congressional leaders to ensure that federal health programs are effective, fiscally responsible, and truly serve the needs of the American people. I welcomed his stated commitment to finding common ground and his vision to ‘Make America Healthy Again.’ Our Committee stands ready to work with him on areas where our goals align, and to have honest conversations where they do not; an approach he has welcomed.

“This introductory meeting was a positive first step, and I remain hopeful for a constructive working relationship moving forward.”

The breakfast was held at the invitation of Secretary Kennedy as an opportunity to hear from congressional committee chairs and identify potential areas for collaboration under his leadership of the Department of Health and Human Services.

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